Fall is our busiest season. Call today to get your appointment before the fall rush arrives!
At the end of a long winter, many homeowners are happy to close up their fireplaces for the season and head outside to enjoy the long days and warm sunshine. With all of the fun in the sun to be had during summer, many homeowners forget about their fireplaces until fall arrives.
Because most homeowners ignore their fireplaces and chimneys during the summer, however, the fall is often the busiest time of year to have chimney maintenance done. This year, beat the fall rush by having your chimney swept during the summer!
How often chimneys should be swept
The top professional organizations in the fireplace industry – the Chimney Safety Institute of America, the National Chimney Sweeping Guild, and the National Fire Protection Association – all agree that chimneys should be swept at least once per year. However, depending on use and the type of fuel being burned, your fireplace may need to be swept even more.
Fireplaces should be swept whenever there is a 1/8th of an inch of sooty buildup inside a flue or fireplace. For normal fireplaces used under normal conditions, this buildup occurs when approximately a cord of wood is burned. Because of this, homes that use wood burning fireplaces or stoves as their primary heating appliances may need to be cleaned more frequently due to the amount of creosote or soot created.
The importance of a swept chimney
Having your chimney professionally swept is important to both the health and safety of your family. Dirty chimneys can negatively impact your home’s air supply. Dirt, soot, or creosote in the chimney can impact the air that comes into your home; any blockages in the chimney can also cause smoke to back up into your home when the fireplace is in use. This can be especially dangerous if members of your family have breathing issues such as asthma or allergies.
In addition to impact your family’s safety, a dirty chimney can also be a safety hazard. Creosote, a byproduct of wood burning fires that builds up in the chimney, is extremely flammable and is the primary cause of chimney fire. Because of this, removing creosote in an annual chimney sweeping can reduce your risk of chimney fire.
Why have your chimney swept in the summer
As the temperatures outside rise during the spring and summer, most homeowners let their fireplaces fade into the background. Because of this, there is often a mad rush to schedule chimney and fireplace appointments in the fall. This can lead to long waiting lists as well as difficulty scheduling appointments at convenient times.
By having chimney maintenance done in the summer, you can ensure that your fireplace and chimney system are cleaned and ready to go for the first cold snap of the year. Likewise, beating the rush ensures that you can get an appointment time that works with your busy schedule, rather than being left at the mercy of what time slots are left.
This year, beat the fall rush by scheduling a chimney sweep during the summer. Contact Coopertown Services here today to schedule your chimney appointment and get your fireplace ready for fall!