Make the Holidays Brighter with Two Chimney Services
Chimneys don’t know what time of year it is when they decide to start causing problems. Many a holiday season has been interrupted – or completely ruined – because of a chimney fire or failure.
Hudson Valley Chimney of Poughkeepsie, NY, would like to share two of the best ways to get your chimney ready for the holidays and make the season brighter instead of troublesome.
Those two ways are a chimney inspection and a professional chimney cleaning.
What happens during a chimney inspection?
A licensed chimney inspector will take a close look at all readily accessible areas and parts of your chimney and fireplace system.
They will look for damage to the chimney structure and its components and address chimney leaks, draft problems, chimney odors, and other operational issues.
Here are some of the things your chimney inspector will check.
- Chimney cap or chase cover
- Concrete chimney crown
- Bricks and mortar of the exterior masonry
- Chimney flashing
- Chimney liner
- Fireplace damper
- Firebox surfaces
Problems in any of these areas can lead to serious issues you don’t want to be dealing with during the holidays – or at any other time of the year.
An essential part of a chimney inspection is ensuring proper flue and firebox clearances and that the chimney is sized correctly for the fireplace it’s connected to.
Clearance and sizing issues can result in smoke and carbon monoxide backups, interior chimney damage, and, in the worst-case scenario, a house fire.
How chimney sweeping works
Chimney sweeping, or chimney cleaning, is performed by a trained technician with a variety of brushes, scrubbers, whips, solvents, and other tools. The goal is to remove flammable creosote and draft-blocking debris from the chimney flue.
The best chimney sweep technicians are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) or another certifying body. Cleaning a chimney requires not only the ability to use tools, but also adequate thorough knowledge of chimney structures, the physics of drafting, and safe operating practices.
Creosote
Creosote forms when smoke condenses in the chimney flue. It can ignite easily and is the #1 cause of reported chimney fires in New York every year.
Whether it’s puffy, flaky, sticky, or solid, you should have the creosote in your flue removed once a year. This can be scheduled at the same time as the chimney inspection.
Drafting obstructions
Leaves, twigs, small animal nests, and the occasional dead animal can clog the chimney flue, allowing smoke and deadly carbon monoxide to filter into your living spaces. Carbon monoxide is a particular concern because it’s invisible and odorless.
Chimney sweeping removes all this debris. A proper chimney cap keeps it from getting into the chimney in the first place.
How you can help your chimney and fireplace run better during the holidays
There’s no substitute for a chimney inspection and chimney cleaning, but there are some ways you can ensure a safer and less-troublesome holiday season with your chimney.
- Burn only dry firewood, which creates far less smoke than damp wood.
- Never use your fireplace to burn Christmas trees, boxes, wrapping paper, plastics, metals, or anything other than actual firewood.
- Invest in a protective fireplace screen to shield the firebox from children and curious pets.
- Don’t leave an active fireplace unattended.
- Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors have fresh batteries.
Expert chimney sweeping and chimney inspection
If your chimney needs some attention this holiday season, Hudson Valley Chimney is standing by to help.
Reach a chimney expert by phone or through our simple contact form.
