Many people don't give much thought to their chimney. It seems like such a quaint addition to the home for use on romantic evening with a roaring fire. What is sometimes not commonly understood is that chimneys are more than just a simple tube for smoke and they need to be cleaned and maintained. Failure to maintain a chimney can result in injury or death.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported recently that upwards of 23,000 uncontrolled fires are caused annually. Most of these are the result of wood stoves, wood fires and related devices and almost 6,000 additional fires were attributed to chimney and chimney connectors related to heating systems connected to a chimney. Upwards of 360 people are injured or killed as a result. But how can you tell if your chimney needs cleaned?
You can easily check if your chimney needs cleaned with a simple test. First, make sure the airflow in the chimney is up. If air is flowing down the chimney, open a window on the same floor and wait until the flow reverses. While wearing goggles and a dust mask take the fireplace poker and scratch the surface above the damper. If the resulting scratch in the creosote is 1/8" deep the chimney needs cleaned. Do not use the chimney if the scratch is 1/4" deep or greater. This level of creosote possess a serious fire hazard.
It is best to hire a professional chimney sweep to clean your chimney. It is possible to do it yourself but the specialized and dirty nature of the job makes it very difficult for you to do a good job. Plus, a professionally will be able to spot mechanical or structural defects that you would be likely to miss.
When hiring a chimney sweep, be sure to inquire about their credentials and training. Are they certified and what kind of training has he or she undergone. Also, be sure to get reference from other satisfied customers. You do not want to be the first or second customer and be on-the-job training for a new chimney sweep. The charge, depending on your area of the country will be around $150 - $200.
Cleaning your chimney is very inexpensive insurance. Have your chimney inspected soon and protect your family from disaster.
For more information on chimney cleaning and more please contact Guardian Chimney or call today at 1-888-688-1388.
Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Guardian Chimney. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.
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