The Importance of Keeping Your Chimney Clean

2/12/2018 (Permalink)

Keeping your chimney clean may prevent fire damage from your home.

At SERVPRO of The East End, we know about the lovely warm glow a fireplace may add to the ambiance of any home. Relaxing in front of a crackling fireplace in your East End home on a cold winter day is a wonderful way to wind down with loved ones on a weekend. 

There is nothing more important than keeping your family safe. To help keep those home fires burning safely, it's important to make sure your chimney is cleaned periodically. Chimney cleaning can help a fireplace stay in good shape and it will reduce the risk of a fire breaking out in your home. Additionally, the chimney allows smoke, fumes and dangerous toxins to escape your home through its ventilation system. Read on for some helpful tips on this subject.

Inspect the Brick

All chimneys should be completely cleaned at least once a year. Cleaning is important to make sure your chimney is in good working order. A homeowner should also perform an inspection on their own. This can help identify potential problems that must be addressed as soon as possible.

It's a good idea to bring a flashlight and have a good look at the floor of the fireplace. All the ashes in the chimney accumulate here. The flooring needs to be kept in good shape to make sure the fire can be turned on. Note any problems with the brick surrounding it. The bricks used in a fireplace are more heat tolerant than ordinary bricks. They need to be maintained to prevent a fire in the fireplace from spreading to other areas of the home. If a single brick is out of place, this can make the rest of the chimney far less functional.

Have a Look Up

After having a good look at the area surrounding the fireplace, it's a good idea to have a look at the rest of the chimney. Put on some old clothes and get in the area surrounding the fireplace. Have a look at the chimney area. You should see if there's any obstruction or any other issues. Small birds and rodents often find themselves stuck or you could have a thick layer of creosote and soot sticking to the flue and masonry inside the chimney. When this gets too thick, all it takes is a spark and you have a chimney fire on your hands.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, 30 percent of home fires are caused by chimney fires. Be sure your home is not one of them. Have your chimney cleaned regularly. If you are having problems with smoke damage in your home, call SERVPRO of The East End At SERVPRO of The East End to make it 'Like it never even happened.'