The winter months will soon be here, and this means fires in fireplaces. The chimney of your fireplace is an important part that allows smoke and gases to escape. Maintaining your chimney is important, and you need to do things like have it swept before the winter months arrive. Here are some of the things that you want to know before using your fireplace this year.
Professionals Know What They're Doing
A chimney sweep specializes in cleaning the flues (the vertical passages) of fireplaces, furnaces, and other ventilation systems. A professional chimney sweep knows how to do this job safely and efficiently so they can get your fireplace ready for winter,
Birds and Animals Can Become Trapped
Birds and animals can become trapped in chimneys. Birds may get stuck in the flue, which is the opening through which smoke leaves the house. They may also get stuck inside the chimney itself, requiring a professional to remove them.
Animals, such as raccoons, squirrels, and other small mammals, can also become trapped in your chimney flue or in the interior of your chimney itself.
Inspections Are Important
The purpose of a chimney inspection is to ensure the safety of your home and family. A thorough inspection will identify any problems with your fireplace or chimney so they can be repaired before they become serious issues. If there are cracks in the mortar or bricks around the firebox, for example, these will need to be replaced before winter arrives.
You Need to Know About Venting
Venting is an important aspect of your fireplace and chimney. It is the process of removing smoke, heat, and air from the room in which a fireplace or wood-burning stove is located. This prevents gases from building up in your home. Venting also allows smoke to escape when you burn wood in your fireplace or wood-burning stove. In fact, it's recommended that you have your chimney swept at least once a year to ensure that it's properly vented.
The primary reason why venting is important is because it prevents dangerous gases like carbon monoxide from building up inside your home. If these gases are allowed to build up, they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning — which can be fatal if not treated quickly enough. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when there isn't enough oxygen in the air.
These are some of the things that you want to know about sweeping your chimney before the winter months. Contact a chimney cleaning service to get help with this maintenance before the cold weather arrives, like Lifetime Chimney Chicago.
Share
