There are some things we do every year. On New Year’s Eve, we make resolutions or at least set goals. We deep clean our house at least once, and sometimes twice a year. We go through the garage or the attic or the basement and clear out the excess. Even if we sometimes don’t get around to doing A-new-years-cleaning-for-your-chimney-and-flue-liner-Manchester-NH-Ceaser-Chimneyall these things, there is one thing that you should make sure to do every year, no matter what, and that’s to have your chimney cleaned and inspected. It may seem like a funny thing to think about right now when it’s so cold out and it’s in the middle of fireplace season, but if you haven’t had an inspection or a cleaning in more than a year, now is definitely the right time. In fact, if you give John Ceaser at Ceaser Chimney Service, LLC a call now, we’ll get you fit right in for an appointment for a thorough inspection and sweeping. This is the job we’re trained for, the job we love and are passionate about, and we’ll do the best job ever to make sure that you and your family are kept safe and sound all winter long.

Creosote Buildup

When you burn a wood fire in your fireplace, a layer of grudge and grunge builds up that can have several negative effects. The wood that you burn, no matter how long it’s been cured, will have some moisture left in it. It’s recommended that wood has a less than 20% moisture level before you burn it. This usually takes at least six months’ worth of curing, but longer is better. But there will be moisture in the wood no matter how long it’s been cured, and during the combustion process, that moisture is released along with other chemicals. As that warm smoke goes up the chimney, it hits the upper surface near the top and condenses, forming a layer of creosote. This is a substance that can be black or brown, flaky or shiny. It doesn’t really matter what form it takes, it doesn’t smell very pretty. This odor can permeate your house, even getting into the drapes, carpeting, and furniture. But worse than this is the fact that creosote is highly flammable. If there is even as little as an eighth of an inch of creosote build-up lining your chimney, it could easily catch a spark or ember and start a chimney fire.

Even though we think of a chimney fire as a roaring, crackly devastating event, in most cases there isn’t enough oxygen in your chimney to keep a fire going. That may seem like a good thing, but in reality, this can be even more of a problem. With a huge fire, you know what you have. With a small fire that goes undetected, there may be damage to your chimney that you don’t even know is there, and that damage, if left unrepaired, could cause even greater damage to spread. This makes an inspection and sweeping especially important. For one thing, we’ll make sure to get all that creosote cleaned out before a fire occurs. If, on the other hand, we find out that a chimney fire has occurred, we’ll go in and fix up any damage that has occurred before it can become a bigger problem that will take a long time and lots of money to repair.

Liner Damage

If you don’t burn with wood but have a gas fireplace instead, you can still have a build-up happen. In fact, when you burn with gas, chemicals are released. These chemicals can produce a kind of slurry that can have a corrosive effect on your chimney, especially the chimney liner. Your chimney liner does exactly that, lines your chimney to protect it from the negative effects that smoke or gas exhaust can have on it. It also protects the combustible items near your fireplace from igniting into flames. A properly fitted chimney liner will ensure that you have a more efficient burning experience. We’ll be checking for damage to your flue liner as well, and will make sure that it is fixed up just right to ensure that safe, efficient burning is happening.

Call Ceaser Chimney Service, LLC Today

It is extremely important to have your fireplace and chimney system cleaned and inspected on an annual basis. If you’re wondering why Ceaser Chimney Service, LLC is the best place to call to have this done, then wonder no more. Ceaser Chimney Service is a veteran-owned-and-operated chimney company that offers the best service in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and the surrounding communities. We are Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified, which means we have access to the best training and education in the industry. We’re also members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and Northeast Association of Chimney and Hearth Professionals (NEACHP). We take advantage of every opportunity to make ourselves the best in the business. Give us a call soon and let us get your chimney cleaned and in excellent working condition so your family is kept safe and sound in 2020!