Why Schedule Chimney Repair, Inspection and Cleaning in Autumn?

Winter is just around the corner. Soon, cold weather is going to envelop the country. Everyone is going to rely on the fireplaces and stoves to keep them warm. This means chimneys, including yours, would be hard at work once again.

The question is:

Is your chimney ready?

While it may be one of the hard-to-ignore structures in houses, a chimney is usually taken for granted by homeowners. What we mean by this is that some people are not diligent when it comes to the maintenance of their chimneys.

Often, chimney inspection and cleaning are put off until they are forgotten or no longer doable because of the weather.

You cannot do this!

You need to make sure that your chimney undergoes regular inspection and cleaning. It is also imperative that existing damages are repaired before you light up the fireplace or turn on the stove.

Importance of Regular Chimney Inspection

Ignoring your chimney can have dire consequences. It is akin to putting you, your loved ones and your property in harm’s way.

Simply put, using a chimney that is not in good condition can bring you financial woes. Your property may get damaged or worse, it may burn down. Moreover, it can put your health and even life in danger.

Why?

Poorly maintained chimneys can become fire hazards. Each year, over a thousand fires due to chimneys are recorded. One report even claimed that the Irish Fire Services deal with at least 110 chimney-related fires each week.

What’s causing these fires? These are mainly because of creosote, tar and soot deposits in the chimney. These by-products of burning wood usually stick on the lining of the chimney. They are all highly flammable.

Creosote build-up, for one, can be very dangerous. A stray spark can ignite the creosote and start a fire that can reach a temperature of around 1,000°C. This is enough to cause the chimney liner to crack. When the liner is compromised, the fire can easily spread to adjacent structures and possibly engulf the entire house.

Aside from being a fire hazard, creosote can also cause the deterioration of the liner and the masonry. When this happens, the chimney may not function optimally. It can become unsafe in the long run.

Without a doubt, creosote deposits should be removed. The only way to prevent the build-up of this by-product is by doing regular chimney cleaning.

The thing is:

Creosote gets deposited inside the chimney. Hence, you won’t know if there is a build-up unless the liner is inspected. This is why conducting a chimney inspection at least once a year is also necessary.

Remember:

Just because the exterior of your chimney looks great, it does not mean that it is in tip-top condition.

Chimney Repairs, Inspection and Cleaning in Autumn – Is It a Good Idea?

The ideal time to have the CCTV survey and cleaning is in spring and summer. During these seasons, companies offering chimney repairs do not have a full schedule yet. Hence, you can get the services you need without waiting for too long.

Furthermore, doing these tasks early gives you ample time for chimney repairs to be done (should there be any problem).

However, if you fail to accomplish these tasks in spring and summer, you can still schedule them in autumn. But it might take a while before they can visit you since a lot of homeowners have their chimneys checked during this season.

Here’s the deal:

What’s important is that your chimney gets inspected, cleaned and repaired before it gets extensively used.

So, if ever, do not worry about the long wait. After all, these chimney-related tasks are meant to keep you safe.

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For professional chimney repair, inspection and cleaning services, only trust Access Chimneys – Ireland’s trusted company for repair, relining and other chimney services. Call us today at +353 872805825!

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