When you live in Atlanta or Ellijay, Georgia, there are a few nippy days of the winter where having a roaring fire is a wonderful comfort. But that comfort could turn cold if you end up with a chimney fire. Fireplace cleaning is vital to keeping your home safe from a fire that destroys your precious things and memories.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Fireplace
If you start a fire in your fireplace without checking that your chimney is clean, you may unintentionally start a chimney fire that can quickly spread to the rest of your home, endangering your family. During the summer, when the fireplace is not in use, debris can blow into your chimney. Wood resins and coal soot can build up during the heating season as well. These compounds can burn very hot and when extinguished, can lead to expensive repairs to your chimney, fireplace and home.
How Chimney Fires Happen
When you have a fire in your fireplace, the smoke is directed up your chimney. But when the chimney is cold or the fire smolders instead of burning cleanly, the smoke deposits creosote or coal soot inside your chimney. Later on, when a hot fire is burning, these deposits can catch fire, causing a chimney fire. To avoid this problem, it’s important to have your chimney swept before the heating season begins and again halfway through the winter if you heat with wood extensively.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can keep your home and family safe from a chimney fire. If you’ve had a fire and need disaster repair services in Macon, please feel free to contact the professionals at Parker Young Construction. We’re always happy to help you get back on your feet.
