Why the Off-Season Is the Best Time for Chimney Maintenance
Keeping your chimney and fireplace system in good condition is an important responsibility for homeowners. Neglecting to take care of your chimney can lead to hazardous situations, including chimney fires and carbon monoxide leaks. This is why national fire safety organizations like the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend that you have your chimney professionally swept and inspected at least once a year. The CSIA goes as far to say that dirty chimneys can actually cause chimney fires. Since it is also recommended to have these maintenance services done before lighting the first fire of the season, many homeowners wait until the fall to schedule their appointments with our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at Chim Cheree, the Chimney Specialists. We would like to take this opportunity to tell you why spring is the best time to take care of your chimney.
It’s easier to arrange your chimney maintenance appointment on a date and time that is convenient for you.
Because so many people wait until the fall to schedule their chimney sweeping and inspection appointments, the months of September, October, and November are the busiest time of year for Chim Cheree, the Chimney Specialists. Since someone needs to be at home while we are performing these maintenance services, it can be difficult for people with busy schedules to set up a time and date in the fall. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps have a fully packed calendar during the fall, so you may have to wait for a month before you can arrange an available appointment that works for you.
A chimney inspection in the spring can protect your chimney from the occurrence of water leaks due to winter-related damage.
The bricks and mortar of your chimney are naturally porous, which means they easily absorb water. During the winter, the water that has been absorbed into the bricks and mortar will freeze and expand when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. As the weather warms back up, this water will thaw and cause the masonry materials to crack and break apart. If this damage is left unrepaired, you will have holes and gaps in the structure of your chimney that allow water to easily get into your chimney. When Chim Cheree, the Chimney Specialists inspect your chimney, we will be looking for this type of damage, and if we find any, we will make suggestions for repairs to protect your chimney’s structure.
A spring chimney sweeping will prevent unpleasant odors from invading your home in the summer.
Creosote is not only very flammable, but this natural compound also has a very strong odor that can worsen during the hot and humid months of summer. When you have your chimney swept in the spring, all of the creosote that has accumulated on the inner walls of your chimney will be removed so you will not have to worry about fire hazards or stinky smells.
The off-season is the best time to take care of your chimney maintenance tasks. Contact us at Chim Cheree, the Chimney Specialists to schedule an appointment for your annual chimney sweeping and inspection today.