How Often Should You Have Your Chimney Cleaned?

Of all the home tasks and chores you strive to stay on top of, chances are, cleaning your chimney is not among the top priorities. Besides, it is possible to overlook some house parts and fixtures during your routine cleaning and maintenance sessions. So, in case you forgot, you should include your much-neglected chimney into your to-do list. Contact an Asheville Chimney Cleaning company to schedule an evaluation of your chimney. How often should you have your chimney cleaned?

Why Should You Clean Your Chimney Anyway?

The straight-up answer is safety.

Did you know that majority of home fire outbreaks start with creosote build-up? Creosote is a thick, heavy, and oily deposit resembling tar. When fire burns in a chimney, it leads to the accumulation of chimney soot and creosote on the chimney walls. Well, the soot build-up is easy to remove while creosote sticks to the chimney walls. Suffice to say, this could be potentially dangerous since creosote is known to be highly flammable.

So, How Often Should You Clean Your Chimney?

As a general rule of thumb, your chimney requires an annual maintenance service which includes inspection, cleaning, and repair if needed. All the same, there are various practices you could follow to maintain your chimney in tip-top shape all year round. This means always ensuring the damper is open before lighting up the fireplace and keeping a clean firebox. You can also choose to seal your chimneys with a cap or crown. This prevents debris, leaves as well as small crawling animals from invading your home through the chimney. It is also crucial that you equip your chimney with a stainless steel liner to ensure it is always up to code. This fall, be sure to hire a professional expert to help you sweep your chimney and leave it clean and reliable.