Did you know that one of the most devastating disasters that can happen to a house is preventable?
Annually, in the US alone, there are more than 25,000 chimney fires, which account for over $120 million in property damage. And you’ll never believe this…
The truth is that most of those fires could have been avoided by regular chimney maintenance.
The problem is: many homeowners are under the misconception that chimney cleaning is an overrated task. They simply can’t see what harm is there in that, believing that chimney sweeping is only the removal of a little bit of soot.
What they don’t see, and what’s even scarier, is how an unwiped chimney can potentially become a deadly fire hazard for their entire house.
This article is what you should read if you want to know:
- Why Regular Chimney Sweeping Is Your Best Defense
- The Hidden Dangers Lurking In Your Chimney
- How Often Do You Need Professional Cleaning
- The Real Cost Of Skipping Maintenance
- What Happens During A Professional Chimney Service
Why Regular Chimney Sweeping Is Your Best Defense
Regular chimney sweeping is just like insurance for your home.
See, every time you build a fire at your fireplace, the combustion produces some by-products. They move up the chimney and, as they cool down, they create a tar-like substance that sticks to the chimney walls. This substance is called creosote.
Here’s the thing about it…
Creosote is highly flammable. Even a tiny spark or ember can ignite it, and, with the speed of a bullet, it will create a chimney fire that will reach other parts of your home.
Removing this type of buildup is the only thing that can prevent chimney fires. A professional chimney sweep service will make sure your chimney is clean and safe. When you visit Sweep Smart Essex for regular chimney maintenance, you’re not only cleaning your chimney, you’re taking care of your home and protecting it from house fires.
The statistics are not lying. According to Fire Information, 87% of residential heating fires are actually confined fires. They tend to happen in chimneys, flues, and burners.
For the most part, they occur due to the lack of the owners keeping their heating systems clean.
Here’s a secret that most people aren’t aware of…
Clean chimneys simply don’t catch fire.
The Hidden Dangers Lurking In Your Chimney
You can’t see them, but the deadly hazards are building up in your chimney, as we speak.
Aside from the highly flammable buildup, there are other dangerous conditions that can develop in your chimney if you don’t maintain it properly:
- Blockages can be debris, animals, or nests. They all restrict airflow.
- Damaged chimney liners. They let the heat and the by-products escape.
- Cracked mortar joints that affect the structural integrity of the chimney.
- Carbon monoxide buildup. The poor ventilation can lead to it.
All these problems don’t come with warning signs or indicators. They just start building up silently until a disaster happens.
Home heating fires result in 500 deaths in the US every year. The truth is that most of those could be prevented with proper chimney maintenance and inspections.
One more thing that most homeowners don’t even know…
Let’s say you do have a chimney fire and it doesn’t spread to other parts of your home. The whole idea of “contained” fire is a big lie.
The intense heat still has great damage and can do it to your chimney. It can leave cracks in the flue, warp the metal components and create chimney crowns. All these “hidden damages” are usually invisible to homeowners, but they will still make the chimney unsafe to use.
How Often Do You Need Professional Cleaning
This is the one thing most homeowners tend to get completely wrong.
First of all, the frequency of the chimney cleaning depends on several factors. But if we talk about the general rule, then this is it: once per year is the minimum frequency required, regardless of how often you use your fireplace.
But if you use your fireplace heavily, then the more frequent the cleaning will have to be:
- Heavy use (more than 3 times per week) – every 6 months
- Moderate use (1-3 times per week) – once per year
- Light use (just the weekend fires) – once per year
- Wood stoves are also supposed to be cleaned more frequently based on usage.
And here’s why the timing is so important…
48% of all heating-related fires occur in December, January, and February. The cold weather is when most people tend to use their fireplaces regularly, and it puts extra stress on their heating systems.
Don’t wait until the heating season to schedule the cleaning. The best thing you can do is have it before you will actually need to use your fireplace the most.
The Real Cost Of Skipping Maintenance
And here are some numbers that are sure to blow your mind away.
First of all, chimney cleaning can cost you an average of £80-£200. The fire damage’s average cost is over $27,000 per incident.
However, the cost of missing the chimney service isn’t only financial. Fire damage in the house can lead to the following:
- Being displaced from your house for months while the repairs are being made.
- Losing your irreplaceable personal items and the family heirlooms.
- The risk of injury and even death of your family members.
- Long-term emotional trauma that will stay with you and your family for a long time after the repairs are over.
In other words, would you rather spend £150 on annual chimney sweeping or risk losing everything you’ve ever worked for?
Regular chimney sweeping is the most inexpensive insurance policy you will ever buy.
What Happens During A Professional Chimney Service
Professional chimney sweeping is a lot more than most homeowners might think.
There is more to a certified technician than just taking away the soot and the debris. Here is what a professional service should include:
Inspection phase:
- Visual inspection of the chimney exterior.
- Internal inspection with the help of a special camera.
- The chimney crown and the cap will also be checked.
- Flue liner’s condition will be assessed as well.
Cleaning phase:
- Creosote buildup will be removed with the use of professional brushes.
- All blockages and debris will be removed.
- The smoke chamber and the damper will also be cleaned.
- Animal nests and any other obstructions will be removed as well.
Safety assessment:
- Carbon monoxide testing.
- Checking for structural damage and deterioration.
- Verification that the ventilation is done correctly.
- Recommendations for repairs if needed.
The whole process usually takes 1-3 hours, depending on the state of your chimney and how much buildup there is.
The most important part is that after the professional chimney services have been done, you will get a detailed report of their findings and any recommendations to maintain the safe operation of your fireplace.
Bottom Line
Regular chimney sweeping is not a type of maintenance that can be left as an option.
More than 25,000 chimney fires occur annually, and the question isn’t if you can afford professional chimney sweeping, but can you afford not to have it?
Here are the facts:
- Chimneys that are cleaned on a regular basis won’t catch fire.
- Annual cleaning will prevent dangerous creosote buildup.
- Professional chimney inspection will catch problems before they become disasters.
- The prevention costs way less than fire damage.
Don’t be a part of the statistics. Schedule your chimney cleaning today and protect your home and your family. That’s what matters the most to you.
Remember, when it comes to chimney safety, you can never be too careful.
Regular maintenance and inspections done by qualified professionals are the only ways to keep your fireplace a source of warmth and comfort and not a deadly fire hazard for your house.
The choice is yours: spend a little on prevention now or risk losing everything later.