How to Know If Your Chimney is Safe to Use
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When winter rolls around, you will likely be eager to relax by your fireplace with your friends or loved ones, especially if you’ve put up some nice winter fireplace decor! Before lighting your fireplace, however, you want to be sure that your chimney is safe to use. There are several measures that you can take to check on your chimney’s safety, which we will share with you.
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How to Know If Your Chimney is Safe to Use
Here are some ways that you can confirm that your chimney is safe to use each season before lighting it for the first time.
Have Your Chimney Inspected
First and foremost, the most important step of the process. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends having your chimney inspected annually. There are three levels of inspections and all check for damages, leaks, cracks, masonry issues, obstructions and more, though each level does so in an increasingly in-depth manner. Having your chimney inspected will help ensure that it is safe to use for the season. Check out our blog about what’s involved in a chimney inspection for more details on each inspection level and then give us a call to discuss our needs.
Call Us at 877-959-3534 for Chimney Service
Get a Chimney Sweep
A Chimney sweep removes unwanted substances from your chimney, including creosote build up, soot, ash and even animal nests. Without annual chimney sweepings, any of these have the potential to build up and obstruct the chimney flue, which can lead to chimney fires or carbon monoxide leaks. We highly recommend hiring a CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certified chimney sweep to take care of your chimney sweep. These certified professionals have taken extensive training courses and follow a code of ethics, meaning that you can trust them with the safety of your chimney.
Be Observant
Though you are probably not a chimney professional, you may be able to tell if something is off with your chimney. Be aware of smells that do not seem right, animal sounds, leaks in the ceiling near your chimney, and of course any signs of smoke. If you suspect that something is off, play it safe and call a team of professionals to take a look at your chimney, especially before lighting your chimney.
Take Safety Precautions
Make sure that your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working and have fresh batteries. In fact, we recommend making this a habit at Daylight Savings time – time to change the clocks? Change the batteries! Simple precautions can make a big difference in ensuring that your chimney is not releasing carbon monoxide or smoke into your living space.
Call Us at 877-959-3534 for Chimney Service
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