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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.

  • an open scheduler or planner with appointments written in and post it notes throughout 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 You Can’t See May Hurt You

As a chimney sweep, I am constantly looking up at chimneys, even when I should be watching the road ahead of me. Often times, I can tell that there is an obvious problem with the masonry. You can see missing bricks, the chimney is leaning, or the mortar joints are in very bad condition.

Sometimes, however, the problems aren’t so obvious. I have gone to many homes where the homeowner told me that their “home inspector” said that the chimney was in good condition. Upon further inspection, that is the farthest thing from the truth. Even in the body of the chimney, many problems are very difficult to see from the ground.

chimney-masonry-damage-repair-south-orange-nj-top-hat-&-tails

When I take a look at a chimney from the outside, I typically am looking for a few basic things, such as:

  • Are there cracks in the chimney that may have been caused by a sudden occurrence like a lightning strike?
  • Is there mortar missing between the bricks, possibly caused by poor construction or erosion?
  • Are any of the bricks spalling? Spalling means that the face of the brick has come off, usually due to moisture getting into the brick and then freezing and popping the face of the brick off.
  • Are there cracks in the crown?
  • Was the new crown done with just a very thin layer of cement, which will crack very quickly, usually after just one cold winter season.
  • How do the flue tiles that come out of the top of the chimney look? Flue tiles are made to last a long time, but can deteriorate from the inside or the outside.
  • How does the flashing look?
  • Are there cracks in the tar?
  • Was the metal flashing installed properly?

Too often, these issues won’t be noticed until the homeowner has a problem, such as water finding its way into the interior wall of a bedroom, or finding pieces of flue tile in the firebox. By hiring a Certified Chimney Sweep, these types of things can usually be found and corrected before much damage has been done.

Some corrective measures include water proofing, repointing, building a new crown, installing new flashing or replacing the very top flue tile. I also usually recommend to the customer that a Level 2 Inspection be done, which will alert us to any other problem the chimney has that isn’t readily apparent to the naked eye.

Save yourself some sleepness nights and call a Certified Chimney Sweep today. It will be worth the effort.

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