During every home inspection, our home inspectors inspect the chimney, if a house has one. We do a visual inspection of the chimney and fireplace and check the flue and the damper. If we see issues, we recommend a professional fireplace contractor come in and inspect the fireplace further. Whether or not your chimney is in need of a fix, there are things you should be doing to make sure your chimney and fireplace are in excellent shape all year-round, so when the season turns colder you’re always ready for a hearty fire! The most important maintenance step you can take is to have your chimney swept professionally once a year.
3 Reasons to Have Your Chimney Cleaned Professionally
Creosote is a byproduct of burning wood. Sometimes referred to as “soot,” this buildup can become flammable.
No. 1 reason to clean your chimney and fireplace is Safety:
According to the National Fire Protection Association, not cleaning a chimney is one of the leading reasons behind home heating fires (Today.com). This is more than just cleaning soot out of the fireplace (although that’s important, too). Having a chimney cleaned professionally once a year is key preventative care. This annual inspection will not only clean the chimney but allow the professional to make sure everything is functioning properly and there are no needed repairs.
Bob Villa says,
“There are more than 25,000 chimney fires incurring $125 million-plus in property damage every year in the United States. That damage is largely due to flames in the lower chimney migrating upward to crack, warp, melt, or otherwise negatively affect the masonry or metal chimney walls. In the most severe cases, chimney fires can destroy houses and put lives at risk. These tragedies are often preventable: Failure to regularly inspect, repair, and clean a chimney can cause it to malfunction or collect dangerous build-up that puts your family at risk.”
How does cleaning a chimney prevent fires? It’s because “the combustion process deposits an acidic material that weakens masonry or metal chimneys, causing them to deteriorate prematurely. A significant buildup of creosote, a flammable material resulting from incomplete combustion, may catch fire and spread to the attic and other areas of the home” (Today). And if the chimney has not been used for a while, birds, critters, and nearby trees can leave debris in there, like twigs, leaves, and branches. Weather can also hurt a chimney, like excessive rain, wind, or snow.
A professional chimney cleaning will include sweeping the fireplace, possibly a video inspection, and an examination of the “firebox, liners, smoke chamber and flue, chimney exterior, and inspecting the appliance for proper clearances” (Today).
No. 2 reason to clean your fireplace is the longevity of your fireplace and chimney:
Chimney repairs can be expensive. Between cleanings and inspections, you can do your part as a homeowner by using only proper firewood in your fireplace, sweeping up ashes when they build up, and always having the damper open when having a fire. These simple tasks can go a long way in saving you big bucks down the road.
Apart from safety, doing the above-mentioned tasks can create a better fireplace experience. Dirty fireplaces make for a smelly and smokey fire, sweeping out the ash after every fire will prevent this from happening. Just be sure the coals have cooled so you end up with burns.
No. 3 reason to clean your fireplace and chimney is to make it ready for use at a moment’s notice:
Many folks rely on their fireplace for warmth and not having it ready to go when a winter storm hits can make for a frustratingly cold indoor climate. Depending on how often you use your fireplace, you’ll want to have it cleaned one to two times per year. And you’ll want to keep the fireplace clear at all times with a stack of the right type of dry, ready-to-go firewood on-hand. Who knows when a winter storm will take down the power or gas that typically heats your home.
Final thoughts on fireplace safety from your home inspector
There are a number of reasons to keep your chimney and fireplace clean, but the number one reason is safety. Having a fireplace in your home can be dangerous. Never light a fire in your home if you don’t have working smoke alarms, operational carbon monoxide detectors that are properly placed within your home, a fire extinguisher that is not expired, and proper fireplace safety gear (gloves, pokers, etc..). Finally, know how to safely build a fire in your fireplace.
You can all the right tools and a properly maintained chimney and fireplace, but if you don’t know how to safely keep a fire in your home fireplace you can find yourself in a hazardous situation.
Enjoy a hearty fire, safely, of course!
