The Benefits of Regular Chimney Sweeping

The weather is still warm but before you know it, you will be hauling wood indoors to set an inviting fire ablaze. As summer turns to autumn and autumn falls to winter, the need to clean your chimney will increase. Though you may be considering skipping the cleaning this year, there are several benefits to an annual chimney sweeping in Los Angeles CA.

1. A clean chimney is more efficient. The chimney (and the flue) channel smoke away from the fireplace and out of the home. If you have buildup in the chimney and flu, they cannot function at maximum capacity.
2. A clean chimney is a safe chimney. Chimney fires, like any other household fires, can result in significant damage to property and loss of life. However, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, "[c]lean chimneys don't catch fire." Therefore, if your chimney is properly cleaned annually and regularly inspected, then you can avoid a dangerous chimney fire. 
3. A clean chimney means cleaner household air. Chimney cleaning helps prevent buildup of creosote, a wood burning fireplace byproduct. Creosote buildup can prevent carbon monoxide from escaping your fireplace through the chimney and flue, resulting in a dangerous increase of the gas in your house. Without a carbon monoxide detector (which is heavily recommended if you have a fireplace), there is no way to detect whether you have a high concentration of carbon monoxide in your home, as it is an odorless gas. Therefore, annual cleaning is necessary to ensure clean air in your home for you and your loved ones.