The Importance of Regular Chimney Cleaning
With winter upon us, those homeowners that use fireplaces and chimneys as a source of home heating should consider having them inspected and cleaned. And the numbers indicate that chimney and fireplace owners use them more and more as their main source of heating. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, 72% of Americans use hearth products as a primary and/or secondary source of heat.
Fireplaces and chimneys that have not been properly maintained can lead to several problems. Smoke that fills your home rather than being vented through your chimney is the most common. However, in more severe cases, build-up caused by the creosote emissions could block the airflow through your chimney resulting in a major fire.
Chimney cleaning and maintenance should be checked and performed at least once a year to ensure safe fireplace conditions. A lot of homeowners get their fireplaces and chimneys inspected at the beginning of the winter to make sure that all of the debris has been cleared and at the end of winter, in February and March for those cool spring days ahead. Regular maintenance and general upkeep of a chimney can be performed by a homeowner, but more intensive repairs and cleaning may require a professional chimney sweep.
Leaves and additional debris can hamper the flow of air from your fireplace to the outside if a protective rain cap or other guard is not installed at the top of a chimney. This can result in occasional or continuous smoking entering your home. Other factors that need to be addressed if smoking occurs is construction of the chimney itself, proper air flow and temperature, and environmental factors, such as wind and the environment around your chimney which can cause the airflow within your chimney to be suddenly reversed. Professional Chimney Services can help you find these problems, especially if your regular maintenance hasn't solved them. We follow Certified Chimney Professional standards for chimney inspection and cleaning which include:
1. Initial Inspection: We like to ask some questions to have a better understanding of the problems such as, is there a furnace at the home, if so, what type? When was the chimney first inspected or serviced? A clear understanding of the situation helps us prepare for our home visit.
2. Interior Inspection & Setup: Once we've arrived at your home, we'll perform an exterior and interior inspection of your chimney, making sure that fireplaces are thoroughly examined from the bottom and the damper and noting anything out of the ordinary. We'll then proceed to close the dampers and run the vacuums, making sure that we avoid messes by putting down drop clothes.
3. Exterior Inspection & Cleaning: Once the interior is set up and ready for cleaning from the exterior, the next step is the exterior inspection and cleaning. We'll carefully examine your chimney, making sure that we take pictures of any damage to bring to your attention.
4. Interior Cleaning & Inspection: After the chimney flue has been cleaned and re-inspected from the top (or if the chimney will be completely swept from the bottom) the next step will be to clean and inspect the interior. After we've properly cleaned ourselves, no to bring the dirt into your home, we're ready for our Level 1 inspection.
5. Final Inspections: Level 1 inspection involves a complete examination of readily accessible and accessible portions of the connected appliance and/or chimney connections. After that we move onto:
* An examination of readily accessible areas of the chimney flue that can be observed through the existing openings, such as a thimble or clean out. * An examination for proper installation, no damage or deterioration and the presence of a continuous liner.
* We'll verify that the flue is free of combustible deposits, blockages or obstructions.
* We'll inspect appliance connectors and surroundings for proper clearances, protection, damage or deterioration, and observable evidence of operation malfunction.
* An inspection of internal surfaces of fireplaces and smoke chambers for damage or deterioration, and observable evidence of operation malfunction.
* The chimney exterior and surroundings which can be accessed without the removal of panels, doors or coverings.
6. Customer Report & Review: This is the final and most critical step which includes the following: * Informing you of the work performed and the results of the Level I inspection. * Educating you in ways to more properly use their system(s) if necessary; ways to correct or improve your system, or to make your home safer.
* Alerting you of any maintenance issues you might want to consider to, for instance saving money in the long run * Bringing up any safety or major issues which need to be addressed which poses a danger to the home, you and your family. * You'll sign and receive a copy of a Chimney Report / Work Order form along with brochures, photos, and estimates.
At PCS, we take the time to make sure that chimney works the way it should by following the accepted Certified Chimney Professional guidelines. PCS, your Houston chimney cleaning pro's, Keeping You Safe, Keeping You Warm!
With over 15 years of experience servicing all of the Houston area, Professional Chimney Services has spent countless hours dedicating our unique services to our customers' chimneys. At Professional Chimney Services, we offer chimney restoration services, damper repair and waterproofing, animal removal etc. Professional Chimney Services, Keeping you Safe, Keeping you Warm!
Visit us at https://www.houston-chimneycleaners.com
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