Chimney fires are one of the leading causes of residential house fires every year. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), there are more than 20,000 residential house fires caused by chimneys annually. Unfortunately, most of those fires can be prevented. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) reports that the leading contributor to home fires is a dirty chimney. At Hales Chimney and Fireplace Solutions, we don’t want you to be discouraged from enjoying your fireplace. Fireplaces are perfectly safe if you keep them properly maintained through the years.
Inspection
The most important thing to keep your chimney functioning more efficiently and safe is to have it inspected by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year. Annual inspections are critical to make sure your chimney is in a good condition. During an inspection, a chimney sweep look for any damage in your chimney and fireplace. They also inspect your chimney to make sure it isn’t clogged with debris or creosote. Finally, the chimney sweep make sure that other chimney components such as chimney crown, chimney cap, and damper are in working condition.
Cleaning
When you burn firewood and other fuels, sometimes the combustion isn’t allowing smoke and gas to be released. As these gases rise and cool, they condense on the inside of your chimney. This condensation is causes creosote and, over time, it accumulates into a thick black tar-like substance. During an inspection, a chimney sweep assess how much creosote is on the inside of your chimney. If there is too much built up, we will recommend you to get your chimney cleaned.
It is very important to get your chimney cleaned. Creosote is highly flammable. It can cause a chimney fire that is impossible to put out. There is no good way to prevent creosote from building up inside your chimney. All fuel types release smoke, soot, and gases. It is essential to schedule a chimney inspection to see the level of creosote build in your chimney. Debris from trees and animal nesting may also appear inside your chimney. Debris is also a fire hazard. If there is an animal living inside your chimney, oftentimes we can help with that as well.
Who are you going to call?
At Hales Chimney and Fireplace Solutions, we are incredibly proud to be CSIA certified. This means that we have been trained and tested on the latest chimney and fireplace maintenance and safety standards. Only a CSIA certified chimney sweep has had the training and experience to properly perform a chimney inspection and cleaning to ensure your highest level of safety.
If you haven’t had your chimney inspected or cleaned in a while, call us now. Don’t put your home at risk! Call Hales Chimney and Fireplace Solutions at 972-562-6851, or schedule an appointment with one of our chimney sweeps online today.