Spring is the best time to have your chimney inspected, cleaned, and if needed, repaired. Make sure it' in your spring home maintenance checklist.

Spring is the best time to have your chimney inspected, cleaned, and if needed, repaired. Make sure it’ in your spring home maintenance checklist.

A thorough chimney system inspection and cleaning should be atop your spring preventative maintenance checklist, as they’ll be able to shed light on potential other issues. As days grew shorter and the weather got colder, the majority of us retreated indoors to hibernate for the winter. For those of us who made use of a fireplace during these cold weather months, spring is now upon us. This is a great time to schedule an appointment with a chimney sweep to make sure your chimney system is in good working order following the period of extensive use.

Chimney System Inspection

A chimney inspection is like an annual dental check-up. It’s preventative maintenance that helps minimize potential hazards. Sometimes, maintenance requires extra diligence. Today’s chimney inspections are done with a long pole with a camera and light at the end. They show all the flaws, defects, cracks, separations and other issues within the chimney.

These are things that a simple flashlight inspection simply will not reveal. Damage on the inside of your chimney can allow super hot exhaust gases to seep from the chimney into the walls surrounding the chimney. Eventually they can get hot enough to cause a fire. And even if no cracks are visible, a chimney inspector will tell you if the chimney is drafting and functioning properly.

Chimney System Maintenance

A fireplace and chimney that has not been properly maintained can lead to numerous problems, with the most frequent being smoke that fills your home rather than being vented through your chimney. Intensive cleaning of a chimney can be a messy job, but a necessary one nonetheless, as allowing creosote to continue accumulating is a recipe for disaster.

Creosote accumulation is the main reason chimney fires occur. Chimney cleaning helps prevent this build-up and thus reduces the possibility of a chimney fire. In addition to removing the creosote buildup and reducing the possibility of a house fire, chimney cleaning can also help prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a byproduct of the combustion process and can be life threatening (it claims about 4,000 lives a year in the U.S.).

It’s easy to understand why annual chimney system inspections are strongly recommended. In fact, more frequent inspections are recommended for chimneys and flues that endure heavier usage. A proper inspection of your chimney by a qualified chimney professional should include a thorough examination of the external structure to look for signs of deterioration or weakness, as well as a visual inspection of the flue inside your chimney. The chimney professionals at The Mad Hatter are fully prepared to meet all of your chimney inspection and repair needs. Give us a call today!