Chimneys provide an outlet for the smoke and gas your fireplace produces, keeping your home clean and safe. Maintaining this important fixture ensures it will keep performing the way it’s supposed to. However, many homeowners neglect routine chimney repairs because they don’t use their fireplaces year-round. According to the experts at Abbey Road Chimney Sweeps in Brookville, OH, allowing this vent to fall into disrepair not only puts your home at risk for further damage, but it can also impact your family’s health.

Here, the team shares five important reasons you need to schedule chimney repairs every season:

• Dangerous Gases: If your chimney isn’t providing adequate ventilation, gases like carbon monoxide can accumulate. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, making it difficult to detect without a sensor. It is known to cause serious illness and even death.
• Overheating: Cracked or broken masonry along the flue and chimney can allow excess heat to become trapped behind your walls, where it may lead to a fire. Regular inspections and repairs ensure any damage is addressed, so the system continues channeling heat out of the house.
• Creosote Buildup: Creosote is an oily substance that is released when plant materials like wood and certain fossil fuels burn. If it builds up in your exhaust system, it can ignite. Removing this accumulation should be part of your chimney repair routine.
• Debris: Chimney cleaning is an important part of any maintenance plan. Since it is open at the top, your chimney susceptible is to debris falling in. Anything from leaves to litter that has blown onto the roof can get stuck and cause blockages that push dangerous gases back inside your home. 
• Animals: Birds and rodents look for warm places to build their nests, including the cozy interior of a flue. Nesting materials and accumulated animal waste can create a blockage that prevents your chimney from working properly. These materials are also flammable, creating an even greater safety hazard. An inspector will remove the nest to reduce the risk of a problem the next time you use the fireplace.

When it comes to protecting your family’s health and safety, seasonal chimney repairs are worth the investment. Homeowners in the Greater Dayton area have counted on Abbey Road Chimney Sweeps since 1982. Their team cleans and maintains gas fireplaces and chimneys to ensure they are safe and enjoyable to use. Call the chimney sweeps at (937) 833-0505 or visit them online for more information.