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The Importance of Chimney Cleaning

As the colder months move in, who doesn’t enjoy spending a winter’s night by a warm, roaring fire? Especially for those of us in the Northern hemisphere, our fireplaces get plenty of use between Autumn and Spring. You may enjoy using your fireplace when winter rolls in, but when was the last time that you checked up on the state of your fireplace and chimney safety?

Chimney Safety

There are some areas of your house that, though you may not give them much thought, are extremely important to the health and safety of your entire home. The chimney is one of these areas. Your chimney plays an important role in the function of your fireplace: the chimney conducts smoke and dangerous gases – such as carbon monoxide – up and out of your house, keeping the air within the house clean and safe. A chimney that is clogged, dirty, or damage can cause ventilation problems that are not only dangerous but potentially deadly. Besides the danger of chemical inhalation, a chimney that is clogged with debris or combustible materials is a fire hazard, and one of the main causes of house fires in the U.S. Fortunately, these situations can be easily avoided simply by having your chimneys regularly cleaned and inspected.

There are no hard and fast rules concerning how often your chimney needs to be checked up on and cleaned, but many experts recommend that you do it at least once a year. Some people try to take on the task of cleaning their chimneys themselves, but if you haven’t done it before, there are a few reasons why it’s a better idea to hire a professional chimney sweep.

Reasons To Hire a Chimney Cleaning Professional

1) Chimney cleaning can be dangerous.

Yes, you’ll have to do a lot of climbing and balancing to get to certain areas of your chimney, but it isn’t just the matter of dealing with heights; there is also the hazard of dangerous fumes or chemicals inside the chimney that can be harmful to your health when you don’t have the right safety precautions. Even if you’re comfortable climbing ladders and scaling your roof, it’s generally a better idea to let someone with more experience handle dangerous home inspections like this one.

2) Chimney sweeps check the entire structure of your chimney and fireplace.

A professional chimney sweep will know what to look out for when examining the structure of your chimney. Not only will he inspect the chimney for blockages, but also for small damages that would likely go unnoticed to the untrained eye: deteriorating masonry, or miniscule cracks which could cause moisture or poisonous gases to seep through. By catching these problems in their early stages, a chimney sweep can end up saving you a lot of money on later repairs.

3) Chimney sweeps save you time and effort.

Chimney and fireplace cleaning is a messy job, and it can be frustrating if you haven’t done it before. A professional chimney sweep can get the job done faster and easier, and by setting up a regular schedule of appointments, you won’t have to worry about remembering to have your chimneys cleaned in time again.

If you do decide to hire a professional chimney cleaning and inspection service, be sure to do your research. As with all home repairs, you will have to make sure that the company or service you hire is experienced and reliable. At A1 Everlast, we have experience in a wide array of home repairs and maintenance in the New Jersey area.

If you would like to contact us for more information about chimney maintenance or other home repairs, you can give us a call at 888-399-0955.