If your home has a working fireplace, you and your family probably love curling up in front of it on chilly evenings. Even though most homeowners don’t use their fireplaces as their primary sources of heat in this day and age, they are still the coziest way to warm up a room. If you have a fireplace, though, properly maintaining it is extremely important. You should have a chimney sweep inspect your fireplace and chimney at least once per year. In this guide, you will see popular questions and answers that pertain to correct upkeep.
What do chimney sweeps actually do?
Chimney sweeps engage in all forms of fireplace and chimney care, from routine maintenance to total replacements. Generally, when a chimney sweep visits your home, the first thing he will do is place a tarp over your fireplace to block ash from flying into your living space. He may also tarp floor around the hearth for good measure. Once the inside of your house has been prepped, your chimney sweep will go onto your roof to complete the majority of his cleaning job. Using a long brush and a variety of rods, he will remove soot and creosote from the interior of your chimney stack, leaving it in pristine condition for the season.
It is also very likely that your chimney sweep will inspect your chimney and fireplace for any potential problems. The damper, for instance, can loosen, leading to air leaks that make the entire system function inefficiently. Furthermore, if there are cracks on your exterior chimney stack, you will probably need to have a local Carolina mason take a look and give you a repair quote. The longer cracks are allowed to linger, the more likely they are to cause crumbling.
How frequently does my chimney really need to be swept?
While the National Fire Protection agency suggests having chimneys inspected and cleaned once a year, it is possible that you should have your heating system look at more frequently. If, for example, you use your fireplace multiple times per week for most of the year, you might want to have it cleaned every six months. Furthermore, wet wood and softwoods, like pine, tend to produce more soot, which can also increase the frequency with which a fireplace needs to be swept.
How can I find a reputable chimney sweep?
If you’ve never worked with a Carolina chimney sweep in the past, the best way to go about finding a reputable professional is to talk to your family and friends. If any of them have chimneys and have lived in your area for a while, they are likely to be able to recommend a trustworthy local chimney expert. If you don’t know anyone who has a chimney, you can turn to the internet for guidance. Both consumer review sites and chimney sweeps’ official pages can help you make your final decision.
If you are interested in having the Hatch Homes team inspect your chimney or perform any repairs, simply call our office to schedule a consultation. We take pride in performing quality work and our helpful crew is here to answer any questions you may have about your upcoming project. We look forward to speaking with you at your earliest convenience.