Chimney Cleaning and Sweeping Near Kansas City, KS

Have you ever looked at the inside of your fireplace and wondered what that hardened, oily-looking, soot-like material is? It’s called creosote, and it’s a byproduct of wood combustion. It is also highly combustible and the leading cause of chimney fires.

While there are precautions you can take (such as only burning dry, seasoned wood and/or investing in a chimney thermometer to ensure your fires are burning as hot as possible), ultimately, the only way you can be absolutely sure that your chimney is clear and as safe as possible is having a professional chimney sweeping performed every year.

Because you can’t see the entire chimney system when you’re snuggled up in front of the fire, you might not be thinking about the part that comes out of your roof and is exposed to the elements. Your chimney should have a cap in place to prevent debris (like leaves, twigs, and anything else) from entering your chimney and disrupting your system’s performance and safety.

It’s also very possible, especially if your chimney cap was not installed properly or you don’t regularly light fires in your firebox, that animals find their way inside and build their homes. Birds, squirrels, other rodents, raccoons, etc., are all excellent climbers (or flyers), and if your chimney has any space to squeeze into, it could be the perfect spot to keep warm in the winter.

Similarly, depending on the state of your chimney (in terms of overall maintenance, amount of debris/clogged material, etc.), critters can get stuck and meet their demise — a less-than-ideal scenario for any household.

It’s important to be aware of the overall potential for chimney fires. Creosote might be the main culprit in causing chimney fires, but it is certainly not the only one. There are many different reasons a chimney might catch fire, and all of them are a direct result of a dirty chimney.