During the holiday season, I adore hosting parties at my home. I always enjoy spending time with close friends and family members in a relaxed atmosphere. Are you already busily planning upcoming events at your home? Consider making your house look amazing when visitors arrive by hiring a professional cleaning service. A cleaning service can complete tedious chores such as vacuuming your carpets, mopping your hardwood floors, cleaning your oven, and dusting your furniture. On this blog, I hope you will discover the benefits of hiring a cleaning service before your guests are expected to arrive. Your home can be a spotless party paradise.
Avoiding cleaning your chimney can lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide inside the unit. This toxic gas is deadly as it's odorless. Hence, it can kill someone without the person realizing there's a problem. A clean chimney also allows sufficient oxygen to flow to the burning wood in the fireplace. Therefore, the wood will burn properly and heat your home, improving your heating efficiency.
Moreover, a clean chimney is easier to inspect as it allows you to view various components of the unit, such as chimney flue, liner, cap, flashing, crown, and damper. Here are signs that your chimney needs cleaning.
Excessive Creosote
Creosote is a by-product of unburned wood particles from the fireplace. As smoke from the burning wood rises, it begins to cool due to the temperature difference between the fireplace and the chimney. The cooling process causes the smoke to leave a residue on the chimney walls, forming creosote. The substance is highly inflammable and can easily trigger a fire if the temperatures in the chimney reach a certain level.
The chimney can't contain such a fire, so it can spread to other areas of your home, destroying your property. Also, the creosote has a funny smell that can pollute your home's indoor air. Breathing contaminated air can lead to respiratory diseases and worsen allergic reactions like asthma.
Animals Presence
Animals like birds can invade your chimney as it offers a warm environment and shelter away from rain and other elements. You may hear bird noises from your chimney or see animal droppings, feathers, or a dead animal carcass. When smoke combines with these things, it can trigger a foul smell that will sneak into your home's air. You will have to call a chimney professional to clean your unit.
Excessive Soot
Soot forms when reactive molecules from smoke trigger a chain reaction that combines the particles with other hydrocarbons. The reaction grows until the soot spreads all over your chimney. The soot will worsen creosote buildup, impeding proper airflow in your unit. Also, inhaling air with soot can lead to health problems, such as strokes, bronchitis, and heart disease.
Infants and the elderly will be severely affected. Moreover, the soot can spread from your chimney to other rooms in your home through the HVAC ductwork. Therefore, you shouldn't wait for the soot to accumulate before cleaning it. When professionals come to clean your chimney, they will wear special protective gear to avoid soot exposure.
The professionals will also use cleaning techniques like air scrubbing and thermal fogging to help restore your indoor air quality.
For more information, contact a local chimney sweep.
Share9 September 2022
