When it comes to fall, many people start cleaning their gutters, garages and storage spaces. But what many people avoid or don’t consider doing is scheduling a level one chimney inspection and sweep. This is an important part of your fall routine not only for safety reasons, but to keep your home much cleaner and running efficiently.
When it comes to finding the right company to inspect and clean your chimney, there are a few things to look for. Remember that a little time spent researching chimney sweeps may save you money or headaches later. Important factors to consider include whether they have any references, whether the business carries insurance in case of accidents, and whether there have been any complaints filed against them with the city. Many companies also say that they offer extremely low prices, but in reality are not doing a full inspection. A level one chimney inspection and sweeping should cost no more than $300, and anything incredibly less is most likely a scam. If you do bring a chimney expert into your home that insists on any large repairs, make sure that you get an estimate from at least two other companies before proceeding. This is one other way companies can scam you into making repairs and spending money that may not need to be done.
Not only is getting your chimney inspected every year important, remembering some cardinal rules of fire safety will help prevent any accidents. Make sure to keep chimneys clear and capped and keep all tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away. Always buy well-seasoned wood that has been split at least six months before burning. Never burn Christmas trees, treated wood or wrapping paper in your fireplace or wood stove. Remember to clean the hearth area and remove all ashes from inside the fireplace, and also keep all furniture at least three feet away from the fireplace. Finally, check that all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order and that they have all fresh batteries in case there is any kind of emergency.
The next step in keeping your fireplace clean and efficient is minimizing the emissions from your wood fire. While wood burning has become a popular way to heat your home, fireplaces that were built before 1992 will have significantly more smoke and pollute both the air outdoors and inside your home. While these are completely okay to use in your home, there are many low emission hearth products that are available for new construction or to upgrade. Talk to a fireplace expert to get more information on one of these low emission products to keep the air cleaner in and outside your home.
All of the home cleanup and improvements that need to be done in fall can be stressful. Getting your chimney cleaned and knowing the correct way to take care of your wood stove or fireplace can keep your mind at ease knowing that you are using your winter heat source safe and effectively. FBN
Mike Brackin proudly announced HomCo’s name change earlier this year. Now HomCo Lumber & Hardware, Mike Brackin continues to carry on a legacy of expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and ever improving specialized services and departments. HomCo Lumber & Hardware is Northern Arizona’s leading authority in the home improvement industry. Located at 1763 E. Butler Ave., in Flagstaff. For more information, call 928-779-6111,visit HomCo’s website at www.MyHomCo.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/MyHomCo