Why should I Have my chimney cleaned?

Below and to the right  include our ”everything about your chimney “  articles.

Why should I have my chimney cleaned?

The purpose of chimney cleaning is to remove flammable deposits such as soot and creosote from the interior walls of a chimney. If these deposits are allowed to build up, they will eventually ignite and cause a chimney fire. During the winter months, in many areas, chimney fires are the #1 cause of house fires. Chimney fires damage chimneys, cause fires within other areas of the home and cause millions of dollars in property damage annually. In the United States well over 50,000 homes annually catch on fire due to the use of solid fuel burning appliances. (The majority of solid fuel used by homeowners is wood, but also includes coal, wood pellets and biofuel.)

How often should I have my chimney cleaned?

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends that a chimney be inspected annually to determine if cleaning or repairs are necessary. Many condominium and apartment complexes in the United States require annual cleaning and inspections. It is also a legal requirement in many countries in Europe. If you are a heavy user of a wood, wood pellet, coal or biofuel appliance such as a solid fuel stove, pizza oven, furnace or fireplace, many manufacturers recommend inspecting the chimney every 2 weeks to see if cleaning is needed. After periodically inspecting your chimney, you will get a better idea how quickly soot and creosote builds up and you can schedule cleaning your chimney accordingly, but remember certain factors such as frequency of use, duration of use, moisture content of the wood, type of wood, the individual characteristics of your appliance and how you have it adjusted can greatly affect the soot build up within your chimney.

Adjustments include damper settings, outside air vents, interior air intake settings, and the use and positioning of glass doors on fireplaces and stoves.

Strange as it may sound, in many cases greater buildup of soot occurs during periods of infrequent and shorter burn times such as fall and spring than it does in the middle of the winter when far more fuel is burned. This is because the chimney walls stay cool during short time frames and condensation occurs much more rapidly on cool surfaces. ERR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY, IF IN DOUBT HAVE YOUR CHIMNEY INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY.

What is the best time of year to have an annual inspection?

If you are an infrequent or moderate user of an open fireplace and you burn dry seasoned wood, you may opt for an annual inspection and cleaning as a routine procedure. This can be done at any time during the year. Some people find it cost effective and practical to do so in the spring or early summer. Many companies offer reduced pricing during this less busy time of year, and having a clean chimney for the summer reduces the likeliness of odors associated with summer rains and humidity. Less money, less problems.

David Myers, CEO of 301chimney