After the slow and easy days of summer, things start to get busy again. Sometimes it’s hard to get in the mode of the meetings, practices, and games that come once school starts and activities get going. But as the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, the idea of getting some quiet time relaxing in front of a crackling fire after running around going to all those activities is the most inviting thing ever. But before you decide to
build a fire, there are some things you need to take care of so that you can enjoy the evening without worrying about smoke, odor, chimney fire, or any other problem your chimney might have.
Inspection and Sweeping
The first thing you’ll want to do is to have your chimney inspected and swept by certified technician like the workers at Old Dominion Chimneys. Certification ensures that our workers are on top of all the industry regulations and practices. It offers educational opportunities which our employees can take advantage of, and also offers publications which give up-to-date information and articles.
We’ll start with a thorough inspection of your chimney and fireplace. One of the things we’ll be looking for is blockage. This can happen if birds or other animals get in your chimney and build a nest or even if dried leaves, twigs, or other debris get into your chimney. We’ll check out the condition of your chimney cap and chimney crown to help protect your chimney and fireplace from the ill effects that precipitation can cause, such as rusted fireplace accessories and crumbling, weakened mortar. If the structural integrity of your chimney is being compromised, we’ll figure out what’s causing the problem and make recommendations as to how to fix it and make it secure.
Creosote is another thing that we’ll be looking for. When you build a fire, smoke is produced and is drawn up your chimney. When it hits the cool interior of your chimney, it condenses and forms a layer of material that can be black and tarry or brown and crumbly. It causes a nasty odor that can permeate the interior of your home, but worse than that, it is highly flammable. In fact, only an eighth of an inch of creosote is enough to catch a spark or ember and cause a chimney fire.
Call Today
These are just a few of the things that we’ll be looking for when we do your chimney inspection and sweeping. But with the busy days of fall approaching quickly, the time to give Old Dominion Chimneys a call is now. Many people put this important task off until later, so if you wait too long, it’ll be much more difficult to schedule at a time that is convenient for you. It pays to call early before your schedule fills up with other activities. We love our customers and want you to be completely satisfied, so give us a call today!
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