Why a clean chimney is so important

  

Few of us dislike sitting next to the open fire together with family and friends. The downside with having a fireplace is the important requirement to keep the chimney clean, usually through using the services of a chimney sweep. But what is it and why is it so important?

The leading cause of house fires amongst those that have fireplaces in them is a chimney fire. Lives are lost needlessly every year because of a fire that originated in a dirty chimney. It is important and vital to have the chimney swept every 6 to 12 months.

It is possible for you to clean your chimney yourself, but there are pitfalls and risks to avoid.

Safety is the most important factor. The job isn’t for everyone. A chimney cleaning company has the appropriate equipment and knows fireplaces inside out – and it isn’t overly expensive to have done.

Do have your fireplace and chimney swept and cleaned on a regular basis.

Contact Dougie’s Chimney Sweep today!

 

Safety Tips

 

Every year there are destructive fires which are started due to unsafe or improper use of fireplaces and fires. These fires can be prevented!

Always be sure that the area around your fireplace is free from clutter

Make every effort to keep your newspapers, any dry kindling, and of course firewood well away from the burning embers

Do always use a fireplace screen to prevent the burning embers from leaping out of the fireplace

You should also inspect your chimney on an annual basis. Over the spring and summer months, a bird (or several) may have decided to nest in your chimney. This nest may prevent the smoke from exiting your home. The nest could possibly catch fire, or it might cause your home to fill with smoke

Be prepared and always keep a suitable fire extinguisher close at hand. A fire can rapidly get out of control

Check that your home is equipped with appropriate smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with working batteries