When should you get a chimney cleaning? Learn that the best time to clean your chimney is at the end of each season. If you have to ask yourself, "When was the last time I got a chimney cleaning?" you probably...
If you have to ask yourself, "When was the last time I got a chimney cleaning?" you probably need one. To be on the safe side, our chimney expert, Stewart Rabon, owner of Lone Star Sweeps in Austin, Texas, explains why you can't ever take a chimney cleaning for granted.
"The smart person does it at the end of each season, to get it ready for the next season. Professionals clean out the chimney, and you don't have all the creosote deposit products in there breaking it down. The creosotes are a corrosive carcinogen and they will be breaking down the mortar and the chimney system. So at the end of each burning season, you clean it and get it all ready for next year. Hopefully, you have it all set up with chimney caps to keep birds and other animals or things out of there," Rabon says.
Chimneys are like brakes on any vehicle. They serve an important role. Like brakes, most people only become aware of a chimney problem when a bad failure occurs. Your chimney should be maintained regularly. A chimney professional's role is more than just cleaning the system but that of safety inspector. Most problems with a chimney start small and can be easily solved before they become a major risk or expense. However, for that to occur the problem must be detected. Only a professional can properly identify and correct a chimney defect. You would never let a stranger who just knocks on your door repair the brakes on your car, so why let them work on your chimney?
It is important to look for a reputable chimney sweeping company with references. The more you know the person working on the chimney, the closer bond you will form. You will feel safe knowing you are in good hands.
There are several areas in which a chimney professional can help you improve your responsibility to nature: a properly cleaned and tuned appliance burns more efficiently using less fuel. Also, a chimney professional can advise you on how to use your appliance in order to get the most out of it and to use it in the cleanest manner possible. There are environmental standards that new appliances must meet. These standards dictate minimum levels of emissions that an appliance can release. Your chimney professional can advise you on these new standards and how they can affect you, as well as provide information on programs to change old appliances over to new ones. A chimney sweep can install a chimney cap on any open flues to ensure that animals and birds do not get caught in your chimney. A conscientious chimney maintenance company should be capable of providing all their services in an environmentally friendly manner.
It's never a good time to pass up a chimney cleaning. Rabon says you should at least have your chimney inspected once a year. If your chimney needs more maintenance, a professional can advise you further. Only by looking at your chimney can a professional tell if you need more than a routine cleaning.
