Take These Steps to Prepare for a Chimney Sweeping

A chimney sweeping in Wilmington NC is something most homeowners schedule once a year without even thinking about it. While scheduling an annual cleaning is important, it is also essential for you to prepare your home for the sweep’s visit. Here are some things you should do ahead of time to ensure you are ready.

48 Hours Prior

You should stop using your fireplace at least 48 hours before having chimney sweeping services performed. That’s because hot coals can still be present for up to two days afterwards, something that could make cleaning your fireplace dangerous. It is not necessary to clean all ashes from your firebox. Even so, shoveling some of the excess will help the process go much smoother if it has been awhile since you last removed the ashes.

Day of Arrival

Your chimney sweep requires plenty of room in which to maneuver, which means you should:

• Clear out the area that’s within a six-foot radius of your fireplace opening
• Ensure there is a clear path to and from your front door to your fireplace

During your Appointment

Once the chimney sweep arrives, you’ll want to put up your furry pets. Animals are known to distract chimney sweeps from their work, and may even track soot across your carpet. Not only that, but the sound of wire brushes scraping against your chimney and the noise coming from an industrial shop vacuum are often disturbing to pets, and may cause them a great deal of unnecessary anxiety.

Keep in mind that cleaning a chimney results in a great deal of dust. As such, you’ll want to stay out of the area as much as possible. Your chimney sweep will cover your floor and furniture with plastic before beginning. If you have other items such as electronics that need to be protected, you should either remove them from the area or ask that they be covered as well.

These things take only a short amount of time, but are nonetheless extremely important. Keep them in mind during your next chimney cleaning to make sure your sweep is able to work as efficiently as possible.

Three Definite Signs You Need Chimney Repair

The chimney of your home is a safety item that requires routine inspection and maintenance for efficient and safe operation. It is often overlooked as an item requiring immediate attention, but an improperly maintained or damaged chimney can become a rather alarming fire hazard. So, how do you tell if your chimney needs repair? The following is a short list of three easy to see signs that you need professional assistance for your chimney:

1. Moisture – If you spot rust in the firebox or damper, there's a good chance that you have a moisture problem in your chimney, which is a real problem. Moisture can cause the lining to become cracked or even start falling apart, piece by piece. This can allow dangerous levels of heat and even carbon monoxide into the home, both of which should be avoided at all costs.
2. A Cracked Crown – Not that you are in the habit of getting on the roof of your home to check the chimney crown, but if you find yourself up there for some other reason, try to notice if there is any cracking. If the top of your chimney is cracking, this can allow all sorts of undesirable weather elements into your home, which can lead to cracking all the way down. So, the next time a whiffle ball ends up on the roof or you're removing some ice damns in the middle of winter, take a look at the chimney crown while you're up there. 
3. Damaged Mortar Joints – This is perhaps the most serious issue because damaged mortar joints can allow moisture to develop in the chimney at a greatly accelerated rate. If left unattended long enough, this can cause the ultimate collapsing of the chimney, which is obviously a big safety problem. Detecting cracks, however, in the chimney masonry can be a difficult task, best left to a trained professional.

Consult a Long Island NY chimney repair professional if you think your chimney needs repair. Remember, it is a critical safety element within your home that requires a very small investment to properly maintain.