Three Signs You Need to Have Your Chimney Cleaned

If you have a fireplace, you have a chimney, and while you may not use it very often, you can’t simply avoid cleaning it entirely. In fact, if you’ve never had your chimney cleaned, you can be certain it’s time for a professional evaluation. If you have had your chimney cleaned, but you’re not sure if it’s time to have it done again, these symptoms can help you decide if it’s time to give us a call.

1. You’re having serious odor problems. If you’ve started a fire, you should get that amazing smell of wood smoke throughout your house. If you begin to notice a foul smell instead that permeates your whole house, you have an issue. Those strong smells are trying to tell you something – there are strong gasses within your house, and those gasses can lead to real problems, particularly for those with asthma.
2. You can hear something inside. Ever been alone in your house, and suddenly you hear a fluttering or a scurrying? It’s possible that you need to give us a call. Raccoons, squirrels, and even birds can get down inside your chimney to build a nesting area, and that may be all they need to come a bit further into your home. That could mean a fairly serious blockage the next time you go to start a fire.
3. Your fireplace seems greasy. If you reach inside your cool fireplace, you shouldn’t find a greasy black substance coating the walls. That is called creosote, and it could create an internal chimney fire that has the power to burn your entire house down.

If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, give us a call right away. If it’s been some time since your last chimney cleaning, it may be time to give us a call even if you haven’t noticed these problems.