They are both aesthetically pleasing and relaxing, and they can be a much desired addition to any home. You must, however, have your fireplace cleaned and inspected by a professional if you use it regularly or after a long period of inactivity.
If you plan to update your fireplace, you should steer clear of DIY chimney tips and instead hire a professional. By doing this, not only will the work be done correctly, but it will also be safer.
Here are a few reasons why professional chimney sweep services are so important.
- Getting rid of hazardous obstructions and pests
The main reason to hire a professional chimney repair and replacement Houston company instead of doing the job yourself is that they can remove obstructions and pests more efficiently. It is dangerous to attempt to clear an obstructed chimney yourself if you do not have the right knowledge.
Building a large fire is one way some homeowners use to get rid of obstructions or to smoke out animals. The problem with this method is that you may start a housefire and be exposed to deadly carbon monoxide than if you actually cleared your flue.
No matter what’s blocking your chimney, whether it’s debris, an animal, or creosote buildup, you should never attempt to clear it on your own. Don’t risk your health or your home by hiring an inexperienced chimney sweep.
- Fire prevention
When homeowners attempt DIY chimney cleaning, they can often cause costly fires. In particular, creosote buildup in the chimney can make this worse. When you burn wood, creosote, which resembles tar, forms. A fire can be prevented by monitoring creosote buildup in softwoods or wood that is unseasoned.
A chimney fire is in fact mostly caused by creosote buildup, which is ignited by even a stray spark or high temperature. A fire caused by creosote can burn for long periods of time and can be extremely hot depending on how much creosote has built up before ignition. The structural damage in the area of the chimney can still be extensive and costly to fix, even if it does not impact other parts of your home.
Even though there are products that you can buy in stores to help mitigate creosote buildup, they should never be used instead of professional cleaning. Without the use of special equipment and chemicals, creosote can be difficult to remove once it has built up. The best solution for removing dangerous creosote is to hire a chimney cleaner.
- Hidden problems
You can also miss certain hazards when trying to clean or update your fireplace and chimney on your own. In order to keep your home safe from carbon monoxide, fire, and water damage, your chimney must contain a number of different components.
An experienced cleaner can identify issues with bricks and motors of the chimney, damper systems and flues. Unless you know what to look out for, many problems in these areas can go unnoticed. Due to this, DIY projects leave you prone to either overlooking problems or causing damage to what you’re working on if it’s structurally flawed.
During the course of time, chimneys can deteriorate due to the weather, temperature, and exposure to corrosive materials. Early detection can often solve these problems. The problem is, many people fail to clean their chimneys regularly, causing these problems to fester and become costly to fix.
Professionals for chimney repair and replacement Houston can identify cracked chimney crowns, damaged flue liners, and warped dampers easily. You can save yourself a lot of time and money by performing regular inspections and cleanings. You will also be able to use your fireplace more safely.
Looking for a chimney repair and replacement Houston company to deal with your stains? Contact us today!
