Why You Should Have Your Chimney Swept Every Year
During the holiday season at the end of the year, many families enjoy gathering by the fireplace to celebrate with their loved ones. However, there could be hidden dangers lurking inside your chimney that could lead to hazardous situations. Since the last thing anyone wants to deal with during this joyous time is a chimney fire or a carbon monoxide leak, Ace Chimney Sweeps recommends that you contact us to schedule an appointment for your annual professional chimney sweeping and inspection services before you light the first fire of the year. Ensuring that your chimney and fireplace system will work efficiently and safely throughout the winter is just one of the important reasons why you need to follow your annual professional chimney maintenance services routine. For over 30 years, our owner Skip Creswell has provided excellent and trusted professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services to the Chesapeake Bay region, and our team of chimney professionals has been trained and certified by the most respected industry leaders, such as the National Fireplace Institute (NFI). To help you understand why it is so important to take care of your chimney, we would like to take this opportunity to tell you more about why you need to have your chimney swept and inspected every year.
REDUCE RISK OF CHIMNEY FIRE
When you have a wood-burning fireplace, an annual chimney sweeping is essential to remove all of the creosote deposits that have accumulated inside your chimney over the winter. Developing naturally during the combustion process, creosote is a residue that can vary in appearance. Typically black or brown in color, this natural compound has a texture that can be flaky and crispy, sticky and gummy, or hardened and shiny. No matter what it may look like, creosote is so highly flammable that the CSIA has named it as a leading cause of chimney fires. You can count on Ace Chimney Sweeps to take great care to remove every bit of creosote from the interior of your chimney so that you do not have to worry about this dangerous fire hazard in your home. We will also check to be sure that no other debris is blocking the flue as this could also be hazardous. If we find anything that could keep your chimney from properly exhausting, we will remove it to reduce your risk of toxic gases and smoke being forced back into your home.
AVOID A STINKY CHIMNEY
Creosote is not only hazardous, but it can also cause unpleasant odors to invade your home. If you have ever noticed a bad smell that was similar to burned barbecue coming from your fireplace, creosote is likely the source of the odor. Since the smell can be worsened during the summer when it is hot and humid outside, Ace Chimney Sweeps strongly recommends having your chimney swept and inspected during the spring or summer. This guarantees that your chimney will be free from deadly hazards and stinky odors. You also will not have to worry about finding a convenient date for your appointment with our sweeps because we generally are not as busy during the warmer half of the year. We do require that you be at home when we sweep your chimney, so if you have a busy work schedule, it can be easier to find a time that will work for you in the spring or summer.
PREVENT WATER LEAK DAMAGE
When you make your annual chimney maintenance service appointment with Ace Chimney Sweeps, we include a basic Level 1 chimney inspection with our sweeping service. This gives us the chance to take a look at the readily accessible parts of your chimney and fireplace system to see if there are any problems that could cause your system to be unsafe to operate. We will look at both the interior and the exterior of your chimney, and if we spot any damaged masonry, we will explain the damage to you and tell you what we can do to repair the problem. We will also check out the condition of your chimney cap to see how protected you are from water penetration and wild animal invasions. We provide several different types of water leak preventive services, including waterproofing and customized flashing construction and repairs. For over 30 years, the Chesapeake Bay region has counted on Skip Creswell and his team of chimney professionals to protect their chimneys from water penetration damage, and we can help you keep water out of your chimney so that you can enjoy warm, cozy fires for years to come.
By keeping up with your annual professional chimney maintenance services, your family can enjoy your fireplace without worries of chimney fires or carbon monoxide leaks over the holiday season. Contact us today at Ace Chimney Sweeps to schedule your annual professional chimney sweeping and inspection appointment. Our sweeps are here for all of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.
