Chimney inspection and cleaning are recommended yearly by The National Fire Protection Association --sometimes more if you use your system heavily. Homeowners with wood-burning fireplaces often wait until fall to schedule their chimney cleaning, which isn’t a bad thing...until you realize that almost everyone else does the same thing.
You can’t always predict when you’ll want to build that first fire of the season, and scheduling your cleaning before the rush ensures that you’re ready to go--without waiting for a cleaning--when temperatures dip and you want the coziness of a fire.
Why Do I Need a Chimney Cleaning?
It can be tempting to skip scheduling your chimney cleaning, but it’s a temptation you need to resist; cleaning is necessary to remove soot, blockages, and built-up creosote from your system for safety and efficiency. It doesn’t take much creosote (sometimes just an eighth of an inch) to cause a hazard. If you have a fireplace that isn’t working well or are burning certain types of wood (pine is a common culprit), that can increase build-up.
Does it have to be yearly?
Yearly is a good rule of thumb, but your usage plays a part. If your fireplace is frequently used, you may need it cleaned more. And if you haven’t been using it at all...it still needs to be cleaned. Unused chimneys can house unwanted animal guests, and it’s better to find and remedy a situation like that sooner, rather than later.
The maintenance of a fireplace is important, for both safety and efficiency reasons, and regular cleaning is a good investment.
