Lots of American families depend on fireplaces as it is their primary source of warmth throughout the year. However, fireplaces are attached to chimneys and thousands of families in the US experience property damage in the thousands of dollars due to failure to recognize the importance of chimney sweeping.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 70,000 house fires are due to poor chimney health. That accounts for more than $1.3 bln in property damage, more than 3000 injuries and a total of 30% of all house fires are because of this.
So why is chimney sweeping so important for families? Stick around as we are going to explain the importance of it in this short and informative article.
1. It Keeps Your Family and Your Home Safe
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Name me a better reason than this? What person would not want their family and home to be safe at all times? One way you can guarantee this is by having your chimney swept annually. Your chimney needs to be in perfect condition so it can keep you warm through the cold months. Your chimney is also a key ventilation system that allows all the dangerous and highly toxic fumes to escape the home. So why wouldn’t you want it kept cleat?
According to chimneysweepsouthlondon.com, a certain amount of residue from creosote and soot stick to the fuel and to the chimney itself with each fire. As soon as the creosote gets too thick, a spark from the burning fire is all that it needs to start an internal fire within the chimney.
2. It Makes Home Heating More Efficient
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Poor chimney quality results in inefficient home heating and a host of other heating problems. Creosote is a dangerous problem if not dealt with in time. As it builds within the chimney, the room for cool air to circulate is reduced drastically. This force you to burn more wood and other fossil fuels as the heating gets less and less efficient, subsequently costing you more money to keep you warm.
Furthermore, rodents and birds can clog up your chimney even more. If the chimney is clogged, then toxic (CO2) emissions will be harder to escape, subsequently causing carbon monoxide poisoning. CO2 poisoning is also called the silent killer, as there is no alert when it happens. There are more than 250 CO2 deaths each year, making it vital importance to clean your chimney.
3. It Prevents Damages in the Thousands
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A burning fireplace can reach temperatures of more than 1100 °F with each burning fire. When we use our fireplace, ash bits of wood, soot, and other particles are all flying all over the place and they can even cover the fuel liner, the smoke shelf, and more.
By having your chimney swept of these particles, you are keeping every part of the fireplace in peak condition. This is extremely beneficial as you can prevent damages to both the fireplace and the chimney that would usually be in the thousands of dollars.
Furthermore, having your chimney fully swept can uncover any masonry problems that would prove costly if they escalate.
Having your chimney swept regularly is very important for the well being of your family and the entirety of your house. It prevents unwanted accidents, costly repairs, and it promotes efficiency.
