Chimney Cleaning for Safety – Seekonk, MA

25 July 2013      

Chimney cleaning should be done by professionals.  Chimney sweeps are trained to inspect, clean and repair your chimneys. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that if you use your fireplace then you should have your chimney cleaned and inspected once every year to avoid a chimney fire.

Cleaning your chimney once a year means your chimney will be safe and it also ensures that it will work properly. The summer is a perfect time to have this done.  A dirty chimney is dangerous. Additionally, if your fireplace and chimney are not cleaned and inspected properly it could lead to serious health and safety issues.

The end products from burning  pellet and wood fires are gases, moisture, soot, and creosote. Creosote is an oil that comes from burning wood or pellets and it builds up over time in the chimney.  It builds up because a chimney is cooler at the top, cooling the hot air as it rises, causing the creosote to stick to the walls of the chimney and flues. Creosote is flammable. If the creosote accumulates, it can block the air vent and cause chimney fires.

If the chimney is blocked the residual gases don’t go out the chimney. This means that the some of those toxic gases could head into your living space instead, causing a health risk to you and your family.

Creosote is also highly combustible. This means that creosote build up can also cause chimney fires. To get your chimney cleaned before you need to use it again this fall, contact the Fireplace Showcase.