Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

An Explanation of Chimney Inspections

Anyone who is planning to use their fireplace to heat their home by burning wood or gas logs should have the chimney inspected. A well-used fireplace should be inspected once a year, preferably just before the cold season in late fall. If the fireplace is only periodically used, it is imperative that it be checked every season for safety reasons.

• Soot – When a chimney is used, the smoke and ash that go up it creates soot that builds up on the inside of it. This can accumulate quite quickly when a chimney has been used for a long period  of time, regularly clogging the chimney. When one uses a clogged chimney, there is potential for fires or downdrafts that can be damaging.
• Debris – Another issue with chimneys is that when they are not used, debris such as leaves or other material can collect inside. This debris can also be harmful and can clog the chimney or catch on fire when it is in use, which can also be damaging. Even a ball that the children play with can be thrown high enough to be caught up in a chimney.
• Birds – Finally, birds have been known to roost in chimneys and to build their nests in them and again, this debris can clog it up. The homeowner may never even know the birds are living in their chimney until there is a fire. When the fire is being inspected is when they find out and then it is too late to do anything about it.

All of the above reasons are why it is vital to have your chimney inspected each year to ensure that there is nothing clogging it.  Another reason is to ensure that there are no cracks or any damage that can cause a downdraft.  A chimney sweep can remove any debris and soot as well as check the chimney for any damage.

How to Hire a Chimney Sweep

When the weather starts turning cold, it is always a good time to have a chimney cleaned, particularly if you plan to use it. Chimney fires can cause a great deal of damage to the home, not to mention the danger to the people and pets. This is why we recommend scheduling a cleaning appointment with a chimney sweep.

The first thing that you need to know is that you need to make sure your chimney sweep is certified. The two organizations that provide certification or guidelines are the NCSG (The National Chimney Sweep Guild) and the CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America). In addition to certification, these organizations provide training so the sweeps are up to date on all of the latest safety and cleaning techniques for chimney sweeps.

Before allowing someone to clean your chimney and paying them for their services, it is important to know who they are. The Internet offers a wide variety of forums for chimney sweeps and they can be checked for those who do not offer good service. It is also vital to get some references from the chimney sweep and to actual call to see if others were happy.

It is also vital to check that the sweep has insurance and that they have a great deal of experience in the field. The chimney sweep company should have insurance to protect you from liability in the case of an accident or if damage is done to your home during the cleaning process. Without this, simply move on to the next company.

Remember, the first step in finding a good chimney sweep is to make sure they have been certified. Once you know this, do your due diligence in asking about insurance and references. After a thorough search, you will finally have the person you will feel safe and secure in not only coming into your home, but that will safely and properly clean your chimney.