How do you know when your chimney need sweeping? Well, there are many ways to know that, and we will discuss them in this article along with other related information so stay with us till the end.
If you are wondering how often should you sweep your chimney, keep in mind to clean your chimney regularly, at least once a month to avoid the risk of fire.
There are many ways to sweep a chimney, you can select one as per the tools available in your house. You can also take professional help for your chimney’s inspection once a year.
If you start noticing the signs of a blocked chimney which we will discuss later, know that it’s time clean it. Let’s learn more!
How do you know when your chimney need sweeping?
If you live somewhere where winter lasts longer, you probably use your fireplace more often, which means your chimney needs to be cleaned more frequently.
People often get confused and ask how do I know if my chimney needs cleaning, read below to find out:
- Your house will start filling with smoke even if your flue is open.
- The fireplace area will start turning black.
- More smoke is produced when you burn the wood.
- The smell coming from the fireplace is unbearable.
- Animals will start coming in from the area.
- You will observe the marks of oil on the walls.
- Grease will start depositing the walls of the chimney.
When you start observing above mentioned signs, you should sweep your chimney right away. If you want to avoid all of these things then make sure to clean it once a month.
What could go wrong if you don’t sweep Chimney regularly?
Source: Sweepsmart.co.uk
Now that you know the answer to the most asked question ‘how do you know when your chimney need sweeping’, let’s learn what could possibly go wrong if you neglect it.
When you ignore cleaning the chimney, the creosote will start building up along with the soot and tar that will prevent the smoke to escape.
Under the heat, the smoke will continue to ignite, increasing the risk of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. The annual inspection of the chimney is necessary because of these reasons.
What are the signs of a blocked chimney?
Source: Chimneysweeper.com
If your chimney is blocked, then call for professional help immediately for your family’s health and safety. You will start observing the signs given below:
- It is so difficult to light a fire and it goes off quickly.
- If the detector is placed in your house, it will start sounding an alarm.
- The fireplace and even your home could fill with smoke.
- There will be black particles inside the flue.
- The firebox will have a bad odor.
- Your chimney is emitting a thick, black cloud of smoke.
How to keep your Chimney clean?
Source: Verticalchimney.com
If you keep your chimney clean by following our tips below, you won’t be required to invest your time and effort regularly.
- If your fireplace is so old, then replace it with a more efficient one.
- Try to reduce the timing of using the fireplace, put off the fire if not in use.
- Pinewood causes more buildup as it is a softwood so try to use hardwoods instead.
- Lack of maintenance of firewood causes buildups so keep it clean and inspect it regularly.
- If you are hiring a chimney sweeper, look for experienced and proven ones to avoid any damage.
- If you are tired of creosote buildup then avoid burning slow fire as it produces more fumes and use the dry seasoned wood for less smoke.
- To burn the fuel of your fireplace, make sure that it is getting enough air. This way it will burn efficiently without causing buildup problems.
Wrapping Up:
Source: Chimneys.com
Homeowners who use fireplaces more often are tired of their dirty chimneys because they couldn’t get the idea of when should they clean them.
We have given the detailed answer to their question ‘how do you know when your chimney need sweeping’ and we hope that you found this article useful. Know that sweeping at the right time makes cleaning easy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I check my chimney myself?
Yes, you can and you should do it regularly. However, if you are trying to check the leakage then you can call professionals for proper inspection.
What happens if I don’t sweep my chimney?
Your health and your family’s safety will be jeopardized if you don’t clean it for so long. Your room would start filling with smoke and the risk of fire will be increased. You will also start finding black stains on your walls, furniture, and carpets.
