Chimney Safety 101

Many people are not using their chimneys this summer, and because of this, it is the perfect time to have your chimney maintained. Chimney maintenance is not only done to maximize the use of the chimney during colder months, but it is also done for many safety reasons. Below is an article on why your chimney should be maintained, but how it can be maintained as well.

 Your fireplace, the most low-tech piece of equipment in your house, may seem like a simple load-and-light operation, but ignoring annual maintenance can impair its performance, leading to heated air (and dollars) blowing out the chimney, harmful smoke inside, and possibly even a chimney fire.The average number of annual U.S. home fires caused by fireplace, chimney, and chimney connectors between 2003 and 2005 was 25,100, and the average costs for those fires was $126.1 million, based on the most recent statistics from the Chimney Safety Institute of America. That’s roughly $5,024 in damage per home. Annual chimney maintenance removes flammable creosote, the major cause of chimney fires, and identifies other performance problems.

Read more here.