One of the most common questions our technicians get "Why does my chimney need swept every year?" It's a great question and the most common answer chimney professionals give is that "It helps prevent chimney fires and is very important when considering the health of your family"

As you burn fires through the cold months your chimney will produce byproducts. These byproducts are what's left behind after the combustion process takes place. One of the byproducts is called "Creosote". Creosote has a very black shiny appearance and can be very sticky to the touch. But most importantly it is highly flammable and if it reaches 451F degrees it can ignite causing a chimney fire.

The purpose of your chimneys flue liner is to direct the smoke and byproducts of combustions up and out of your home. When creosote and soot form on your flue walls the air flow becomes more restricted. This will cause the smoke to cool before it ever leaves your chimney top. Believe it or not your chimney is not built to actually handle a fire inside of the chimney flue. If your clay or metal flue liner is exposed to the extreme temperatures of a chimney fire (2000+ Degrees F) for any period of time it will need to be repaired or replaced by a professional. With those kinds of temperatures you can imagine how quickly a chimney fire can become a house fire.

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) & The Chimney Safety Institute of America both state that you should have your chimney or any solid fuel burning appliance inspected annually and cleaned as needed.