When to Have Your Chimney Swept
Your chimney has to be swept regularly in order to maintain the safety of your house, and this is true regardless of the type of fireplace you have. The question that has to be answered is how frequently you should get your chimney cleaned. There is no set period of time that must pass before you get your chimney cleaned; nevertheless, there are some factors to take into consideration. The frequency with which you get your chimney swept is directly proportional to the amount of time you spend using your fireplace. When there is an eighth of an inch of soot on the chimney liner, it is time to clean it.
There is a simple metric that you can use if you are unsure how to quantify soot, and that is to clean your chimney after every fifty times that it is used. This varies depending on the kind of fireplace you have in your home. For example, a gas log fireplace requires less frequent sweeping than a wood-burning fireplace does on a regular basis. A starting point of around fifty burns is recommended.
Wood-burning fireplaces aren’t the best choice for your chimney; gas log fireplaces are.
This is definitely one of the more unusual recommendations for chimney upkeep. It is possible that you will make your house safer by switching from a fireplace that burns wood to one that uses gas logs. The burning of gas logs is significantly more environmentally friendly than the burning of actual logs since they emit less toxic smoke and are more energy efficient. In point of fact, their efficiency rating ranges from 92% to 99%, which is significantly higher than the standard 60% to 80%. That is not only better for the efficiency, but it is also better for you personally. Because the gas log fireplace can burn up to 99% of the gas that is utilized, the amount of soot that accumulates in the chimney is reduced. This allows you to extend the time between chimney cleanings and reduces the chance of fires occurring in your home.
Do not believe that you must give up elegance in order to achieve efficiency. There was a time when wood-burning fireplaces were considered to be more elegant than gas log fires; however, times have changed. Ceramic gas logs that have been hand-painted to look like wood logs are now available on the market.
Check to See That Your Bricks and Mortar Joints Are Not Breaking Apart.
When it comes to protecting the interior of your home from water damage, the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney play a significant role. However, after some time they will begin to fracture and crumble, which will allow moisture to enter your property via the openings. Tuckpointing refers to the process of fixing mortar in chimneys. If you observe that the mortar on your chimney is beginning to crumble and that the bricks are beginning to get loose, then you need to have your chimney tuckpointed. It is imperative that you invest in a water-resistant sealant specifically designed for your chimney stack. Because of this, the mortar and bricks will be protected from moisture for a longer period of time.
A crown is essential for masonry chimneys and will need to be purchased. The cover is made of concrete and serves the purpose of preventing intruders from entering your property. Similar to the pursuit coverings, there is a pipe emerging from the crown that allows the smoke to escape. The flashing covers the joint where the chimney and roof meet. In the absence of a sealant that goes around the spot where the two materials meet, moisture can seep into your property. Check the state of your flashing to make sure it is in excellent working order.
All these reminders are best practiced when you are also assured of having a reliable company at your side. Contact Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today for Chimney Cleaning Clovis and repairing.