How Regular Chimney Cleanings Keep You Safe

Having a fireplace in your home is a luxury, especially when you live somewhere that gets particularly cold. There are few things more cozy than a crackling fire while you snuggle on the sofa and watch a movie.

When you use your fireplace regularly the chimney gets dirty. The soot that rises can cake up and cause all kinds of trouble. The kind of trouble that could cost you your life, or the lives of those you love. The fact is, letting your chimney go without cleaning is nothing short of dangerous. Here’s why. 

Fire

Chimneys that are not cleaned regularly can catch on fire. This is because creosote, which is a flammable byproduct of wood burning, cakes up in the chimney. Approximately twenty-eight percent of house fires begin on the second floor because of the built-up creosote in the chimney. That’s a high enough percentage to make you think about cleaning your chimney. 

Carbon Monoxide

Dirty chimneys can become blocked, which pushes all that carbon monoxide right back into your home. This is very dangerous and can be deadly. About 400 people die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the United States every year.

Damage to the Structure

When creosote builds up the flue liner can crack, and the brick can crack. Damage to the structure costs money to repair. By cleaning your chimney you’re preventing these problems before they happen. One crack in the masonry can lead to others so it's important to stop issues before they start. 

Health Problems

Chimney soot is not good for your lungs and diseases like bronchitis can become ignited when the lungs are irritated. If you have someone in your home who has asthma or another bronchial-related health issue, not cleaning the chimney isn’t helping them. 

Can I Clean My Chimney Myself?

You could, but we wouldn’t recommend it. To thoroughly clean the chimney experts wear protective gear, then they seal off the fireplace. Once that’s done they climb on the roof and begin brushing the creosote that’s built up in the flue. 

Attempting to clean your chimney yourself is dangerous and it can be costly. Professional chimney cleaners have experience and know how to get the job done right. As an amateur, you might do significant damage to that flue, which would then need replacing. An added cost would be the tools and supplies you need to clean the chimney. 

While it’s nice to do things ourselves, there are some things better left to the professionals. Cleaning your chimney is on that list. 

How Often Should I Have My Chimney Cleaned?

We suggest having your chimney cleaned at least once a year. If you use your fireplace a lot then maybe more often. An expert can help you with that decision after taking a good look at the creosote in the flue. But overall, once a year is good. 

Do You Have a Chimney that Needs Cleaning in Portland, OR?

If you live in Albany, Newport, Vancouver, or surrounding areas and are in need of chimney cleaning, contact us at Lifetime Chimney. We can give you a free quote, set up an appointment, and get one of our experts out there soon so you and your family can cozy back up to a safe fireplace.