Why You Should Schedule Chimney Sweeping Before the Busy Season

When you fire up your fireplace this coming winter, you want it to be safe and efficient for a full season of warmth and enjoyment. The best way to make sure this happens is to schedule a chimney sweep (chimney cleaning) during the off-season when crews aren’t as busy and can most likely accommodate your schedule.

Chimney cleaning service companies usually get very busy starting in September each year. Scheduling appointments after this time can be tricky because it seems like everybody wants their chimney cleaned just before winter hits.

So this year, make the smart move of getting your chimney cleaned in late summer so that it’s ready to rock for another burning season.

The value of annual chimney sweep service

The term chimney sweep refers both to the job and to the individual who performs it. Chimney sweeping has two primary objectives:

1. Remove creosote from the flue

2. Remove drafting obstructions from the flue

Let’s look at why both are critical to your chimney’s safe and efficient operation.

Creosote removal

Creosote is a flammable substance that forms when wood fires burn. It can be sticky, flakey, or solid, but in all forms, it can lead to a devastating chimney fire.

Chimney sweeps who are certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) have the equipment and skill to safely remove all forms of creosote from the inside of your chimney. They use tools such as rotating brushes, scrubbers, solvents and vacuums to accomplish this. Creosote is the cause of most chimney fires in the U.S. each year. The longer you neglect having this substance removed, the more chances of a fire in your chimney. Not all chimney fires are major, but every fire can do damage to internal parts of your chimney.

Drafting obstruction removal

Another primary job of a chimney sweep is to clean out debris that may be causing smoke to draft improperly. Common sources of air-flow obstruction include:

• Nests of birds, squirrels, and other small animals
• Animals who have died inside the chimney, unable to get out
• Falling tree debris such as leaves, twigs, fruit, and nuts

These and any other blockages can cause smoke to back up into the house and carry with it deadly carbon monoxide. Flue obstructions also will cause fires to start with difficulty and burn sluggishly.

Chimney inspections

Most CSIA-certified chimney sweeps also are trained to perform chimney inspections. Scheduling a thorough cleaning and inspection before the busy season arrives is the best way to ensure that your chimney runs correctly and that any necessary repair work is finished before you begin using your fireplace again. Along with inspections and cleaning, most chimney sweeps are capable of performing all chimney repair and component-installation work that might be needed. Get your chimney cleaned, checked out, and repaired now before the busy fall season arrives. A-1 Chimney Specialist of Winchester, TN, is standing by to help. Give us a call today at (931) 967-3595.

If you live in the Huntsville, AL, area, reach us at (256) 285-4895.