What You Should Know about Chimney Maintenance

Your chimney may seem like the most low maintenance piece of your home. You light a fire and you're done, right? Actually, there's more behind chimney maintenance than you'd think. By not maintaining your chimney properly, you put yourself at risk for fires and harmful smoke getting into your home. This post will help you understand everything you need to know about maintaining your chimney properly.  

Where to Start Creosote is the natural product that builds up in your chimney after you do any burning in your fireplace. If you don't get this creosote cleaned out of your chimney, it can cause fires. While there's nothing you can do to prevent this build up of creosote, you'll be able to clean that creosote out of your chimney. It's recommended that you get an annual chimney cleaning done to ensure that the creosote buildup in your chimney isn't more than what it should be.  

Types of Inspections There are three types of inspections that you should know about:

• Level One Inspection: This inspection is the most basic type and involves a visual check of your chimney and fireplace. The inspector won't go up on your roof and won't use any specialized equipment. 
• Level Two Inspection: This inspection includes a level one inspection, as well as an inspection of your roof, attic, and crawl spaces to check for any disrepair surrounding your chimney. It will end with a chimney sweep if you need it and an assessment of any repairs you need. 
• Level Three Inspection: This is the most intensive type of maintenance you can get for your chimney. It basically is a rebuilding of your chimney after a chimney fire.  

Finding a Company Finding a reliable company to perform your chimney maintenance is just as crucial as keeping your chimney maintained. Take the time to really do your research and find a company that will provide the best level of service. Ask for recommendations from people who have recently hired a company to clean or repair their chimney. When you take the time, you'll find that your chimney will be kept in top shape.

“This is a guest post provided to Up Now and What's Next for its readers.”