When is the last time you had your chimney cleaned? If it’s been more than a year, you may be putting yourself in a hazardous situation. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), chimney fires are one of the leading causes of house fires, with about 20,000 residential house fires caused by chimneys annually. The frustrating thing for us here at Hale’s Chimney and Fireplace Solutions is that we know that most of these fires could have been prevented with routine chimney cleaning. In fact, The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) concludes that the leading contributor to home heating fires is soot and creosote buildup within chimneys that catch on fire. At Hale’s Chimney and Fireplace Solutions, we don’t want you to be discouraged from enjoying your fireplace, so we want you to know that these types of chimney fires can be prevented with good chimney maintenance and periodic sweeping.
Dirty Chimneys
Chimneys are very susceptible to getting dirty. When you burn wood, energy is released in the form of heat. However, if your fire isn’t hot enough. Not all of the chemicals in your wood are fully burned. These byproducts consist of smoke, soot, ash, and other gases which aren’t easily seen. When this byproduct is expelled from your fireplace, it begins to cool and some of it condensates on the inside of your chimney. This condensation is called creosote. Other fuels such as coal, and to a lesser extent, natural gas also create creosote as well. Issues with creosote occur when is starts to build up inside of your fireplace. It takes a high temperature for creosote to ignite, but once it does, it is nearly impossible to put out. Because of this, only ⅛ to ¼ of creosote buildup is considered hazardous.
Creosote is not the only hazard that may be lurking inside your chimney. Debris from animal nests, trees, and wind can also fall inside your chimney opening. Like creosote, leaves, branches, and paper are all potential fire hazards, but they also pose a threat of blocking your chimney as well. Chimney blockages can cause airflow issues leading to poor quality fires and smoke being forced back into your home. As you can see, it is important to remediate issues related to messy chimneys.
Hale’s Can Help!
Hale’s Chimney and Fireplace Solutions we can help you with your dirty chimney. Our professional chimney sweeps have been certified by the CSIA. Being CSIA certified is important to us because it means that our sweeps have been trained and tested on the latest chimney and fireplace maintenance and safety standards. That coupled with over a decade of professional service, means that we are the most qualified chimney sweeping service in North Texas.
Don’t leave your home at risk any longer. If it’s been over a year since your last chimney cleaning, call Hale’s Chimney and Fireplace Solutions at 972-562-6851, or schedule an appointment with one of our chimney sweeps online today. We’ll offer you peace of mind knowing that your chimney is clean and safe for you and your household.