Wood Burning Fireplace and Chimney Cleaning and Inspection
October 04, 2019
As cold weather approaches, a home owner is more than likely to use their wood burning fireplace, one of the most important focal points in a living or family room. Specially during the holidays, and throughout the remaining of the winter months as a second heat source to help reduce one’s monthly heating bill. This requires making sure that your fireplace and chimney is in good operating condition prior to using.
Even if you clean your fireplace/chimney on a regular basis, it should be inspected once a year by a qualified chimney sweep that can recognize and assess any problems. Especially when it comes to the cleaning. Creosote buildup ignites at approximately 450 degrees fahrenheit, and in less than one minute can build up to more than 2000 degress. Green or (wet) logs do not burn cleanly and send unburned particles up the chimney, where they create a creosote and soot buildup, which require the chimney cleaned and inspected every 50 burns. Dry hardwoods also create creosote and soot buildup, but do burn hotter and cleaner, and require the same every 70 burns.
With a fireplace/chimney in good and safe working order, the home owner should be ready to use and maximize its full potential during the holidays and the remaining winter months.
