The Biggest Misguided Assumptions About Chimneys That Can Get You Into Big Trouble
If you are going for heating efficiency and easy sustainability without reliance on public resources, heating your home with wood is definitely the better option. However, having a wood-burning fireplace in your home means you are responsible for keeping the chimney cleaned out from year to year to properly do its job. Otherwise, you could put your home at risk of catching on fire. Here is a quick look at a few of the biggest assumptions homeowners with fireplaces tend to have about keeping their chimney cleaned through the heating seasons.
Assumption: If your chimney was good last year, it will be fine for another heating season.
Fact: If you used your chimney all season last winter, it is easy to assume that the thing should be good to go this season. But this assumption is mostly false. Soot and debris gathers in the chimney throughout the winter. Plus, the chimney is a good spot for birds to set up shop through the spring. Therefore, it is always best to go ahead and have your chimney cleaned out by a professional at the onset of the heating season.
Assumption: If you can shine a light down through your chimney and see it in the fireplace, it is safe to use.
Fact: This assumption is innocent enough because it sounds logical. However, even if you can successfully get a beam of light through the chimney to the bottom, it may still need to be cleaned. The debris that builds up on the inner walls of the chimney can harbor a lot of heat that could easily generate a fire. So even though the chimney is open enough to allow light through, if it has been a while since the chimney was cleaned, you could still be dealing with a fire hazard.
Assumption: As long as the chimney draws smoke, there is no need to have it cleaned.
Fact: Pretty much every homeowner with a wood-burning fireplace knows all about testing the draw of a chimney, which involves lighting a piece of paper or match and ensuring the smoke is pulled upward and out. While having a chimney with a healthy draw is a good thing, this doesn't always mean the chimney is completely clean. Even if there is a small pipeline of airflow, a chimney will usually draw smoke. Without proper assessment from above, it is too risky to use the fireplace.
For a chimney cleaner, contact a company such as Country Corner Chimney Sweeps.