How Often Do I Need to Clean My Chimney?

Cleaning your chimney should become routine, although you don’t have to learn to clean it yourself. It is important to keep up with cleaning your chimney to maintain it properly. Cleaning your chimney is more of a safety issue than any other. They tend to have built-up soot and dust, which can cause blockages and eventually catch on fire.

Thankfully, if you have a fireplace of your own, you can utilize experts like SootServ to tackle all of your chimney cleaning needs. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of frequent chimney cleaning.

Why Does Chimney Cleaning Matter?

Since safety is a top priority when it comes to chimney cleaning, it’s important to understand how these house fires can start. While this is not always the case, house fires often occur when creosote (a harmful chemical) builds up inside your chimney, which is why taking precautionary measures regarding chimney cleaning and maintenance is so important.

Fireplaces that use wood will see a build-up of creosote over time. Each year in the spring, it is recommended that homeowners get their chimneys checked and cleaned to avoid the buildup that could pose a danger to the home. How frequently does this occur?

Frequency of Chimney Fires

Since these fires can be detrimental to the home, it is important to emphasize the frequency of these fires. According to a 2021 NFPA, over 48,000 were reported in the United states and on average 29% of all annual house fires are caused by fireplaces.

How Do You Know if it Happens?

If a chimney fire is to occur in your home, often there is a loud popping noise and dense smoke emitted from the chimney. Unfortunately, this can go undetected by many homeowners since they cannot always see the chimney when they are inside, which is why constantly staying on top of cleaning your chimney is crucial.

How Frequently Should You Clean Your Chimney?

Since you understand the importance of cleaning your chimney, you also need to know how frequently you should have it done. Usually, people have their chimneys inspected annually. This is done by a professional who does a chimney sweep.

Depending on the frequency of use, the creosote buildup in your chimney will vary. Many things affect how much creosote can get stuck to the walls of your chimney. However, the most common is the volume of airflow and the burning of bad wood. Both of these factors can increase buildup.

While there is no regulated frequency for cleaning your chimney, it is better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, examining your chimney through a chimney sweep done by a professional should be done frequently to avoid issues.

Prevent Potential Chimney Issues

There are a couple of tips and tricks that you can use to avoid dangerous chimney fires. Regardless, we recommend getting your chimney checked and cleaned annually.

  • Clean Firebox: Letting ashes gather in the firebox causes a heightened risk of a chimney fire. If you notice the ashes begin to accumulate, make sure you clean out the firebox.
  • Seasoned Firewood: If you use wood in your fireplace, use only seasoned firewood. If you are someone who gets firewood yourself, make sure you let the wood sit out for a prolonged period of time. If you are purchasing from a vendor, be sure that they are offering you only seasoned wood.
  • Damper: If you are lighting a fire, be sure the damper is entirely open before lighting a fire in the firebox.
  • Painted Wood: If you are burning wood, avoid burning pressure-treated or painted wood. This tends to increase creosote buildup or even create toxic fumes, which are also dangerous for your home and family.
  • Large Logs: When handling larger logs, place them on the bottom of the firebox. This way, the fire burns hotter underneath, producing less smoke to avoid any buildup in your chimney.
  • Inspection: As mentioned, an annual inspection by a professional is recommended to keep your chimney in tip-top shape. Hire someone experienced and reliable.

Trust Your Local Chimney Cleaner

Since cleaning your chimney is crucial to maintain the health and safety of your home and family, you will want to have it inspected and cleaned, annually. This prevents the buildup of creosote and assures that any toxicity is taken care of. Furthermore, you want to invest in chimney cleaners who are reliable and knowledgeable.

Have a fireplace of your own you need to maintain? Consider working with SootServ to take care of your chimney needs. To get in touch with them to check your chimney, click the link here or call (225) 572-6678.