Winter will be knocking on the door in no time, and it’s important to be ready for winter with Chimney Repair in Carroll County MD. There is no hard and fast rule on how often a chimney should be swept and cleaned. The important thing is the chimney is inspected at least once a year for cracks, damage and to look for any material inside the chimney that needs to be removed. This could include the soot or a bird or insect nest. These items can easily cause a chimney fire.
Wood of gas fireplaces should both be checked yearly. A furnace flue that goes through a chimney should also be examined. Bird and insect nest can become lodged inside, and the home could develop a problem with carbon monoxide poisoning. Wood burning fireplaces can create a lot of creosote inside. This creosote needs to be cleaned regularly and checked by a company that performs Chimney repair in Carroll County MD. This creosote can become dangerously hot and create a fire in the chimney during the winter months.
Chimney sweeps work for companies that clean and maintain chimneys. Their job is to check the mortar on the chimney and the flashing that surrounds the chimney for any signs of water leaking into the bricks or lining. It’s important that no water enters the blocks of the chimney due to freezing and thawing. This can damage the mortar and create safety as well as health issues when the fireplace is used. Chimney sweeps will also start the cleaning of the chimney from the top of the chimney and work their way down into the fireplace box area.
When a fire is burning in the fireplace and the room becomes smoky, there’s a good possibility the damper is not working properly. The damper should always be open when the fireplace is in use and closed once the ashes in the fireplace are cooled off. If the room fills with smoke, it needs to be repaired immediately. Fireplaces are beautiful and with the proper care and maintenance are very safe. For more information on proper chimney maintenance and repair, Click here.