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A dirty or blocked chimney can lead to a possible disaster in your home. Since all the smoke, ash, and other unsavory byproducts of your fireplace exit your home through this structure, it is no surprise that chimneys are often one of the dirtiest places in your home. Depending on your specific type of fuel burned in your fireplace, you may need to clean this often unnoticed structure of your home on a more frequent basis. Regardless if you are burning a cleaner fuel, such as natural gas or propane, you should be sure to do regular maintenance and cleaning of your chimney to prevent any blockages that may cause problems in your home.
Especially if you burn wood in your fireplace, expect your chimney to be filthy. All of the byproducts that escape through the air when burning different types of wood congregate in chimneys and can potentially cause problems if left ignored. If you are experiencing an excess of smoke when a fire is lit or are noticing ashes, soot, and other items falling into your firebox, consider cleaning this structure immediately. Whether you hire a professional sweep or use another method, keeping your chimney clean is critical. The danger of a dirty chimney is simple: byproducts begin to develop and clog the sides of the structure until a blockage occurs. Once your structure is blocked, there is a dangerous risk that develops, mainly carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a chemical component that is produced as a byproduct of burning things from wood to gas to anything else. If levels of carbon monoxide develop to greatly in your home, this compound can make your family increasingly ill. Since carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, its nickname of the “silent killer” is sadly true. Each year, far too many individuals are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning that develops unnoticed. For this reason, ensure your chimney is kept clean and install carbon monoxide detectors in your home along with smoke detectors. In addition to keeping your chimney clean of the byproducts of your fireplace fuel, you should be sure to keep the structure clear of other blockages. Many homeowners experience problems with birds begin nesting in their structure, which can block the gases from escaping and create a backup into your home. Typically, birds nest in chimneys during the warmer months when you are not actively burning a fire and leave before you even light the first flame. Even though the birds have left, their nest is left behind and can block the opening of the chimney and have problems. When looking to clean your dirty chimney, look to hiring a professional. Just as in olden times, sweeps are readily available to clean your structure and ensure it is free of blockages. Also, there are several types of logs available that you can burn to keep your fireplace clean. Although these logs are great for temporary fixes, you should always turn to professionals to keep your chimney clean, since they can also examine the structure to see if any problems need fixing.
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