A fireplace and chimney are beautiful additions to your home that add ambiance, warmth and value. However, if they aren’t properly maintained, they can pose dangerous risks for your family’s health and safety.
Chimney cleaning and inspections are an important part of any homeowner’s maintenance routine. They help ensure that your heating system is working properly and efficiently, which can save you money in utility costs and extend the life of your fireplace and heating equipment. Regular cleaning and inspections also reduce the risk of chimney fires, which can be deadly.
As you use your fireplace, a dark material called creosote builds up along the walls of the chimney. Creosote is a highly flammable substance and the more it accumulates, the more dangerous your chimney becomes. If creosote accumulates too much, it can cause a chimney fire, which can destroy the structure of your fireplace and chimney, threaten your home’s integrity and create toxic fumes that can poison your family.
Professional chimney Chimney Cleaning Ocean County sweeps can identify and eliminate a wide range of problems, from minor repairs to major issues that can threaten your home’s structural integrity. In addition to chimney cleaning, they can perform repairs on chimney crowns, bricks and masonry, repair chimney leaks and install chimney caps. They can also identify chimney problems, such as a crack in the flue liner or a deteriorating firebox.
When hiring a chimney sweep, it is important to find one with experience and knowledge of the local area. Many areas require licensing and certification of chimney sweeps, and a licensed professional will be able to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Using a reputable chimney sweep will help protect your home, your health and your investment.
Chimney Sweep Scams
If you’re thinking about having your chimney cleaned, it is important to understand the common tricks that some companies employ to take advantage of homeowners. These scams can include claiming there is a carbon monoxide leak, which can be fatal, and offering to install new chimney liners, which are expensive and potentially hazardous. Some of these companies even try to lure homeowners in with fake deals, such as taking a ladder off the truck for $39.
If you’re concerned about your chimney’s integrity, it is best to leave the job to professionals. The cost of a chimney cleaning depends on a number of factors, including the size and type of your fireplace and the condition of the chimney flue. Adding a wood-burning insert to your chimney may add $40 to $60 to the cleaning price, as will any stove piping that needs to be removed and cleaned. Odd-shaped flues that are difficult to access can also increase the price of a cleaning.
