Most people know that chimneys need to be cleaned, but few think about it until a problem such as insufficient ventilation – or worse, a chimney fire – occurs. Problems such as reduced ventilation can be the result of creosote buildup, which is a very flammable substance. Creosote condenses on chimney walls when the chimney or flue is cooler than 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and when there is high moisture content in the exhaust gases from the fire. In cases where there is significant creosote residue in the chimney, chimney fires can be difficult to put out. Often, they must simply ‘burn out’, which can crack or damage the chimney liner in the best case scenario, and can lead to a house fire in the worst-case scenario.

For these reasons, as well as the long life and effective operation of your woodstove or fireplace, it is important that you have your chimney cleaned yearly, or more often if problems such as creosote build-up are detected.

If you are in the market for a chimney sweep, make sure the person or company you select is licensed and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Companies who use the CSIA trademark must have at least one certified individual on the job site performing or supervising the sweeping and/or inspection. For more information, or to locate a CSIA-certified chimney sweep, visit the CSIA website at http://www.csia.org/.

And remember, if you are planning on building a new chimney or repairing a damaged chimney, Fireplace Village stocks Ventinox, the number one brand of chimney liner systems (see the photo above).