Recommended Chimney Maintenance Techniques
The chimney is among the most hardworking home systems, particularly during the chilly season. Despite their importance, chimneys are often unmaintained until a problem that affects their functionality emerges. Bio Home MA professionals recommend several chimney maintenance tips to enable our clients to avoid future chimney repair expenses, maintain their homes’ safety, and increase their chimneys’ longevity. Whether a new homeowner or a long-term fireplace operator, we all agree that the feeling of enjoying a warm fireplace on a chilly night is understated. Do not worry about chimney maintenance Bio Home MA is here to take you all through the way by recommending the following maintenance steps;
- Ensuring routine chimney maintenance and cleaning procedures: Bio Home MA recommends thorough exterior and interior inspection of the chimney to affirm its structural fitness. Even homeowners who do not use their fireplaces regularly are encouraged to consider annual checkups to monitor deterioration resulting from creosote buildup, pests, and weather.
- Ensuring the fireplace damper is functional; An efficient fireplace helps homeowners save on energy. The damper should always be close to prevent outside drafts from entering the home. A fire damper that cannot close will increase energy expenses as it will be difficult for the air conditioner and furnace to reach the needed temperature level. Subsequently, they will end up using more heat to maintain room temperature. A damper that cannot open can also traps smoke in your home, or in worst-case scenarios contribute to the buildup of carbon monoxide gases. Overall, it is prudent to have a dysfunctional damper checked out by a professional.
- Avoid skipping professional chimney cleaning; A properly swept chimney is a game changer. Over time combustion and smoke cause a creosote buildup, which has been confirmed to be a fire risk. Moreover, debris like twigs and leaves can block the flow of air. This blockage can be avoided by a thorough chimney cleaning. On average, we recommend chimney cleaning at least once or twice a year.
- Install a chimney cap; Bio Home MA technicians recommend the installation of a simple but powerful apparatus known as a chimney cap. The chimney cap protects the home in more ways than one. After being mounted, the chimney cap guards the structure from water leaks, which can significantly destroy the masonry. The chimney cap also keeps animals like raccoons, squirrels, and birds away.
- Ensure the chimney is waterproof; Elements such as moisture can be damaging to a chimney. Moisture weakens your chimney’s masonry, damages the floor and wall, and causes mold. It is therefore important to ensure that the chimney flashing, crown, flue cover, and waterproofing are efficient and functional. Experts at Bio Home MA urge clients to book a waterproofing appointment. Our chimney waterproofing activities begin with laying out a water sealant on the chimney’s exterior to prevent water from weakening structures, including the mortar. Although it is obvious that the chimney has a wide opening at the top, it is also important to prevent rainwater from getting inside the chimney through the air hole. Therefore, a chimney cap is an excellent addition to guarantee moisture protection.
- Understand the appropriate timing for chimney cleaning; No matter the type of chimney you have, the timing of professional cleaning and sweeping is important. Experts at Bio Home MA indicate that a good number of homeowners only remember to schedule their chimney cleaning appointment just before the cold weather period. The last-minute attempts are often futile as the business is fully booked. Thus, we recommend booking in late fall or in summer, when our technicians are more flexible to offer consultative, maintenance, and follow-up service. Another measure you can use to perfectly time a cleanup is the amount of soot it accumulates. The most common metric for gauging soot is the number of burns. On average, for every 50 burns, a chimney clean is needed. Also, a wood fireplace needs more frequent cleaning compared to a gas fireplace.
- Install a gas fireplace to protect your chimney from quick deterioration. Bio Home MA experts always recommend a gas log fireplace instead of a wood-burning one. Gas log fireplaces are preferred since they produce less smoke. Matter of fact, gas log fireplaces are categorized at between 92-99 percent burning efficiency. Gas log fireplaces are also safer for the family as there is a lower chance of carbon monoxide buildup caused by creosote and soot buildup.
The above chimney maintenance tips will help you maintain your home’s safety and save you from unnecessary energy spending. Although there are hundreds of chimney maintenance practices, these are considered the most critical by chimney maintenance experts at Bio Home MA. Our company offers all the related services that you may need. Reach out to us today to begin a comprehensive chimney inspection, monitoring, and repair project that guarantees longevity, efficiency, and functionality.
