Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Is It Too Late To Have A Chimney Inspection For The Holidays?

Once again, the whirlwind of the holiday season has arrived! While we’re busy decking the halls and making our lists (and checking them twice!) many homeowners forget to get their chimney ready for Santa!

Because fireplaces are used so often during holiday celebrations, it is important to make sure your chimney can be safely used during the season. Luckily, there is still time to have your chimney inspected before the holidays arrive!

How often does my chimney need to be swept and inspected?

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, chimneys should be swept and inspected at least once per year. Because chimney damage can occur even if your fireplace is not in use, this recommendation includes ALL homes, regardless of if you use your fireplace once a year or every day of the winter season. An annual inspection is the best way to make sure that your fireplace and chimney have not deteriorated or been damaged during the previous year, as well as help you determine what regular or preventative maintenance needs to be done.

What does a chimney sweep look for during an inspection?

Most chimney inspections are done immediately following a chimney sweeping. Doing this ensures that there is not creosote, ash, or soot blocking the flue or any other debris that could obstruct the inspection itself.

For the majority of homeowners, a Level I chimney inspection is all that is needed. This type of chimney inspection is done on homes where the fireplace works well, is experiencing no usage issues, and has not been damaged or changed in any way since the last inspection. A Level I chimney inspection includes an inspection of the accessible parts of the interior and exterior of the chimney and fireplace including the firebox, flue, and masonry.

If any areas of concern are encountered or you are experiencing problems with your fireplace, a more intensive Level II or Level III inspection may be recommended. Level II inspections typically involve the use of technology such as close circuit cameras to examine the interior flue. Level III chimney inspections are the most invasive, often requiring the removal of part of the wall or masonry in order to better access the chimney; because of this, they are only recommended in situations where serious structural damage may have occurred.

Why are chimney sweepings and inspections important?

“A chimney inspection is like an annual dental check-up,” says Ashley Eldridge, Director of Education for the CSIA. “It’s preventative maintenance that helps minimize potential hazards.”

Having your chimney swept and inspected each year ensures that it is clean and safe to use. This allows you and your family to enjoy spending time together in front of the fireplace rather than worrying about smoke, smells, or the many other chimney problems that accompany an unswept chimney.

Regular chimney sweepings and inspections are often the best preemptive maintenance you can have done for your chimney system. An annual inspection can ensure that any minor problems are identified early before they have the chance to turn into major damage.

It’s not too late to have your chimney inspection for the holidays! Call Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to schedule your chimney inspection and make sure your chimney is ready for the holidays!

Are You Starting A Fire Correctly?

Sitting in front of a roaring fire is one of the most comforting – and warm – places to be during cold winter weather. However, getting a fire started is often the most difficult part of the process.

Many their best efforts, many homeowners are incorrectly starting their fires. This not only causes frustration, but can also lead to fires that burn sluggishly, need constant stoking, or burn out prematurely.

The following tips will help you start a fire correctly. While it may be different from how you’ve started fires in the past, following these tips can help you spend less time building your fire and more time enjoying it with family and friends.

1. Get the right materials

Long before you think about lighting your fire, it is important to make sure you have the right materials. The type of firewood you use can not only affect how well your fires start, but can also create different amounts of smoke and heat. While different people may prefer different firewood varieties, seasoned firewood should be used whenever possible. Seasoned wood, which has been allowed to cure and dry for at least six months, has much lower moisture content than freshly cut wood. These allow it to burn hotter and produce less smoke and creosote.

In addition to finding the right firewood, homeowners also need kindling to help start the fire. Softwoods such as cedar, fir, or pine are able to ignite quickly and can burn until the larger logs catch fire. Small bundles of twigs and sticks can have the same effect. While newspaper can be used, it often burns too quickly to ignite larger logs; for this reason, using smaller pieces of wood is preferable.

2. Open the damper

When the fireplace is in use, the damper needs to be open – even when starting a fire or waiting for it to extinguish. Leaving the damper even partially closed can cause smoke and dangerous gasses such as carbon monoxide [http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers-/] to back up into the home.

If you’re having problems with smoke backing up into your home even when the damper is open, your home may be too airtight. Cracking a window even a few inches near the fireplace can help the fireplace vent better and prevent this from happening. Likewise, opening a window can have another unexpected benefit; letting more oxygen into your home can provide more “fuel to the fire,” creating a hotter and more efficient burn.

3. Try a top down fire

Building a top down fire can greatly impact how your fires burn, as well as how much you’ll need to stoke it. Place the largest logs on the bottom of the grate with the ends to the front and back; doing this creates better oxygen flow to the fire and keeps the fire from smoldering or burning sluggishly. Fill the fireplace with gradually smaller and smaller logs, topping the pile with kindling. As the smaller logs burn they ignite the logs underneath them, keeping the fire going and minimizing the need for stoking or rearranging logs.

Following these three fireplace tips can help you better start – and enjoy – your fires. For more information on getting the most out of your fireplace, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan at 734-668-4780 today!