Signs Your Chimney Needs Cleaning

You and every homeowner with a fireplace should be aware that it is a matter of safety to know and heed the signs that your chimney needs cleaning. Being frugal about spending is prudent but neglecting chimney care and maintenance can be dangerous. Each year, thousands of home fires occur as a direct result of a dirty chimney. Creosote buildup is the primary cause of dirty chimneys, and it poses multiple threats to home safety. But there are various other causes, as well. Below, learn signs that your chimney needs cleaning.

Burned Wood Odors

If your fireplace seems to smell like burnt wood whether a fire is lit or not, it is likely a sign of excess creosote inside the chimney flue. Excess creosote is even more dangerous than normal levels because it is highly flammable. A hot ember can easily cause creosote to ignite, resulting in a hazardous chimney fire. Oftentimes, chimney fires continue to burn as long as they are fueled by more creosote inside the chimney liner.

Fires are Tough to Start and Maintain

If a fire is not getting enough air, it may be due to a weak chimney draft. Restricted airflow results in fires that are difficult to start and tough to keep going at a level that can provide desired warmth. If your fires aren’t burning as strongly as they did previously, it could be because creosote buildup is creating blockage and negatively affecting airflow.

Smoke Billows Into the Room

A dirty chimney can also prevent noxious combustion gases from exiting the chimney properly. When smoke begins billowing into your home, it is a good sign that chimney cleaning is needed right away. Smoke from your fireplace contains deadly carbon monoxide that threatens everyone’s health. The respiratory health of your family could be threatened by the toxic combustion fumes, as well.

Animals in the Chimney

A completely different reason chimney cleaning may be needed is that animals may have climbed into your chimney. A chimney cap with mesh can prevent this problem. Without a chimney cap, however, animals drawn to the warmth and shelter of the chimney could go inside and cause problems. Toxic animal waste is left behind, and it can have an adverse effect on health. Animals can get stuck in the chimney, and the odors caused by decomposing animals are horrendous.

If birds entered your chimney, there are likely nests inside that are causing an obstruction, as well. If you’ve been hearing animal activity in your chimney, contact chimney professionals without delay. Dealing with animals can be dangerous because of potential exposure to disease alone, and it’s best to leave the task to experienced chimney sweeps.

Why Professional Chimney Cleaning is Essential

When chimney cleaning is needed, it is especially important to contact a reputable chimney sweep company for chimney cleaning services. This important job requires someone to climb on the roof for chimney cleaning, which is extremely dangerous, as evidenced by the fact that falls are the leading cause of workplace fatalities.

Removing creosote from a chimney can be simple or complicated because there are three forms of creosote. Only one type of creosote can be cleaned out using nothing more than professional chimney sweep brushes. The other two types require special equipment for removal.

Contact Dubuque Fireplace & Patio Today

Are there signs that your chimney needs cleaning? Time may be the only evidence you need if you use your fireplace routinely and haven’t scheduled chimney cleaning in a year or more. Some of the most respected fire safety experts in the U.S. recommend annual chimney cleaning as well as annual chimney inspections.

Dubuque Fireplace & Patio chimney sweeps are experienced and trained to handle all chimney maintenance needs. The same is true at the sister store in Highland WI, Chimney Specialists Inc., which can be reached at (608) 929-4887. In and around Dubuque IA, Dubuque Fireplace & Patio offers trusted chimney services. Call today at (563) 582-5156 for chimney cleaning services.