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An ounce of
prevention.....
Is worth a pound of cure
If you have a
fireplace or wood burning stove, summer is a good time to see about
getting your chimney cleaned. You're probably not using them for
heating right now, and professional chimney sweeps in your area are
less busy now than they are in the fall or winter.
Because of the high
cost of oil and electricity, fireplaces and wood burning stoves
have become more popular in the United States and Canada. Most
people don't seem to realize that chimneys need regular cleaning
when wood is burned, particularly when it is burned on a daily basis
during the heating season.
Get
professional help
A dirty chimney
is a potential fire hazard.
Dust-like carbon
deposits called creosote collect on the inside of a chimney flue,
impairing the draft. Wood stove manufacturers estimate that as
little as one millimeter of creosote lining the chimney can reduce a
stove's efficiency by up to 15 percent. If the carbon buildup is
heavy this might be the least of your worries.
These
carbon deposits are extremely flammable and burn with an intense
flame that can melt mortar. Flaming balls of debris may be lifted
out of your chimney onto the roof, your lawn, or your next-door
neighbor's house. Smoke may back up into your home, causing
considerable smoke damage. If conditions are right, your whole house
could catch fire. And even if damage is minimal, the chimney may be
so badly weakened that it isn't safe to use anymore.
The
National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys be
inspected and cleaned once a year. When a wood burning stove is used
regularly, the chimney should be checked every six months.
If your not sure,
call North Scituate
chimney
sweeps. We will inspect the chimney and if it
doesn't need cleaning, you will be told. We perform level one
inspection to the guidelines of the NFPA 211 with every chimney
sweep appointment and if the chimney does not need to be sweep you
will be told. Please visit
www.csia.org to find a level one chimney inspection explained.
A
chimney is cleaned from the top to the bottom. First, the smoke box
is sealed off. Then the sweep chooses a brush to correspond to the
shape and size of the flue. He then runs the tightly fitting brush
up and down the flue on six-foot extensions of rods. A high-powered
vacuum is used to remove the carbon deposits and control any soot
that might escape from the smoke box.
A
professional sweep will give you the price before the work is done.
Don't be afraid to ask for references. Make sure the sweep is
covered by insurance; liability, property damage and completed
operations coverage should be carried. A
properly installed and properly maintained system can mean economy
with safety.
.jpg) Buying
a home
Hire a professional
Chimney Sweep
We can't tell you the number of calls we receive from clients that
just bought a home and they have no idea when the last time the
chimney was swept or inspected. Even though a home inspector
looks at a chimney, a professional chimney sweep inspection is
beyond the scope of a home inspection. A home inspector is not
obligatory to get on top of the chimney. The ASHI standard 9.3.D.1
specifically states "The inspector is not required to observe the
interior of the flues." Most home inspectors will recommend in
writing that a chimney sweep and inspection be done by a
professional chimney sweep prior to closing on your home. A
professional Chimney Sweep will save you from costly repairs.
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