Winter brings with it extremely low temperatures and the need for heating in the home. A common option is the fireplace, and those who use them know that this means keeping their chimneys in a safe condition. The latter, too, need to be maintained and cleaned. Many people might not be able to carry out this maintenance themselves, and that is why they should use a professional chimney sweep service to do so.
Yet they should also take into account that sweeps are not informal, unregulated operators. There is, in fact, a national sweep authority, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (the CSIA), which trains and issues certification to the sweeps. This is important when you are searching for a sweep, because you should ask to see their certificate. Only use one who has official certification.
A basic issue in the maintenance of smoke outlets is the deposit of creosote on the walls of the interior. This is a chemical that is produced by the combustion of plant material. The scientific name creosote actually refers to an entire group of such compounds, which are carbon-based. In fireplaces that use wood, the burning of newly-cut wood or wood that is still green and moist causes more of this chemical to be formed.
Creosote builds up inside the chimney over time. It adheres to the walls of the interior. It causes a serious problem in using the fireplace and needs to be addressed through proper chimney cleaning.
The chemical itself burns easily, and so it can easily ignite inside the outlet. This is because the hot air that rises off the fire, which may be heated to several hundred degrees Fahrenheit, can ignite the creosote, causing what is technically termed a "chimney fire". This type of fire can then ignite the rest of the house or apartment. Its sparks can set fire to adjacent structures.
In the USA, 25% of fires in the home are started with creosote as the cause. A sweep is not an optional luxury - they are a standard part of maintaining the home and ensuring its safety. Keeping the chimney clean, also, is not a matter of personal taste or an obsession with hygiene. It should be seen to as a matter of routine.
As an aside, and less to do with safety, creosote has another implication for fireplace users: it decreases the movement of air in the outlet and so the fire has less oxygen. The lower the supply of oxygen to the fire, the lower the temperature at which it burns. This means that the homeowner is not going to get as much heat out of their fuel as they should, since the fuel efficiency of the fireplace is lower.
You should speak to a chimney sweep in San Diego CA about examining your outlet if you believe that there is a problem. They have the necessary training not only to check it for trouble but also to give you information on cleaning it or repairing it. They can also examine the fireplace or stove and the rest of the premises. This is not negotiable in terms of your neighbors' safety, or your own, but it is also something that many homeowners are not able to do themselves.
Yet they should also take into account that sweeps are not informal, unregulated operators. There is, in fact, a national sweep authority, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (the CSIA), which trains and issues certification to the sweeps. This is important when you are searching for a sweep, because you should ask to see their certificate. Only use one who has official certification.
A basic issue in the maintenance of smoke outlets is the deposit of creosote on the walls of the interior. This is a chemical that is produced by the combustion of plant material. The scientific name creosote actually refers to an entire group of such compounds, which are carbon-based. In fireplaces that use wood, the burning of newly-cut wood or wood that is still green and moist causes more of this chemical to be formed.
Creosote builds up inside the chimney over time. It adheres to the walls of the interior. It causes a serious problem in using the fireplace and needs to be addressed through proper chimney cleaning.
The chemical itself burns easily, and so it can easily ignite inside the outlet. This is because the hot air that rises off the fire, which may be heated to several hundred degrees Fahrenheit, can ignite the creosote, causing what is technically termed a "chimney fire". This type of fire can then ignite the rest of the house or apartment. Its sparks can set fire to adjacent structures.
In the USA, 25% of fires in the home are started with creosote as the cause. A sweep is not an optional luxury - they are a standard part of maintaining the home and ensuring its safety. Keeping the chimney clean, also, is not a matter of personal taste or an obsession with hygiene. It should be seen to as a matter of routine.
As an aside, and less to do with safety, creosote has another implication for fireplace users: it decreases the movement of air in the outlet and so the fire has less oxygen. The lower the supply of oxygen to the fire, the lower the temperature at which it burns. This means that the homeowner is not going to get as much heat out of their fuel as they should, since the fuel efficiency of the fireplace is lower.
You should speak to a chimney sweep in San Diego CA about examining your outlet if you believe that there is a problem. They have the necessary training not only to check it for trouble but also to give you information on cleaning it or repairing it. They can also examine the fireplace or stove and the rest of the premises. This is not negotiable in terms of your neighbors' safety, or your own, but it is also something that many homeowners are not able to do themselves.
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