Signs Your Chimney Needs Cleaning Before Winter

There is nothing like sitting around the fireplace on a winter’s day, just soaking in the warmth. But if the chimney hasn’t been cleaned before the season begins, you might be looking at carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to find out if your chimney needs to be cleared before the temperatures start to drop. Things like persistent oily odors, creosote in the chimney and debris in the fireplace all indicate that your chimney requires professional assistance. To learn when your chimney should be cleaned, you should read the blog below.

2.Spot The Clues: Time To Book Your Winter Chimney Cleaning

From swapping out your wardrobes to the winterization of your pipes; there is a lot you do to prepare your homes for the winter season. But did you ever wonder how you should get your chimney ready, too? Your chimneys are responsible for keeping you warm all winter, but they do need to be cleaned to perform well. How would you know that you should have them cleaned in the first place, though?

Here are a few signs chimney needs cleaning before the winter season hits

Foul Odors

Your chimney is responsible for quality ventilation. Whether it’s food or smoke; your chimney is supposed to expel all kinds of odors from your interiors. If you keep smelling something a little like oil or campfire, it indicates that your flue has a lot of creosote build-up and should be cleaned.

Smoky Interiors

Any smoke that’s the result of the fireplace should be syphoned and cleared through the chimney as well. However, if you can clearly smell the acrid odor and see the soot on your furniture and carpets, your chimney is clogged and requires a professional chimney cleaning soon.

Soot Coating

When you touch the inside of your chimney, your fingers come back black. Normal, right? But if the dark stuff is more than 1/8 inches, it means that your chimney has a thick coat of creosote or soot and should be immediately cleaned by an experienced chimney technician.

Animal Sounds

If you hear chirping or scratching coming from your chimney, it means that small animals have chosen your home for nesting or hiding during the winter. Contact a professional immediately to remove the pests and fix whatever opening they snuck in through.

Pro TipInstall a chimney cap to prevent this from happening again

Damper Malfunction

You need to be able to open and close the damper effectively when the chimney is in use to clear the air and keep your interiors comfortable. If you find that the damper is difficult to move or covered in coated in black sludge, there is a lot of build-up that should be cleaned before the winter season fully hits.

Debris In Fireplace

Your fireplace should be clean when in use. If you notice large chunks of broken bricks or tile, heavy soot or creosote in the fireplace, you should immediately have it cleared and repaired to prevent any accidents during the frosty months.

Weak Fires

When we think about chimneys, we picture bright and cheerful flames. If you find that your fires sputter and smolder, or you have trouble lighting them in the first place, it means that they aren’t receiving enough air. Schedule a chimney cleaning service to restore airflow through your chimneys before heavy use.

Exterior Staining

If you notice that the exterior bricks are coated in a white powdery substance, you’re looking at efflorescent build up. This is probably the result of moisture damage. Have a reliable expert assess and repair the chimney immediately to prevent worse creosote buildup and any more structural damage.

3. Conclusion

To summarize it all, your chimney is an essential part of your home’s structure during the winter season and should be taken care of so it performs well. Some signs chimney needs cleaning include smoky interiors, damper malfunctions and efflorescent on your chimney’s exteriors. As soon as you notice any one of the above mentioned signs, have a reliable chimney technician inspect, clean and repair it. We hope this blog helped you get your property winter ready. If you have any more questions, please feel free to drop us a line.