With the arrival of cold weather, it may be tempting to heat up your home by lighting a fire. However, if your chimney has not been cleaned, you might want to exercise caution. According to The Chimney Sweep in Kernersville, NC, an annual chimney cleaning is necessary to remove harmful creosote buildup, and to check that your chimney is free of blockages like nests or debris. If any of these chimney problems were to go undetected, it could easily result in a fire and serious risks for your home and family.

If it has been a year or more since your last chimney cleaning, contact a professional chimney sweep before starting any winter fires. To learn more, ask your chimney sweep these important questions prior to the cleaning process:

• What Is Creosote? When you burn wood or other fossil fuels in a fireplace, creosote is left behind. This is a highly combustible and toxic chemical mass of carbon or unburned fuel. If left undisturbed, creosote can build up on the sides of your chimney’s flue and pose a significant threat to your health and safety. 
• How Often Should My Chimney Or Furnace Flues Be Cleaned? This depends on several factors, including the type of fuel used, the age of the home, the condition of the chimney, and the weather conditions it was used in. For example, wood burning chimneys require a cleaning every six to 12 months (more if burning green wood), while oil burning flues tend to require fewer chimney cleanings and inspections.
• How Can I Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Whenever you burn gas, wood, oil, charcoal, or kerosene, carbon monoxide is a byproduct. Since this is a colorless and odorless gas, it is very easy for it to go unnoticed in the home. Scheduling annual chimney inspections and cleanings is crucial to spotting flue buildups and defects that can result in carbon monoxide poisoning. As a precaution, install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home and ensure your venting systems are functioning efficiently whenever you use your fireplace or furnace.

Don’t get caught off guard with a dangerous chimney problem—contact The Chimney Sweep today. To schedule your next chimney cleaning, call (336) 993-8999, or learn more about their services by visiting the website. You can also receive regular updates by following The Chimney Sweep on Facebook.