Most households rely on the fireplace’s correct functioning to maintain a warmer house regardless of the external climate conditions, especially in winter.
The chimney is one component of a fireplace that serves a great purpose and needs proper and regular maintenance. Chimney sweeps create the best opportunity for you to make your chimney clean and safe while extending its outstanding performance significantly. This article aims to look at the different roles a chimney sweep plays in your home.
Inspection
A chimney sweep provides the best opportunity for homeowners to inspect the overall condition of their chimneys and fireplaces at large. The first level of a chimney inspection involves a visual check of the duct and fireplace without climbing to the roof or using special equipment. A chimney contractor will visit your house, and using a flashlight, observe for creosote buildup, soot obstructions, and physical damage.
If your residential area experienced an earthquake or dramatic event, you would find the level-two chimney inspection vital. The chimney contract will analyze the roof, crawl space, and attic after completing the level one inspection and use special scanning tools like video scanning. The final level of a chimney inspection involves tearing down and rebuilding your entire fireplace unit and is most common after a fire incident.
Preparation
Preparation is another crucial role played by chimney sweeps in your home. You can prepare for the winter by scheduling a thorough chimney sweep right before the season begins, which is the ideal time. It would help ensure the fireplace is cool before the cleaners begin the procedure and remove all the logs in the firebox to minimize distractions. If there are any decorative elements around the involved space, kindly clear them to make the fireplace more accessible while securing your valuables.
Sweeping
Sweeping the ash and soot collected within your chimney unit is a chimney sweep’s leading role. You should select a professional chimney contractor to handle your sweeping needs for the best results. An experienced sweeper understands the importance of using special tools like a professional vacuum to control and eliminate the soot and ash from your unit.
The sweepers also need to follow a routine; some firms offering this service prefer starting from the roof and working their way down using a brush attached to a flexible rod. A shovel and vacuum will prove practical when collecting the loosened creosote and soot from the base of your fireplace.
Smoke Test
Another critical role of a chimney sweep involves conducting a thorough smoke test to ensure your chimney is not leaking any dangerous gasses into your home’s interior. You can light some smoke pellets in your unit, close its openings, and observe if there is any gas escaping. This approach is susceptible to human error because some minor leakages require specialized equipment to detect. Professional chimney sweepers use a device that measures the amount of air leaking out and gives an accurate result of whether the unit is safe for use.
Regular chimney sweeping holds tremendous advantages to your fireplace and your home environment. All homeowners must recognize the vital role this process plays in their homes and take the correct steps to ensure their chimney is in good condition. It would help if you reached out to a chimney contractor for professional sweeping and repair services.