Chimney Sweep
When you burn a fire in your fireplace, creosote builds up inside the chimney. Creosote is formed as a burning fire exhausts through your chimney to cooler air creating condensation and ultimately sticking to the lining walls of your chimney. Creosote is extremely flammable and a sufficient build up can lead to a chimney fire. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that an estimated 25,000 fires and 30 deaths yearly are attributed to chimney fires.
To reduce the occurrence of chimney fires, The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard states that a home’s chimneys shall be inspected and cleaned at least once yearly. It is recommended that fireplaces and its chimney be cleaned as needed depending on frequency of use. Cleanings should not exceed a two-year period.
Many homeowners are under the impression that if they have a gas heating system there is no longer a need for chimney maintenance. Although they don’t need to be cleaned as often as a wood burning system, it is recommended that gas systems receive inspections every two to three years to make sure these systems are venting properly and to insure that there are not any cracks, deterioration or blockage that may cause hazardous gas to back up into your home unnoticed.