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.

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. 

Chimney Cleaning: What Exactly Does It Entail?

When you think about having your chimney cleaned, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns that pop into your mind. It definitely helps to know a little more about the process before you get started. Let's take a look at exactly what a good chimney cleaning in Long Island NY entails.

Residue 

The most important part of the chimney cleaning process is cleaning off the residue that is built up inside of the chimney. There are a variety of different tools that are used for this in order to properly and effectively get it out. Residue and soot that gets stuck inside a chimney could end up causing a fire or other complications if not removed in a timely manner.

Repairs 

Even if you are taking good care of your chimney, it doesn't mean that you won't ever need to have repairs done. There are a few things that should be checked out during the cleaning process. This includes the lining, the bricks, and the cap. These things should be checked for holes, gaps, and any other damage. This will help to give you peace of mind during your next fire.  

You should be getting your chimney cleaned once a year, especially right before the colder months hit and you know that you will be using it a lot more. It's important to have regular cleanings and inspections done, and to address any known issues with your chimney immediately.

Consequences of Putting Off Chimney Repairs

There are many things in life that homeowners tend to put off due to busy schedules, or simply because they just don't see the urgency in it. Chimney repairs are on that list, but are definitely not something that you should procrastinate on. Putting off chimney repairs may very possibly result in some not so nice consequences.

Chimney Liner 

Your chimney has a liner that will really start to take a beating after a certain number of fires. After a while you will start to see it crack, corrode, or even just disappear altogether. It's very important that the flue and the flue liner are properly aligned in order for the smoke to be ushered out of your chimney safely and efficiently.

Masonry 

You may start to see gaps and cracks forming in the bricks or mortar of your fireplace over time. The longer you wait to have these things fixed the worse they will get. They will start to compromise you safety, along with the efficiency and the integrity of your entire system. You'll want to have the masonry restored to its original condition as soon as possible.

Chimney Leak 

If you have a chimney leak, it is not just a nuisance, but a major threat to your home and your entire chimney. Chimney leaks that are ignored or go undetected will significantly worsen over time, causing potential major damage. This is why it's a good idea to have your chimney inspected from time to time.

If you notice any issues with your chimney, reach out to a Los Angeles CA chimney repairs expert.