Our Company Blog

When Should I Schedule My Chimney Sweeping?

Relishing the comforting glow of a crackling fire is a cherished cold-weather ritual in many households – so much so that when you smell fall in the air you start dreaming of the warmth and ambiance to come. But it’s important to note that, amongst the anticipation, the importance of maintaining your chimney system should play a role. Yes, it’s not glamorous as the flickering flame and radiant warmth themselves. But attentive chimney maintenance does play a crucial role in facilitating them!

Regular chimney inspections and sweeping is a vital aspect of home care for those who enjoy stoves and fireplaces in their living spaces, but as with many home systems, this type of maintenance could go unaddressed until problems arise. However, if a problem noticeably arises in your home heating system, it probably should have been addressed much sooner for reasons of safety, as well as convenience and cost effectiveness.

Why Schedule Your Chimney Inspection Early?

While it may be tempting to put off scheduling chimney sweeping and inspections, there are numerous benefits to being proactive about scheduling the essential service. When is the best time for it? In short, now. There are lots of benefits to acting promptly and arranging for a chimney service sooner rather than later.

• Safety first. Safety is the most compelling reason to schedule your chimney sweeping service promptly. How is a clean chimney a safer chimney? Over time, soot, creosote, and debris can build up within your chimney, creating a potential fire hazard. Each of these substances is combustible, and while your firebox can safely contain a fire, your chimney is not designed to. A clogged chimney also can’t do its job of venting smoke and gases properly. Scheduling your chimney sweepings promptly and routinely helps ameliorate this hazardous situation.
• Prioritizing efficiency. A clean chimney helps you get the most from your heating system. How is a clean chimney a more efficient chimney? When a chimney is clogged, airflow and exhaust is restricted. This results in lower efficiency. With a dirty chimney, you may experience reduced heat output, fuel waste, and higher energy bills. By scheduling your sweeping before burning system, you help ensure that your heating appliance will function at its best throughout the season – giving you maximum warmth and comfort in the cooler months.
• Early detection of issues. Chimney sweeping not only removes buildup, it’s another occasion that a seasoned professional will have eyes on your chimney. Having your chimney under the watchful care of an experienced technician is why annual inspections are so important. Our CSIA certified team of pros are apt to identify and recommend solutions to chimney issues more readily than your average homeowner due to our years of training and experience. Why does a clean chimney tend to be more sound? Because a professional technician can identify any cracks, leaks, or structural problems in the chimney. Addressing these problems in a timely way can prevent more extensive, costly repairs down the road – and it can extend the life of your chimney overall.
• Avoiding long waiting times. If you’re thinking, “Hold up! I can take advantage of these benefits by scheduling any time,” fortunately, you’re right! It’s always advantageous to get maintenance taken care of – regardless of the season. But there are some distinct perks to having your chimney swept before the burning season is upon you. Why is having my chimney swept sooner in the year better? As the weather cools, you aren’t the only one thinking of your fireplace. Demand rises as temps fall, making fall and winter a busy season for chimney professionals. Waiting to schedule your appointment might lead to longer wait times and difficulty securing a convenient slot. Acting earlier helps avoid potential delays caused by the surge in demand.
• Avoiding long waiting times, take two. Another advantage of early scheduling is that if any maintenance issues are identified (see point three), you’ll have more time before colder weather to have them addressed… and it’ll be during a less busy season for your chimney pro, which can facilitate easier scheduling (see point four). Having a pressing repair need identified right at the onset of the season is a bummer. It can delay use of your fireplace or stove system right when you’re most eager to enjoy it. But most delays can be minimized by giving your pro time to set things right. A bonus? Weather conditions may be more favorable for certain repairs when weather is more moderate.

The benefits of scheduling your chimney sweeping and inspection early outweigh the temptation to push this task into the background. Ultimately, you want your chimney to be ready when you are – and getting your chimney swept sooner will help with that.

Book With Us Today

We aren’t meteorologists, but we know that weather can be unpredictable. We are your dependable chimney professionals, and we know that the key to cold-weather readiness is to be diligent about having your chimney inspected and swept proactively, and to be responsive to needs identified. Let us help you prepare to safely enjoy another season of cozy evenings in front of the fire.

Call or book online with us now.

What To Do if There Are Animals in Your Chimney

Your chimney system and fireplace is a cozy feature in your home – and you aren’t the only one who thinks so. One unexpected effect of having a chimney system in your home is that chimneys can draw the notice of animals who may seek shelter or even take up residence there. Knowing how to respond to this issue can protect the longevity of your system and prevent future headaches.

Fortunately for those in the South Orange area, Top Hat Tails is here to help.

Why Do Animals Like the Chimney?

From your perspective, your chimney may not look that inviting. But consider it from the perspective of wildlife. The altitude and stability of your chimney ticks the boxes for many nesting birds, and birds and bats which roost will find the dark, sheltered, vertical surfaces of your flue attractive. Rodents notoriously find their way into nooks and crannies as they scavenge for food and seek refuge from predators. Excellent climbers like raccoons and squirrels may see your chimney as a potentially warm, dry, and cozy place to explore and make use of.

As charming as wildlife can be – from a distance – you can probably anticipate some problems with them living in this close proximity to you. It certainly renders your fireplace, wood stove, or furnace unusable until the animals have left, and it’s not always great for the animals either. While nimbler, flying animals may be able to navigate in and out of your flue, many other critters get stuck and chimneys and unfortunately meet an untimely end.

What Are the Risks of Animals in the Chimney?

Aside from not being able to use your home heating system, there are a number of hazards associated with wildlife guests.

• First, keep in mind that your chimney is a ventilation system that opens two ways. You’d hope that the animals would escape back from the flue onto the roof. But it’s also possible for animals to find their way out of your fireplace or wood stove and into your living space. As startling as this is for you, it can also be alarming for the animals, which can become aggressive or cause damage as they seek escape from your home.
• Wild animals can carry diseases and pass along parasites, so having them and their droppings in your living space can threaten your health.
• They can also cause physical obstructions in your chimney that are hazardous. If your chimney is blocked, gases and smoke can’t vent properly – but they have to go somewhere, and that means they’re likely to enter your home environment. Smoke and gases such as carbon monoxide can put your family’s health in serious jeopardy.
• Aside from affecting ventilation, blockages in chimneys become fire hazards. All it takes is an errant spark or excessive heat to a combustible substance to drastically increase the risk of a chimney or roof fire. So having nests, feathers, droppings, and other debris in your chimney isn’t only an inconvenience – it’s a safety risk!
• One of the things that may bother you if animals are present is erratic noises, but beyond the inconvenience factor, the noises of nesting, gnawing, and scratching may also indicate damage to your flue liner, brick, and mortar.

All in all, for the health of your living space and chimney structure, you’re going to want to give your furry or feathered friends an eviction notice.

Who Do I Call for Animal Removal?

Some of the signs you may notice if you have animals in your chimney are strange noises, such as scratching and chirping, and unpleasant odors emanating from your fireplace. You may also notice debris around the fireplace or catch sight of them around the top of your chimney opening. If you’ve noticed this type of activity, it’s time to act.

Your instinct may be to handle the situation on your own, but it’s generally a good idea to call a wildlife professional who is trained in animal removal. Scaring the animal out by being noisy or otherwise inhospitable may work – but it may also scare the animal into your home or into another area of your chimney system where they can become trapped and difficult to access.

Also, animals that feel threatened or cornered can become dangerous. Animal control or a licensed wildlife removal service will have the experience, knowledge, and equipment to remove the animal as safely and humanely as possible.

With the animal removed, it’s critical to have your chimney inspected and swept, even if this had been done within the annual timeframe recommended. Why? To operate efficiently and safely, it’s imperative that there are no blockages in any area of your chimney system. Furthermore, an inspection may help identify the source of entry and create a plan for sealing it off or otherwise preventing access.

How Can I Prevent Future Intrusions?

The animal is gone and your chimney is clear – but there’s one more step that shouldn’t be overlooked. Implementing preventative measures to avoid future animal infestations will save you time, money, and the stress of having to manage a removal.

Some ways to deter wildlife from your roof are by trimming low overhanging branches and, if problems are persistent, considering measures like motion-activation lights or ultrasonic devices.

But the best step you can take is likely to have a well-fitting chimney cap installed. A chimney cap sits at the top of the chimney flue, where it protects against the elements, animals, and debris entering your chimney while still allowing gases and smoke to escape. This isn’t only an excellent first line of defense against animals, but also against precipitation that can cause system deterioration. All in all, it’s an important investment in the life of your chimney.

Let Us Help

As alarming as realizing your sharing your home with wildlife can be, rest assured that we can help you handle it. We know chimneys – and we’re here to serve. Let us leverage our experience to help you keep your system running well and keep animals safely outside!

Call or book online today.