Millions of homeowners depend on fireplaces, wood stoves and other fossil-fuel heating appliances to keep their family warm during the winter months. If these heat sources go unchecked, it can result in very costly damages and injuries. On average annually, there are more than 70,000 house fires and over 2,500 injuries due to clogged and dirty chimneys. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), chimney fires were the cause in approximately 30 percent of house fires.

Your chimney is an important ventilation system that allows smoke, toxins and dangerous fumes to escape the home. A wood-burning fireplace can reach temperatures of 1100°F or more. This creates ash, bits of wood, soot and other by-products that can cover the flue liner, smoke shelf, damper and masonry with dirt, grime and contaminants. Professional chimney cleaning helps to reduce wear and tear on these components so you can prevent costly chimney repairs from having to replace them prematurely. Also, small birds, rodents and insects can clog the flue preventing the escape of toxic fumes. And since the toxic fumes have difficulty escaping a clogged chimney, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning also increases. A thorough top to bottom chimney cleaning can help uncover minor masonry problems before they develop into larger and more expensive chimney repairs.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Get a professional chimney cleaning by a certified chimney sweep once or twice annually. It only takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete. A clean chimney means a safer, more efficient heating system. It also means peace of mind.

Have questions? Give us a call at (781) 861-6400 or email us.