You\u2019re ready for the low temperatures to give you a chance to light a fire in your fireplace once again. A warm, welcoming fire can make a house feel like home. But don\u2019t rush into using yours just yet. Before you get out the firewood, here are 4 things you should know before you start to use your chimney for the first time this year.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, a chimney fire could occur if your chimney is not in good shape for the colder weather. Creosote\u2014a tarlike substance that collects in the chimney as a byproduct of the combustion process\u2014is highly flammable, and too much of it means a major fire hazard. Certain conditions in the chimney flue, like cracks or improper ventilation, make it more likely for fires to spread outside of the home.<\/p>\n
Make sure that you have a chimney cap in place before you use your chimney. If not, winter weather can do a lot of damage to the inside of your flue. Water causes the masonry to expand and contract and may eventually lead to cracking. And it speeds up the development of creosote.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t have a chimney cap in place, if you don\u2019t have a properly sized chimney flue, or if it\u2019s been over a year since someone has inspected your chimney, there could be structural issues in the flue you don\u2019t know about. A preseason chimney inspection can reveal these issues to you.<\/p>\n
As you\u2019ve seen from the information above, it\u2019s so important that you have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a reputable company. Keep in mind that good companies typically don\u2019t go door to door asking if you\u2019d like an inspection. This may be a scam.<\/p>\n
Look for chimney technicians certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and other reputable organizations to be sure your inspector and chimney sweep is qualified! Do this well before it gets too cold, so you have time to fix any problems that are discovered in your chimney.<\/p>\n