Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Have the Chimney Inspected Before You Buy or Sell a Home

The process of buying or selling a home can be stressful. Between finding a real estate agent, going to showings, hosting open houses, packing, keeping the house clean, and working with banks and lenders, most homeowners often find themselves overwhelmed with the amount of things that need to be done.

One important step in the buying and selling process for any home is having a chimney inspection. While they should be done annually, chimney inspections are an excellent way for sellers as well as prospective buyers to have a better understanding of the condition of the home’s chimney and fireplace.

Chimney inspections for sellers

Fireplaces are a classic feature that many buyers want to have in their new homes. According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, 40% of home buyers said they would pay extra for a home that had at least one fireplace. Because of this, having a well maintained and working fireplace can add value to your home and help set it apart from similar listings.

Before you put your home on the market, consider having your chimney swept and inspected. In addition to getting your fireplace system in tip-top shape, a chimney inspection can also let you know of any damage or potential hazards to the chimney. If any problems are identified they can be fixed as soon as possible. Repairing the chimney not only makes buyers feel more comfortable purchasing the home, but also helps prevent the occurrence of any unwelcome “surprises” during the home inspection.

Having a recent report by a certified chimney sweep as to the condition of the chimney is an excellent way to help prospective buyers feel more comfortable about the state of the fireplace system. Likewise, if your chimney has been damaged in any way while you have owned the home (such as a chimney fire, earthquake, or other natural disaster) a chimney inspection may be a requirement. Level 2 chimney inspections, which include an inspection of the interior and exterior fireplace and chimney as well as the use of close circuit cameras, are required before the sale or transfer of a property in the case of chimney damage.

Chimney inspections for Buyers

As a buyer, finding the perfect home for you and your family can be difficult. Even if you think you’ve found “the one,” underlying issues can still cause the sale to fall through. Because of this, many buyers choose to have a chimney inspection in addition to the regular home inspection.

Even if the sellers are providing a report from a chimney sweep, you may want to hire your own company to inspect the chimney independently. This way, you can be assured of the validity of the original report as well as choosing the professionals who do the inspection. In addition, having two sets of eyes inspect a chimney may uncover issues that were not previously seen, especially if the house has been on the market for a long period of time. Issues uncovered in the chimney inspection can then be addressed before the sale is finalized.

Whether you are buying or selling a home, it is important to have your chimney inspected. Contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan [https://www.cleansweeps.com//contact-us/] today to schedule your chimney inspection.

Close Your Fireplace and Chimney for the Season

With summer just a few short weeks away, most families are done using their fireplaces until the fall. Because of this, now is the perfect time to close up your chimney and fireplace for the season!

Rather than simply no longer using your fireplace, there are four easy steps to make sure that when you stop using your fireplace for the season it will be ready for use again in the spring.

1. Clean the fireplace

The first – and most obvious – step to closing your fireplace for the season is cleaning it. Homeowners can do part of the chimney cleaning themselves by removing any leftover ash or soot from the firebox. Avoid using a vacuum when cleaning the firebox as it may cause fine particulate ash to go airborne, coating interior furnishings and leaving your home dirties instead of cleaner! Even vacuums with HEPA filters often cannot adequately contain the mess created when vacuuming ash.

In addition to removing any fire remnants in the firebox, a thorough chimney sweeping should be performed. A professional chimney sweep can access and clean even the most hard to reach areas of your fireplace, ensuring that your chimney will be clean and ready for fires in the fall.

2. Have the chimney inspected

In addition to a chimney sweeping, an annual chimney inspection is also recommended in the spring. A chimney inspection is an important part of regular chimney maintenance and is an excellent way to make sure your chimney has not been damaged or deteriorated over the past year. In addition, chimney inspections are good preventative maintenance; small problems or defects can be easily repaired before your chimney system is damaged.

3. Tightly close the damper

While the damper should be closed every time the fireplace is not in use, this is especially important to do in the spring before closing the fireplace and chimney for the season. Left open, the damper can cause significant energy loss as cooled air from inside your home slowly leaks out, letting warm air from outside in to replace it. For additional energy savings, glass doors can be installed as an additional measure to seal cool air in and warm air out.

Gas fireplace owners do not need to worry about closing their dampers – the damper of a gas fireplace should always remain open, regardless of whether or not the fireplace is in use.

4. Turn off the pilot light

If you have a gas fireplace that you are not planning on using for a long period of time, turning off the pilot light is one way to help save energy. Because it stays lit the entire time the unit is connected, the pilot light continually uses energy to burn, costing you money. Turning off the pilot light is safe as long as you know you will not be using your fireplace while it is off.

By taking the time to close your fireplace and chimney for the season, you can relax and enjoy your summer without fall chimney maintenance looming over your head. Call Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to schedule an appointment to help close your fireplace and chimney system for the season!