subject: Chimney Cleaning Is Important For The Safety Of Your Home [print this page] Keeping the chimney in your home clean and in working order is required protect your home against fire hazards that can be caused due to chimney fire. Those dwelling in the Chicago area are fortunate enough because there are a number of Chicago based chimney cleaning service providers that can help you keep your chimney clean and free from creosote. It is commonly noted that creosote is the byproduct of wood-burning fires. Furthermore, if not kept in check, this oily, sticky and combustible substance can inflict health and home safety hazards by causing chimney fire.
What Are the Common Problems with Chimney?
Problems with the chimney in your home can range from dirt, creosote, damaged chimney masonry, chimney fires, leaky chimney or completely blocked chimney flue. It is important to note here that chimney fires can be an open invitation to structural fire at anytime. Keeping the chimney clean, therefore, is important to prevent chimney fire and associated hazards.
How to Determine the Need for Chimney Cleaning?
Few of the many pointers that your chimney needs cleaning include:
If you use the fireplace for over 40 hours in a season, it is advisable to consider cleaning of the chimney on regular basis. Besides this, if you use unseasoned wood, chances of creosote buildup naturally multiply.
Another pointer to determine whether you need Chicago chimney cleaning services is if the incidences of chimney fire have occurred. If you notice one or two such instances, make sure to contact the professionals in Chicago to schedule a chimney cleaning immediately. Let the professionals inspect and examine the fireplace and flue! Remember, continued chimney fire can cause structural fire and by regular chimney cleaning you can prevent such accidents.
You should also pay attention to the smell or observance of smoke in the house from the fireplace.
Homeowners often ask, Can't we use chimney-cleaning log products instead? Of course, you can! But, the fact is these logs and similar products have been designed to cut down the amount of creosote present inside the chimney and not helpful in cleaning it properly. However, the professional Chicago based chimney cleaning services can be relied upon for ensuing that every single bit of creosote is wiped off from your chimney leaving it absolutely clean and in working condition. Moreover, many manufacturers of such sweeping logs and similar chimney-cleaning products also advise an annual inspection and professional cleaning of the fireplace and chimney.