The Good and Bad of Chimney Fires

The Good

It's a cold winter night with a fierce wind howling and sub-zero temperatures outside. Sure, the heat is on in the house, but there's still an unmistakable chill in the air no matter how high you turn up the thermostat. Hot cocoa is ready to be served, warm blankets are clean and fresh, and even the dog is trying to curl up not rug to preserve warmth from his own body. The only thing that's left? A roaring fire from your cozy and comfortable fireplace.

Enjoying a chilly night by the fire is one of the pleasures homeowners get to experience with little to no cost. You can enjoy hot beverages while cuddling up with blankets and maybe even read a good book. Gas fireplaces in Rumford ME make having fires really easy. This is truly The Good of chimney fires.

The Bad

Suppose you've used your fireplace a lot over the years. Maybe rather than using it as just an occasional fire for entertainment purposes, you use it as an additional source of heat in the winter. This is a great idea, except that if you haven't maintained the chimney by regularly scheduled professional cleanings and chimney sweeping, chances are that creosote is building up and maybe even the liner is starting to deteriorate causing a hazardous situation. If left neglected for a long enough period of time, this could also result in an unpleasant smell throughout the house. Ultimately, not only could this include a costly repair bill but also a fire.