A clean chimney not only ensures that your fireplace burns brightly, but it also protects your home from fire and pests all year long. While most homeowners are aware that their chimney must be inspected and cleaned before lighting the first fire of the season in the fall and before a transfer of ownership, most are unaware of the importance of frequent chimney cleanings.
Why are Regular Chimney Cleanings Important?
In addition to removing soot and debris, a chimney cleaning will ensure that no obstructions are present in the chimney liner, damper and smoke chamber. If blockages and creosote are left over time, they will only continue to accumulate and pose major threats for chimney fires. The type of wood you routinely burn could also play a role in how often you should schedule your chimney cleanings. For example, people who burn pine will need their chimneys cleaned more regularly than those who burn other wood types.
Factoring in Your Frequency of Use
On cool spring nights, many people keep a fire going, and some even use their fireplace in the late summer and early fall. If you lit up your fireplace during the chilly Memorial Day Weekend a few weeks ago, you certainly weren’t alone. If you find yourself using your chimney nearly all year long, inspections and cleanings should be done at least once a year and on a seasonal basis. The longer you wait to get your chimney cleaned, the more likely you are to incur costly repairs or be involved in a catastrophic accident.
Trusting the Experts for Your Chimney Cleaning
When homeowners attempt to repair their chimneys on their own, they often bite off more than they can chew, miss key steps and cause more damage in the long run! The following tasks are included in a professional chimney cleaning from Clean Sweep:
- Diagnostics of any structural issues detected
- Removing debris
- Removing dangerous creosote that is highly flammable when built up
- Cleaning by a certified chimney sweeper
- A 12-point checklist examination to ensure that nothing is missed or overlooked
Clean Sweep Is Here to Help!
Call Clean Sweep Maryland today at 410-558-1111 for professional chimney sweep, slate roofing and duct cleaning services designed to keep all of your listed properties clean and safe for sellers and buyers. If you have a prospective home buyer or home seller in need of a chimney inspection or repairs, we are here to help!