A professional chimney sweep can carry out three different levels of chimney inspections:
Level one is essential and only inspects different components of the fireplace and looks for any signs of deposits, obstructions, or damage. You need a level two inspection if you plan on selling the property. This one is necessary if there has been a chimney fire in the past.
However, a level three inspection requires access inside the interior chimney wall to get to the root of the problem.
Here is when you need to contact a chimney sweep:
The season has changed
You probably don’t use your fireplace much in summers. When it’s not in use, debris, leaves, and animals tend to get inside the chimney and get stuck. However, just when winters arrive, don’t start using your fireplace straightaway! Any animal corpses or mildew buildup in the chimney can take a significant toll on the fireplace’s performance. Besides, dead foliage can also interfere with natural airflow.
When the temperature outside drops, animals, and birds starts searching for warmer shelters. Chimneys are an excellent haven for most of these animals. It’s warm, and there are plenty of new leaves and debris inside.
If you hear any sounds coming out of the fireplace, call up a chimney sweet to help you get rid of the nests.
Change in the quality of the fire
In order to give out a pleasant fire, a chimney needs to be completely free of obstructions and creosote. If you feel like the fire isn’t burning as efficiently as it should, there is a foul odor coming out of the fireplace, or the fireplace is emitting a larger amount of smoke—you need to contact a chimney sweep to help you diagnose the problem. Foul odors are usually caused by obstructions such as dirt, debris, mold, and mildew.
The damper is giving you problems.
The damper is an essential component of the chimney that ensures smooth airflow through the chimney. If you feel some difficulty opening or closing the damper, there is an issue. A broken damper will allow a quick buildup of creosote and soot inside the chimney and obstruct the airflow. This will also weaken the structural integrity of the chimney. You can be sure that your damper is broken if the fires don’t burn hot enough, there is constant smoke coming out of the fireplace, or it doesn’t open/close at all.
CT Chimney Repair has been serving the residents of CT with honesty and transparency since 2008. Get in touch to learn more about our chimney repair services.
