Chimney Cleaning Service & Maintenance

Why Regular Chimney Cleaning Matters

Let’s first understand what happens when you burn wood in a fireplace.

When you use your fireplace, the chimney lets out the leftovers of the fire from your home. What are these leftovers? They include smoke, bits of wood that didn’t burn completely, gases, and water vapor, among others. As they leave your fireplace through the chimney, the cold air outside causes water to form, which makes a sticky substance called creosote stick to the chimney walls.

To avoid cooler air in the flue, burning high calorific value firewood will produce higher temperature and reduce the formation of creosote.

A low heat in the fireplace encourages creosote, while a high heat prevents it. You’ve probably heard that burning soft woods like pine or spruce create more creosote because they don’t give off much heat. Also, when these woods burn, they release a sticky substance called resin, which adds to creosote.

Another way to cut down on creosote buildup is to upgrade your fireplace with a wood burning insert.

You can learn more about this option in our wood burning insert section.

Keep Your Home Safe

As creosote has formed in your chimney overtime, it becomes a fire hazard. Cleaning your chimney involves brushing the interior of the flue to remove this highly flammable material.

So, how often should you schedule this essential service? Well, it depends. How frequently do you enjoy crackling fires? And what type of wood fuels your winter nights?

As a general rule, at the very least once a year.

Why? Because ignoring this chore could spell disaster. A neglected chimney can turn into a ticking time bomb, risking not just your safety but also that of your loved ones. Investing in regular chimney cleaning is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with enjoying your fireplace.