Alongside the fact that some rely on their chimney to stay warm and comfortable, part of responsible ownership is conducting regular chimney inspection. This ensures that your venting system is safe for further usage and is free from any damages or flammable build ups. After inspection, a sweep may either recommend chimney cleaning or repair. In this article, we will explore how you can avail of the right service from the right chimney company.

Understand why it is important to have your chimney checked

Firstly, one must see the purpose behind regular chimney inspection and cleaning. Whether or not you frequently utilize it, your chimney will require at least two sessions of checking every year.

For safety purposes, any flammable deposits of soot or creosote must be removed from your venting system. All it takes is a small spark of flame to trigger a chimney fire with even the slightest accumulation of such substances.

Furthermore, overlooking customary maintenance of your chimney can make it conducive as habitat for small creatures such as birds or rats. This can cause the problem of having a bad smelling flue which may lead to your family’s discomfort.

More importantly, availing of chimney cleaning more often can avoid the occurrence of graver damages. In the long run, it’s more practical and less costly to efficiently sustain the status of your chimney rather than having it repeatedly repaired.

Be knowledgeable of the kind of inspection you need

Considering the standards provided by the National Fire Protection Agency, there are three classifications of chimney inspection:

• Level 1 – Being the level most commonly subscribed to chimney cleaning will simply be checking chimney’s exterior, interior, and other accessible features of it. It will be inspected of obvious damage, accumulation of combustible deposits, and obstruction from any material.
• Level 2 – More critical than the previous one, this level will involve not just the visual inspection but also the checking of your chimney’s joints, crawlspace, and other intricate structures. Level 2 is often needed if you plan on altering any feature of your chimney (ie. fuel change and flue relining) or before selling your entire property. Moreover, it’s recommended have a level 2 chimney inspection after suffering from a building fire or earthquake.
• Level 3 – Upon the inference that your chimney had incurred a major damage, a level 3 chimney inspection may be required. In addition to what is included from the first two classifications, this level will also look into the hidden areas of your chimney. More than that, it may also require the removal of a part of your building structure to make way for the checking.

Hire a skillful chimney sweep from an efficient chimney company

More importantly, you must carefully select the right professional to entrust your chimney with. To help you with that, here are a few tips you can follow:

• Check if the chimney company’s sweeps have acquired certification from the Chimney Safety Institute of America
• Review the background of the chimney company. How long have they been in the industry? Do they have a clean track record of service?
• Refer to previous customer’s testimonies and find out whether or not they have unresolved complaints towards the chimney company MD.