Importance of Chimney Inspection
You should always have your chimney examined, regardless of whether you are moving into a new house or converting your fireplace from one that uses wood to one that uses gas, whether you live in Indianapolis or anywhere else in the world. Even if everything appears to be operating as it should, you should still get your chimney examined once a year to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out in your home and causing extensive damage to both the chimney and the building.
Due to the fact that fire poses a significant risk
When a fire is burning in a fireplace, potentially hazardous substances will be released into the chimney flue. As a direct consequence of this, many of the more thick materials adhere to the sidewalls of the flue. These substances, notably creosote and soot, have a tendency to corrode brickwork over time. Creosote and soot are particularly harmful. It is especially hazardous when combined with moisture, which is something that may easily be brought about by anything as simple as a missing chimney cap or by any other kind of leak. Because of this, it is essential to have your chimney inspected so that any problems may be identified and remedied promptly, before the situation escalates and dangerous byproducts of combustion begin to seep into your house.
In addition, heat or flames emanating from your fireplace are able to readily escape through leaks inside your chimney or through fractures within the flue liner if your chimney has either of these issues. They are then in a position to start fires in flammable things that are next to them within the house. Creosote that has collected around the walls of a filthy chimney flue can catch fire when exposed to hot gases, which is the most common cause of chimney fires. Chimney fires can start directly inside the structure of the chimney itself. Creosote is essentially a natural byproduct that is produced when wood is burned. It is a highly combustible substance that can build inside the inner walls of the flue of your chimney under specific conditions of combustion.
When exposed to high temperatures over an extended period of time, the materials that surround a chimney may have their molecular structures transformed, turning them into substances that are more prone to catching fire. This phenomenon can take place even in the absence of a chimney fire. Pyrolase is the term that’s used to describe this chemical reaction. As soon as wood has been sufficiently pyrolyzed, it becomes a very serious fire threat because it may catch fire at temperatures that are not particularly high. The most current numbers provided by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission indicate that there are 25,000 chimney fires and an average of 140 deaths per year in the United States. These fires are responsible for an estimated $125 million in property damage.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that must be removed from your home through your chimney. It is one of the dangerous gases that must be removed. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that, when present in significant quantities, has the potential to cause serious sickness or even death. It is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people and the illnesses of countless more each year in houses all over the United States. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that may be found in homes and can sometimes be traced back to the furnace or to any other equipment that burns fuel. If the venting on these appliances is poor, carbon monoxide can enter the home.
If you suspect that your chimney or fireplace is having some issues, have an expert inspect it. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today. We also offer Chimney Cleaning Firebaugh and other affordable services.