One thing a homeowner with a chimney will hear over and over is to make sure to have an inspection of your chimney each and every year. Seem excessive? We think that after you finish reading this article, you won’t think so. Just as with every other home appliance, proper use of your chimney goes a long way in preventing damages. However, even if you abide by all the fire safety rules, your chimney can still be storing a hidden danger. There is a lot that is included in chimney service in Manasquan including cleaning and repairs. But the main item that all chimney service technicians focus on is creosote. The build-up of this material is one of the most common causes of house fires. This is what makes an annual inspection of your chimney so important and why creosote removal is a top priority.
Creosote is a Target for Chimney Service in Manasquan
This substance is a byproduct of burning a fuel, commonly wood. When the wood is fully combusted and burned evenly, creosote build up is minimal. However, using unseasoned wood and other bad practices can result in a much larger amount of creosote. The reason for all the concern about creosote build-up is that creosote is highly combustible. The more of this tarry substance that is found on the inside of your chimney, the greater the chance of a chimney and house fire. While there are many ways to limit creosote, there is no way to eliminate it entirely. This is why a thorough annual cleaning is so important. Even when abiding by all chimney “rules” creosote will still be produced. The longer you go in between chimney cleanings, the more creosote that will accumulate and the harder (and more expensive) it will be to remove.
How to Minimize Creosote
While creosote is a natural byproduct of smoke which is a natural product of fire, there are ways to minimize the amount that collects in your chimney. The number one rule of any wood burning appliance is to only burn seasoned wood. Wet, green, unseasoned wood creates much more smoke. This means more creosote. Another thing to avoid is artificial logs for the same reason. Artificial logs generate much higher amounts of smoke yielding higher amounts of creosote. Enabling proper combustion of your fuel is also essential so how you build your fire is important. Placing logs in your fireplace with sufficient air flow around the logs allows for a cleaner burning, hotter fire. Consistent, well-built fires result in a cleaner chimney. While all these things help to reduce creosote, an annual visit from your chimney service in Manasquan technician is the only way to eliminate it.
Chimney Service in Manasquan Looks Beyond Creosote
While creosote is a main focus for chimney sweeps, it isn’t the only thing they do. An experienced, professional technician from a company who provides chimney service in Manasquan like Carlin Chimney and Duct Service does so much more. An annual inspection by a trained individual not only cleans your chimney and eliminates creosote, they also look at all the parts of the chimney and inspects them for damage. Imperfections in your chimney can also be the cause for a chimney fire. Plus, each piece is there for a reason so if that part is impaired, so is its purpose. A chimney cap, for example, prevents animals, rain, and debris from getting into your chimney. If it’s broken, it’s ability to do so is lessened greatly. The same is true for cracked tiles and damaged flashing. A chimney service technician can identify and repair these imperfections keeping your chimney safe.
Chimney Service in Manasquan Keeps Chimneys Safe
As a homeowner with a chimney, it is your responsibility to use it safely and responsibly. Part of that commitment should be scheduling annual chimney service in the fall prior to heavy fireplace usage. Burning the right fuel in the right way goes a long way to protecting your chimney from excessive creosote build-up. Yet, the safest and best thing you can do for your home is to have a yearly visit from a chimney professional. With their expertise, minor impairments and damages that may look like nothing to the untrained eye can be repaired and replaced ensuring your chimney stays functional and safe. The number one way to keep your home safe from a chimney fire is highly-rated chimney service in Manasquan.
