How Regularly Should My Chimney Be Cleaned?

(This article continues the discussion of chimney cleaning in our previous post.) 
 
Although you can experience hours of comfort and enjoyment relaxing in front of a fire in your fireplace, a fair amount of preventive maintenance is required to ensure the safety of your home, indoor air quality and your family members.  There are several factors involved when determining the frequency of chimney cleaning.  NOTE:  There are no hard and fast rules as to how frequently your chimney should be cleaned.  Maintenance needs vary a lot based on how frequently it is used, age, structure, etc.    
 
When a chimney cleaning technician inspects your chimney, they will look at how much creosote accumulation has occurred over time.  If there is little to no accumulation, a cleaning may not be required.  However, if there is 1/4 of an inch or more, then they will most likely suggest that your chimney be cleaned thoroughly. 
 
Another issue that chimney cleaning directly addresses are blockages that result from bird nesting as well as the accumulation of debris and leaves in the flue.  There can also be structural issues that need to be addressed such as cracks in the flue, a damaged chimney cap and crown, and problems with the brickwork.  Although structural issues are beyond the scope of a chimney sweep, the professional can identify these problems and recommend how to have them corrected so that you can have them corrected before more dangerous situations occur.
 
If you are living anywhere in the DC metropolitan area including Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland, Dapper Ducts can be of immediate assistance for your chimney sweep needs.  Call us today.