If you have a fireplace in your home, there are a lot of things that may remind you of spending a toasty evening watching the flames dance across the logs. Reminiscing about those flames might also remind you of something else—that promise you made to your spouse that you were going to have the fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned before the fall arrived. The good news is there’s still time; the bad news is your time is quickly running out.
All joking aside, fall really is just around the corner. It’s a great time to get your chimney and fireplace or wood-burning stove ready for the winter heating season. The best place to begin is by simply calling the certified professionals at Fluesbrothers Chimney Service to schedule to have your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned to prevent a possible chimney fire and to ensure that everything is in peak operating condition.
Wood fires leave a nasty combination of soot, ash, tree resins (from the sap) and creosote coating the inside of your chimney. Over time, a thick coating of creosote can form, turning into a dangerous fuel that could easily cause a chimney fire under the right conditions. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), chimney fires can burn hot enough (upwards of 2,000°F) to destroy the flue liner, crack the brickwork, and spread rapidly into the adjacent areas where it can quickly spread.
It’s easy to understand why annual chimney system inspections are strongly recommended for all homeowners who make use of their fireplaces and/or wood-burning stoves. In fact, more frequent inspections are recommended for systems that endure heavier usage.
Without a proper inspection, how will you know that it’s safe to burn anything in your fireplace?
A proper inspection of your chimney by a qualified chimney professional should include a thorough examination of the external structure to look for possible signs of deterioration or weakness, as well as a visual inspection of your flue to look for possible cracking or spalling and to inspect the mortar between clay flue tiles for deterioration. It’s not unheard of for a chimney to look fine on the outside but have hidden dangers lurking on the inside.
Problems with your chimney’s flue can present serious risks to your home and family, because it’s no longer able to perform its primary function: safely containing and venting the harmful byproducts of combustion to the outside of your home. If it’s discovered that your current liner has deteriorated, cracked or has potential defects, it’s recommended that you either have it replaced (possibly with a Forever Flex stainless steel liner) or repaired (possibly with HeatShield Cerfractory Sealant).
If you’re searching for the best chimney sweeps in Kansas City Metro area, look no further. The professionals at Fluesbrothers Chimney Service are here to help. We’re a full-service chimney company; all of our chimney sweeps are CSIA-certified and go through annual trainings to ensure that we’re able to provide our customers with the latest techniques and technologies. So what are you waiting for? Give us a call today to schedule your annual inspection and cleaning to get your system ready for fall.
