Your chimney doesn’t move (unless you count the damper) but it serves a highly important role in your house. The chimney is the part of your fireplace that directs smoke and gas out of the house, along with any sparks or soot. This helps keep your home safe and healthy, along with keeping the fire going.
Much like how you’d want to clear a down tree branch blocking traffic or fill a pothole in a roadway, you want to keep your chimney clean, clear, and whole in order to keep things flowing the right way. The best way to ensure the well-being of your chimney is by scheduling a chimney cleaning in Minneapolis, MN. And we’ll explain why.
1. Animals may have made it into a vacation home
Chipmunks, squirrels, and other clever creatures are always looking for a spot to call home that is safe, warm, and dry. And your chimney may have ended up on their list of prime real estate. However, this can be a problem, whether they are still squatting in the chimney or have moved on.
If there is an animal still in your chimney, you’ll need it removed before getting into the habit of using your fireplace. If that animal’s remains are still around, even if it is just a nest or some scat and fur, then you’ll need that removed as well. Chimney cleaning will remove any animal detritus and can include sanitization–good news if you are trying to clean out some of the nastier debris left behind by an animal.
2. Creosote build-up can be a fire risk
Creosote is a substance that every fireplace and chimney will encounter. This is a combination of moisture, airborne debris, and soot that combine to settle in your chimney flue and firebox. Sticky and smelling like a dirty bonfire, creosote is a problem that needs to be addressed each year. This is because this build-up can also present a big fire risk. A chimney fire is one issue we know everyone would rather avoid so make sure to prevent it with chimney cleaning from our team.
3. A clean chimney improves efficiency and warmth
We don’t just provide chimney cleaning because it prevents problems. We also provide it because it improves the use of your fireplace. You don’t want to waste fuel on the warmth that you never feel or battle with a fire that won’t stay lit because of airflow issues. Chimney cleaning removes anything in the chimney that would hinder the function of your fireplace and chimney, optimizing its efficiency and overall performance.
Cleaning out your chimney isn’t something that you can do with a dust rag and a nice-smelling cleaning solution. It requires a professional with the right tools and experience to get the job done. Thankfully, we are Certified Chimney Professionals so you can trust that your chimney is in the right hands when you work with us.
Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. today to schedule your chimney services.