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Chimney Getting Older? Two Tips to Keep It in Good Condition

16 December 2021

Felecia Coleman

If you have a chimney that is getting older, then there are many things you should do to keep it in good condition. There are some cases where not doing this can be dangerous for you and your family. Keep reading to learn much more about this.

Hire a Chimney Sweep

The best way to keep your chimney in good condition is to hire a chimney sweep. The chimney sweep will first inspect your chimney for damage. They will make sure the flue system and firebox have no damage. This may be missing tiles or mortar joints, as well as cracking. They will use a video camera on a long pole to see these things. They will use the video camera to inspect the firebox as this can be damaged over time due to heat. They will look at the exterior for damage. For example, there may be cracked bricks, which will result in a larger crack if not taken care of. Over time the brick can crumble and cause roof damage. The chimney sweep will check the damper for any issues, such as rusting or damage.

Before they start the cleaning process, the chimney sweep will protect the area from dust, soot, and ash by placing a drop cloth in front of your fireplace. Everything that is close to the fireplace will be moved away, such as furniture.

They will use a metal brush on a long pole to scrub inside the chimney. They may do this from above the chimney or below. Debris will drop down the chimney, but the chimney sweep will clean this up for you when they are finished using a professional vacuum.

Maintain the Fireplace

There are many things you can do on your own to maintain your fireplace, which the chimney sweep can tell you about. This will include things like checking for creosote. This is brown or black and feels gummy and sticky. Creosote is dangerous as it can easily catch on fire. If you see a lot of this do not use the fireplace and contact the chimney sweep to remove it for you.

You need to make sure you cap your chimney with wire mesh. This will prevent debris and animals from getting inside the chimney. Squirrels, birds, etc., can set up homes in chimneys which will cause problems for you.

The chimney sweep can give you much more information on how they work and keep your chimney maintained so it will last much longer.

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About Me

How many hours do you spend cleaning your home each week? Do you find it difficult to get to those difficult areas, like the bathrooms, as often as they need to be done? Have you considered hiring a cleaning service to come out and help you get the work done? I had never thought that I would be able to afford to hire a cleaning service, but my mother bought me a year's service for a Christmas gift. After that year, I hired the company on to come out and do just the three bathrooms and my kitchen once each week. To find out how you can schedule cleaning services to suit your personal needs, keep reading.