Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Schedule A Sweep Before The Holidays

From hanging stockings on the mantle to sipping drinks in front of a roaring fire, our fireplaces often play an important part in our holiday traditions. But November and December often pass in the blink of an eye, with many homeowners putting off maintenance until after the holidays have passed. This year, ensure your family can safely enjoy using the fireplace by having it swept before the holiday season arrives.

How often does my chimney need to be swept?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America, or CSIA, recommends that chimneys should be swept at least once per year – regardless of how often you use your fireplace. An annual sweeping, even for rarely used fireplaces, ensures there are no blockages in the flue that could prevent safe drafting.

If you use your fireplace as a primary heating source, it may need to be swept more than once per year. In addition to an annual sweeping, the CISA recommends the chimney be swept after 1/8th of an inch of sooty buildup. This amount of buildup typically occurs after a full cord of wood has been burned; if you burn more than one cord of wood each season, consider scheduling an additional mid-winter sweeping.

The CSIA also recommends that chimneys should “be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances.” When done in conjunction with a sweeping, a chimney inspection ensures the fireplace is burning and drafting safely.

Get your chimney swept before the holidays arrive

Scheduling a chimney sweeping and inspection now ensures your fireplace is ready to use before the busy holiday season arrives.

“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.”

Regular preventative maintenance extends the life of your fireplace system, makes it safer to use, helps fires burn more efficiently, and can save you money on costly future repairs. As fireplaces are often used heavily during the holiday season, having the chimney swept and inspected before the holidays arrive ensures the entire fireplace system is ready to be safely used.

Holiday fireplace safety tips

Keep your entire family safe around the fireplace this holiday season by following these safety tips.

– Only burn firewood. While it may be tempting to throw wrapping paper and boxes into the fireplace, the materials are better off in the recycling bin. Paper products ignite and burn quickly; this can cause flames to spill out of the firebox or up the flue. Other seemingly burnable material, such as greenery or wreaths, may be treated with chemicals that can affect the air quality in your home if burned.
– Keep décor away. Stockings can be hung by the chimney with care, but should be removed anytime the fireplace is being used. This prevents stray sparks or embers from accidentally igniting holiday décor.

The weeks leading up to the holiday season are some of the busiest of the entire year; schedule your chimney sweeping now to ensure your fireplace system is ready for the holidays to arrive! Contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today for more information on scheduling your next chimney sweeping appointment.

Post Holiday Cleaning

The holidays have come and gone; visiting family has returned home, the presents have been unwrapped, and festive décor has been put back into storage. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays behind us, now is the time to schedule your chimney cleaning!

Many families use their fireplaces more during the holiday season than at any other time of year. This additional use – coupled with any inappropriate or unsafe materials that may have been thrown into the fire over the holidays – often means that chimneys are ready to be swept and inspected by the time the new year arrives.

How Winter Weather Affects Our Chimneys

The fireplace and chimney are more susceptible to damage in the cold, harsh months of winter than at any other time of year. One of the primary ways that chimneys are damaged during the winter is through the freeze-thaw cycle.

During the freeze-thaw cycle, water is absorbed by tiny holes or cracks in the naturally porous brick. When temperatures drop below freezing, the water turns to ice and expands before melting again when the temperatures warm. This creates progressively larger and larger holes that can create significant structural damage to a chimney in as little as one winter.

Chimney Sweepings Prevent Fires and Improve Efficiency

Having your chimney swept at least once per year is the best way to improve the safety and efficiency of your fireplace. Removing soot, ash, and highly flammable creosote can improve venting and reduce the risk of chimney fire. However, if fireplaces are used daily or as a primary heat source it may need to be swept more. Fireplaces that burn more than one cord of wood during a season should be swept more than once, particularly during the period of heaviest use.

Chimney Inspections Prevent Long-term Damage and Save Money

Most homeowners spend as little time on their roofs as possible, maybe accessing it one to two times per year. This, coupled with a lack of knowledge about the chimney system, can make it nearly impossible to notice chimney damage until a minor issue has turned into a major one.

A damaged or deteriorating chimney can affect your home in a number of ways. Cracked and damaged masonry can fall off, causing damage to your home or roofing materials; gaps or cracks in the masonry can also allow water, debris, and even animals into the chimney, further damaging the chimney system. Damaged chimneys may also vent incorrectly, increasing the risk of serious air quality issues including carbon monoxide poisoning.

An annual inspection by a certified chimney sweep can help uncover chimney issues that may otherwise go unnoticed. By identifying areas of damage when they are still small, the chimney can often be easily repaired. As part of your regular chimney maintenance, a chimney sweeping can prevent you from being blindsided by chimney or fireplace repairs in the future.

Start the year off right by scheduling your next chimney cleaning. Contact the expert staff at Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to schedule your next chimney sweeping or inspection to get your year started with a clean, safe fireplace system.