Hiring an experienced and qualified chimney sweep is important for the safety of your home. A professional chimney sweep not only clean your flue, but will also inspect your chimney. A chimney inspection is essential in order to prevent ghastly costs and safety issues. Failure to have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional can lead to:
- Fire from Obstruction or Debris: Perhaps one of the most common safety issues that is associated with chimneys is the build-up of debris in the flue. Leaves, nesting materials and other debris can accumulate in your chimney over time, and if they are not promptly removed, they can become hot and essentially catch fire.
- Creosote Build Up: Creosote is highly combustible, and if it builds up in substantial amounts, it can result in a chimney fire. A qualified chimney sweep will remove dangerous build-up of creosote from your flue.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Carbon monoxide is a gas that is produced when things like gas, oil, charcoal, kerosene or wood is burned. When a blocked or damaged chimney or flue prevents this odorless gas from venting away from the home, high levels of carbon monoxide can backdraft into the home causing occupants to experience carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result in serious illness and even death.
- Costly Repairs: Having a sweep inspect your chimney and all of its components regularly can help to identify damages and discrepancies that, if left untreated, could result in the need for more serious repairs in the future.
Good old Benjamin Franklin said it best when he stated that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, and that age old adage definitely applies when considering employing the services of a chimney sweep.
