How can a sweep help me to maintain a safe home?

Employing the services of a qualified chimney sweep is essential for maintaining the safety of your home. A professional chimney sweep not only cleans your flue, which can prevent the build-up of hazardous creosote as well as obstruction from nesting animals and debris, but he will inspect your chimney as well. A thorough inspection of your chimney is vital in order to prevent ghastly costs and safety issues that could result from untreated damages that might be lurking in your chimney. Failure to have your chimney swept and inspected by a qualified sweep can result in:

• Fire from Obstruction or Debris: Perhaps one of the most common safety issues that is associated with chimneys is the build-up of debris in the flue. Leaves, nesting materials and other debris can accumulate in your chimney over time, and if they are not promptly removed, they can become hot and essentially catch fire.
• Creosote Build Up: Creosote is highly combustible, and if it builds up in substantial amounts, it can result in a chimney fire. A qualified chimney sweep will remove dangerous build-up of creosote from your flue.
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Carbon monoxide is a gas that is produced when things like gas, oil, charcoal, kerosene or wood is burned. When a blocked or damaged chimney or flue prevents this odorless gas from venting away from the home, high levels of carbon monoxide can backdraft into the home causing occupants to experience carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result in serious illness and even death.
• Costly Repairs: Having a sweep inspect your chimney and all of its components regularly can help to identify damages and discrepancies that, if left untreated, could result in the need for more serious repairs in the future.

Good old Benjamin Franklin said it best when he stated that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, and that age old adage definitely applies when considering employing the services of a chimney sweep.