Cleaning your chimney at least once a year enables you to enjoy maximum benefits when using your fireplace. A clean chimney effectively sucks out harmful gases from your fireplace while it is in use.
Sometimes, homeowners forget to schedule chimney cleaning services within the year and can continue lighting up the fireplace without having it swept. Additionally, there are factors that can influence how often you should have your chimney cleaned.
When Should You Get Your Chimney Inspected?
Typical fireplace and chimney inspections are performed on an annual basis, with cleaning occurring at roughly the same rate. While cleanup should be done as necessary, not every homeowner has the tools or availability required to do so.
Cleanings more than once a year may be a necessity if your fireplace’s operator, fuel, or venting systems are not an ideal fit for your fireplace.
Whether you need fireplace and chimney cleaning services or are looking to install or upgrade parts for your fireplace, A Noble Sweet is ready to assist you.
How to know if your chimney needs cleaning
Now that we know you should have your chimney cleaned at least once per year, let’s talk about how to know if your chimney needs cleaning right now. Call a chimney cleaning service if you see any of these 8 Signs.
The following issues can indicate that your chimney needs cleaning immediately:
1. Poorly burning fire
A chimney works excellently with the free flow of pleasant air when there are no obstructions. You can either experience difficulty lighting up your fireplace or have a poorly burning fire due to a blockage in your chimney. Fire needs oxygen to burn brightly. Grit, soot, and bird nests in the chimney hinder sufficient oxygen flow to the fire.
2. Smoke filling the room
If smoke fills the room when you light the fireplace, you have a problem. Built-up creosote can stop the airflow up the chimney and cause smoke and other gases to enter your interior space.
DO NOT use your fireplace until it has been cleaned, as this can pose a fire hazard or affect your indoor air quality.
3. Soot falls from the chimney
If you see a black, carbonaceous substance falling on the fireplace, you know you need chimney cleaning services. A professional chimney sweep service can help remove soot and creosote from residential and commercial chimneys.
4. You suspect a chimney leak
The first worrying sign of damage to your chimney is dampness and discoloration of the walls or ceiling adjacent to the chimney. Water in the firebox or a rusty damper is a clear sign of damage to the chimney or its components. Pungent smells in the firebox can also be a telltale sign.
5. A poorly maintained and clogged chimney
Due to age and extreme climate, flues get damaged and occasionally need repair. A cracked flue can cause carbon monoxide to enter your home.
6. You notice the presence of creosote
It’s time to call in a professional chimney sweep if you suddenly find traces of creosote. This material is a natural byproduct of wood-burning fireplaces.
If you notice that your home doesn’t smell as fresh as it usually would, check the chimney. The dark, greasy, and tar-like substance produces a charred food or fuel smell that poses health risks. Chemicals in the creosote can also cause respiratory ailments for the occupants of your home.
Creosote is also an ever-present hazard as it can lead to a chimney fire that could spread to your entire home.
7. Birds or other animals present
Another contributor to chimney odors or stains is the presence of birds or other animals living in your chimney. If the cap is damaged or non-existent, it is much easier for animals to get in. Many small animals attempt to nest and raise their young in chimneys.
However, sometimes animals get trapped and cannot get out. If you notice unusual and unpleasant odors from your chimney, contact a professional for help with the inspection.
8. Chimney fire
As mentioned before, creosote forms in a chimney when smoke is trapped or does not escape entirely to the exterior space. Without regular chimney cleaning services, creosote can build up and cause chimney fires, which can extend to burn sections of your house or even cause the complete loss of your home.
Final thoughts
Whether you occasionally or frequently use your fireplace, you can tell by these signs when you need chimney cleaning services. The chimney experts at A Noble Sweep chimney services can make your fireplace function more efficiently by ensuring that smoke and other poisonous gasses get expelled to the exterior of your home.