As the New Year starts, most of us try to make resolutions to help improve our lives. One resolution you can easily keep is to have your chimney swept at the beginning of each New Year!

The start of the New Year is a great time to have your chimney swept. Not only does it leave you with a chimney that is clean and safe to use for the rest of the year, but it’s also an easy annual reminder of when your chimney needs to be swept!

When to have your chimney swept

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How often you have your chimney swept depends on a number of factors including the age and condition of your fireplace, how often you use it, and what kind of materials you burn. In general, homeowners who regularly use their fireplaces should have their chimney swept at least once per year; if your fireplace is rarely or infrequently used you may be able to have it swept about once per 100 fires.

The most important factor in whether or not your chimney needs to be swept is soot accumulation; according to National Fire Protection Association Code 211 1/8th of an inch of soot y buildup indicates it is time for a chimney sweep. This amount of accumulation typically occurs after burning a full cord of wood; if you burn more than that amount of wood each year, your fireplace may need to be swept more.

What a chimney sweep does

The primary job of a chimney sweep is to remove creosote. Creosote is a highly flammable byproduct of combustion that can leave buildup in your flue. Because creosote is the leading cause of accidental chimney fire, an annual chimney sweeping is an excellent way to prevent this from happening.

In addition to removing creosote, chimneys weeps also remove any soot, ash, or other debris from the fireplace and chimney structure. Traditional chimney brushes along with more advanced technology such as vacuums and cameras are all tools used by a chimney sweep to make sure your chimney system is safe and clean. Likewise, a highly trained chimney sweep can also spot signs of damage or deterioration in your chimney; the level of training required to be able to do this is why it is important to work with a certified chimney sweep.

Why work with a certified chimney sweep

By working with a chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, or CSIA, you can be certain that you are working with a highly trained and educated professional. In order to earn this certification sweeps must undergo a rigorous testing and training period as well as retest every three year to keep their certification current. This means that CSIA certified sweeps are up to date on the latest safety and technology advances in the fireplace industry.

Start 2016 off with a clean chimney; contact Coopertown Services today to schedule your chimney sweeping!