Hello World! Welcome Friends! Every year, there are several incidents of home fires that are caused by fireplaces. However, it’s not the fireplace that caused the fire, it’s the unclean chimney and the build-up creosote that caused it. Creosote can be harmful to humans when inhaled and can catch fire easily as it’s similar to tar. It’s heavy, thick, oily, and contains chemicals. When you burn wood in your fireplace, the smoke that comes out of the burnt wood contains this chemical, and it gets stuck inside the chimney. If it is not cleaned regularly, it can cause a fire. If you want to avoid this, read on to know everything you need to know on how often your chimney needs to be cleaned and how to clean it.
When Should you Inspect your Chimney?
If you don’t know what creosote looks like, then it’s better to hire a professional to do it for you. Your fireplace should be inspected regularly to ensure that everything is cleaned and working as it should. However, if at any point you feel that your fireplace or heating system is not performing properly, it’s better to schedule a chimney inspection before using it again. If you’ve recently moved to a new house, then it is advisable to get it inspected. If all is working well, then a yearly inspection is preferable.
When to Clean It
Many individuals in Virginia struggled with fires inside their houses due to creosote. When your chimney is blocked or not cleaned for a long time, the fire and smoke from the burnt wood will result in creosote, which can lead to a fire in the house. If you live somewhere where there’s a constant need to use the fireplace, such as Fairfax in Virginia for instance, then this means you need to have it cleaned on a more regular basis. An inspection should tell you when and how often your chimney needs to be cleaned. However, to stay on the safe side, getting chimney cleaning in fairfax va annually is preferable. You can do it right before winter to guarantee that it will be clean the next time you decide to use it. If you’ve waited more than a year to inspect and clean your chimney, you might end up paying a huge amount of money for repairs, in case there was a problem that was neglected. That’s why an annual chimney cleaning is the best way to ensure that everything is operating properly and you’ll be able to avoid expensive repairs.
How to Check for Creosote
If you want to check for creosote yourself, first check the airflow of the chimney. If it’s not going up, as it’s supposed to be, then some creosote might be present. Look around inside the chimney, if you see little creosote, no cleaning is needed, however, if you can see a lot of it, don’t use your fireplace until you get it cleaned.
It is important to clean your chimney every year. It’s always recommended to hire a professional cleaning company to inspect and clean it for you. However, if you want to save some money and do it yourself, make sure that you have all the right gear and you take extra precautions to ensure your safety.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Head to Toe: Taking Care of You
When a Kitchen Sink Is Clogged
4 Home Maintenance Tasks To Complete
Find The Right House for an Affordable Price
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