Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas, but it can be deadly at high levels. Keep the smoke in the right direction. Of all the tasks you strive to keep up with in your home (cleaning brass, cleaning grout, cleaning mold, cleaning regularly), chances are that cleaning the chimney isn't at the top of your list. While you're comfortable in front of the fireplace watching the crackling flames, soot buildup and flammable waste aren't exactly romantic things to think about (out of sight, out of mind, right?).
Do we have your attention now? Yes. As with a wood burning installation, gas fireplace chimneys should be inspected and cleaned once a year. It's not so much creosote to worry about, as a bird's nest may need to be removed. In the 21st century, preventing a fire in a house is just as important.
Although most contemporary homeowners use their fireplaces for convenience or have remotely controlled natural gas flames to fuel their fires, most still use wood to burn and are susceptible to creosote buildup in their dampers and ducts. Homeowners are urged to inspect their chimneys for creosote buildup and clean if necessary in the spring of each year. Fireplace safety starts with care. A fireplace is a great service in any home.
It can keep you warm in winter, provides a cosy atmosphere and, of course, gives you a perfect place to hang your socks. However, like any appliance, you need to make sure you properly maintain and clean your chimney. Without proper maintenance and cleaning, you can increase the fire hazard in your home. Another idea to try when it's time to clean the chimney is a chimney sweep log.
A chimney cleaning log helps prevent chimney fires and helps eliminate debris deposited along. These sticky deposits are called creosote. Creosote deposited over a long period of time becomes highly flammable and is often the cause of chimney fires. Creosote Removal is Vital to Your Safety.
Sweep logs are popular because of their ease of use for removing creosote. All you have to do is unwrap the trunk of your package and place it in a burning wood fireplace. There's nothing more important than keeping your home and family safe while enjoying the fireplace or wood stove in the colder months. Your chimney is an important ventilation system that allows smoke, toxins and hazardous fumes to escape from the house.
A clean chimney means a safer and more efficient fireplace and home heater. With a clean chimney, all of these hazardous fumes can freely leave your home. Over time, creosote appears in a dirty chimney. Creosote is a black, sticky residue that remains inside the chimney when wood burns or when there is not enough ventilation.
The problem with creosote is that it is highly flammable, making it one of the main causes of chimney fires. The same problems (accumulation of creosote and soot) occur in the chimneys of wood stoves, as well as in the chimneys of normal chimneys. When your chimney should be cleaned depends on many factors, including not only how often it is used, but also the type of wood that is burned. Before lighting the fireplace this season, you should do your due diligence and have the chimney properly cleaned and inspected.
Have the tools needed for this DIY chimney cleaning project ready before you start, it will save you time and frustration. There is no simple general rule of thumb for how often the chimney should be cleaned, such as cleaning after 50 uses or a year. Most homeowners choose to do a chimney clean every year as well, especially if they use their chimney on a regular basis. Unfortunately, every year, thousands of homeowners suffer billions of dollars in property damage and injury because they don't recognize the importance of chimney cleaning.
A certified chimney sweep, such as Petro equipment, can make the inside of your chimney safe, even if you only use it to ventilate your oven or heating system. So, even if you don't use the chimney a lot, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other creatures may have been using your chimney, making it unsafe to use it without cleaning up accumulated debris from nesting activity. An experienced chimney sweep will perform a full service that includes a professional inspection to ensure that your chimney system is operating at full capacity and that it is structurally sound. Chimney inspections often reveal hidden problems with a chimney structure that could be potentially dangerous.
A professional chimney sweep should also know building codes, be able to recognize any deterioration or ventilation problem, and be able to advise you on any problem and condition of your chimney. Call your local Petro Home Services branch today to schedule a chimney inspection by the chimney service team. It's important to schedule routine chimney maintenance in your Long Island home, as an uncleaned chimney can be dangerous. Even so, some homeowners continue to ignore this significant risk and don't take appropriate steps when it comes to cleaning chimneys.
Statistics from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) indicate that there are more than 25,000 chimney fires a year in the U.S. . .
