The Farmer's Almanac warned Colorado residents in its 2022-23 winter forecast, "Get ready to shake, shiver, and shovel." While Colorado Springs and the El Paso County area get over 50 inches of snowfall annually, the temperature swings wildly in the winter from freezing nights to sunny weather with temps in the 50s during the day. This continuous freeze-thaw cycle puts additional pressure on the chimney system as folks frequently light up the fireplace, heating stove, and other appliances to keep their home and family warm.
Chimney sweeping is the process of removing soot, creosote, and other debris from your chimney. The debris accumulation can build up over time, creating a fire and health hazard. Creosote is a hazardous substance because it's highly flammable. If it ignites, a chimney fire can quickly spread throughout your home, resulting in severe property damage. In addition to fire prevention, chimney sweeping will also improve the efficiency of your fireplace, thus saving money on your heating bills. So, to minimize your health and safety risk and increase heating efficiency, Colorado Springs and El Paso County area homeowners need to have a professional chimney sweep thoroughly clean their chimney, vents, and attached gas or wood-burning heating systems once or twice per year.
Creosote is a thick, black, flammable substance produced when wood burns. It builds up inside your chimney over time and becomes a severe fire hazard when it's not removed through periodic chimney sweeping.
In addition to preventing chimney fires, having your chimney swept regularly can also help improve your fireplace's efficiency. A clogged vent can restrict the release of toxic fumes from your home. It can ultimately lead to a dangerous backdraft, sending smoke, soot, and harmful contaminants inside your living space.
How often you need to sweep your chimney depends on its use. For example, if you light your fireplace daily, you should have it swept at least twice a year.
While it may seem simple, DIY chimney sweeping is not recommended for several reasons.
Safety: Chimney sweeping is a dangerous job, especially for someone who lacks the training, professional tools, and supplies that are necessary to do the task correctly and safely. In addition, there is a risk falling from the roof, inhaling toxic fumes, or getting burned by hot ashes.
Effectiveness: Removing all creosote deposits and other debris from your chimney is challenging without the professional tools and equipment that our CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep® uses. Failure to remove all of the deposits poses a fire and safety hazard.
Costly: You are more likely to damage the chimney, flue liner, and other components while attempting to sweep it yourself. The cost of the repairs will outweigh the savings of sweeping the chimney yourself.
FlameMaster is a certified chimney sweep service in the Colorado Springs area. We are certified by the Chimney Sweep Institute of America (CSIA), the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG), and the International Association of Fireplace & Chimney Inspectors (F.I.R.E.). This means we have the training, experience, and skills to safely and effectively clean and inspect your chimney. Please call us at (719) 661-3277 to set up your appointment, or contact us online to consult with an experienced chimney technician.
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