Why do I need my chimney swept and inspected?
Creosote is the “fuel” of a chimney fire!
If you burn wood in your fireplace or stove, creosote is a fact of life. This organic compound forms during the combustion process when burning wood (it contains all the unburned “hydrocarbons” and is nasty, nasty stuff) it then adheres to and accumulates on the walls of your chimney flue. Over the burning season(s), creosote will continually grow into large (and potentially dangerous) deposits.
Creosote is so highly flammable that the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) names it as a leading cause of chimney related home structure fires. That’s why it is important to have your chimney professionally inspected and swept if needed. Not only can creosote be a chimney fire hazard, it also has a very strong, acrid odor. This odor is most noticeable in the spring and summer because of the high humidity and the “weak link in the chain” syndrome as far as airflow into the home via the fireplace chimney is concerned. The culprit is the not very “airtight at all” damper that most fireplace systems use. To help remedy this problem, there are airtight dampers that can be installed! Seaside Sweep, Inc. recommends scheduling your annual chimney and fireplace checkup in the spring or summer months so it will be ready for use at the first sign of autumn’s cooling breezes. No worries, we stock dampers and can talk to you about damper replacement at that time. In other words:
