Learning About Commercial Air Conditioning Units

The Signs It Is Time To Call To Have Your Chimney Swept

28 June 2022

Floyd Carroll

One of the most important factors in maintaining a properly operating fireplace is keeping the chimney clean and clear. A dirty or clogged chimney not only poses an expensive risk to your home, but it can actually be quite dangerous. With that being said, you should make it a point to have your chimney cleaned often. If you start noticing some of these issues with your chimney, it is probably time to have it cleaned.

The Flue

The flue is the vent that connects the fireplace or wood stove to the chimney. It is also called a throat, and it allows hot air and smoke to exit the fireplace. The flue can be made of metal, clay, or concrete. If you have an older home with a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove, then your flue may be made of clay or concrete.

When you call to have your chimney swept, you should expect the sweep to inspect the entire length of your flue. This includes checking for cracks, holes, or other damage that could allow dangerous gases to enter your home.

Draft Issues

If you are noticing a draft coming from around your fireplace, then it is time to have your chimney swept. Drafts are caused by the flue being blocked or dirty, which causes smoke and gases to enter your home through cracks, which can be dangerous. Therefore, it is important to have this checked out as soon as possible.

Stains

If you see any discoloration in or on the brick, mortar, or fireplace hearth, you should call a chimney sweep. The stain may be soot, which most often indicates that your chimney is not burning properly. Other possible causes for stains are animal droppings or nests as well as creosote, which is a by-product of combustion.

Appearance

The first sign that it is time to call for your chimney sweep is the appearance of soot. Soot is a by-product of burning wood and other fuels. It is a mixture of carbon, ash, and other airborne particles that build up on the interior of your chimney over time. The appearance of soot may seem harmless at first, but if left untreated, it can cause serious problems. Soot buildup in the flue can make it difficult for smoke to pass through. This not only makes your chimney less effective at its job but also poses a fire hazard if there is inadequate ventilation.

Another sign that you need a chimney sweep is if you see rust or corrosion on the interior walls of your chimney. Rust or corrosion indicates that moisture has seeped into the structure and caused damage. Rusting occurs when water or moisture comes in contact with metal surfaces in the flue and causes corrosion to form on them over time. 

There's A Bird In Your Chimney

If you notice a bird stuck in your chimney, then it is likely that you need to have the chimney cleaned. Birds like to build nests in chimneys because they are warm and protected from the elements. If there is a bird stuck inside of the flue, then it has most likely been there for some time, which means that there may be more than just one bird in there. 

A clean chimney is important to have a safe and functional fireplace, so be sure to schedule regular cleaning services.

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