At A Sweep Across the Bay in Sarasota, we know that understanding how to care for your chimney is important because a buildup of creosote can expose the framework of your home or building and cause a chimney fire. It can also reduce the draw and the efficiency of your fireplace, and create a carbon monoxide hazard. If you need help with your chimney, our experts can inspect your chimney and keep your home and family safe.
We recommend that every chimney should be inspected and cleaned once a year even if you don’t use your fireplace or stove that often. This is the national standard set by the National Fire Protection Association. We also suggest you have your chimney inspected and cleaned when you move into a new home – you never know how well the previous owner kept up on proper maintenance.
The first step in how to care for your chimney is to conduct an inspection to find any problems you have, such as animal infestations in your chimney. Did you know that birds, squirrels, raccoons and other animals often use your chimney for their homes? This makes your chimney unsafe until the nesting debris and animals have been removed.
If we find some safety issues, you will want to get them taken care of right way. If you don’t, you may have more extensive repairs, higher costs, and possibly property loss or a fire. Having your chimney repaired will ensure it is in proper working order. Not only creosote and pests but sometimes moisture can damage masonry and the chimney lining. An inspection will make sure your chimney, lining, and venting systems are installed properly, adequate for your home, and are in good working conditions.
According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, open masonry fireplaces need to be cleaned when there is an ⅛ inch of soot buildup and possibly even sooner if there is any glaze in the chimney system because it could cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home.
We suggest you get the inspection and subsequent chimney repairs done before the burning season begins. If you use it periodically during the year choose a convenient time and do the inspection at that time each year. If you move into a new home, we would be glad to make sure the chimney is working properly.
Calling our team at A Sweep Across the Bay is the first step in learning how to care for your chimney. We will inspect for creosote building, blockages, damage, and animal infestation. We are a full-service company offering installations of hearth appliances, fireplace and chimney inspections, chimney repairs and restoration, chimney sweep services, chimney liner installation, wood and pellet stove service, new fireplace inserts, as well as the humane animal removal of raccoons and squirrels from chimneys and attics. Give us a call today, and we’ll make sure you can really enjoy your warm, cozy fire.