There’s a lot to maintain as a homeowner, whether you’re updating your HVAC system, keeping up with your landscaping, or even considering the benefits of replacement windows. If you have a fireplace, chimney cleaning should also be on your annual maintenance list to protect both you and your family. Here, you’ll discover four reasons why you should always schedule your cleanings before winter to get the most out of your fireplace.
Service on Your Schedule
Though chimney companies work hard to provide service to you when you need it – even in the dead of winter – the truth is that you are far more likely to get fast service on your schedule if you call for it during the offseason. During the winter, many companies are helping homeowners deal with unexpected problems and repairs, and this means that your cleaning needs may have to wait a few days. By calling for fireplace and chimney cleaning before winter sets in, you can sometimes even get your cleaning done the next day – if not the same day.
Prevention is the Best Medicine
The best way to treat an illness is to avoid getting it in the first place, and the same can be said for your chimney and fireplace. Part of protecting your investment and ensuring the health of your home and family involves regular routine maintenance. Scheduling your chimney and fireplace cleaning ahead of time promotes a better overall heating season. Simply put, when you take care of these things early on, it’s far less likely that you’ll experience a significant issue when you need to use your fireplace the most.
Don’t Get Left in the Cold
If you put off your chimney and fireplace cleaning too long, you may find yourself unable to use your fireplace during the coldest days of the year. Remember that even during a routine cleaning, a professional is likely to notice any issues that could present problems later down the line, and this gives you the opportunity to address them. Waiting until the very last minute could leave you without the use of your fireplace, and this will undoubtedly have a negative effect on your comfort – especially if you rely on your fireplace to supplement your HVAC system during the winter.
Reduce the Risk of Fire
Finally, perhaps the most important reason to schedule your chimney and fireplace cleaning prior to the start of the major heating season has to do with protecting your home and family. Creosote builds up in your fireplace and chimney with every single fire you light, and while a little creosote is normal, too much is a significant fire hazard. You should never go more than a year without cleaning your chimney if you use your fireplace routinely. Doing so could prove disastrous, especially if a chimney fire spreads to your home.
If you plan to use your fireplace this winter to keep your family warm and comfortable, now is the time to schedule a cleaning with a professional chimney sweep service you can trust. By getting it out of the way early on, you and your family can rest comfortably in the knowledge that your fireplace is safe to use – and you can do so in front of a warm, crackling fire, too.
