As the heating season begins, many homeowners are already looking for ways to offset some of their expected costs for heating their homes. Across the nation, rapidly rising costs for the propane, fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity needed for residential heating are encouraging some homeowners to begin utilizing any less expensive source of heat they may have, such as a wood-burning fireplace or stove. 

While both wood-burning fireplaces and stoves can provide much-needed warmth and help to reduce the amount of expensive heating fuel or electricity used by the home's central heating system, homeowners must take the precaution of having their chimney cleaned before beginning to use these heat sources. 

Chimney cleaning removes dangerous creosote and obstructions

In homes with both a central heating system and a wood stove or fireplace, wood heat is often used sporadically, such as during the holidays or as supplemental heat during a power outage. In this scenario, homeowners may not have scheduled previous chimney cleaning visits on a regular basis. The lack of regular cleaning can mean that creosote or obstructions have developed inside the chimney that could combust and increase the chances of experiencing a house fire once the wood stove or fireplace is being used. 

Chimney cleaning helps prolong the life of the chimney

Like all structures, chimneys can degrade due to aging, material defects, construction quality issues, damage from lightning strikes, or misuse. By investing in regular chimney cleaning services provided by a qualified contractor, homeowners are provided with regular assessments of the actual condition of their chimney so that repairs or replacement needs can be more easily met. 

Chimney cleaning provides an overview of condition

One of the ways in which modern chimney cleaning provides this type of information is through the use of cameras. Since the interior of most chimneys is small and difficult to observe, the use of special cameras provides needed information. Whether through recorded video or real-time footage, the chimney cleaning professional and the homeowner will be more easily able to examine the interior surfaces of the chimney for any damage or obstructions that could pose a safety risk when the wood stove or fireplace is in use. 

The chimney cleaning visit can also provide valuable information on the safe usage of wood stoves or fireplaces and provide homeowners an opportunity to ask any specific questions they may have relating to chimney construction and the fireplace or wood stove that it serves. 

If you are planning to utilize your home's fireplace or wood stove this year to help cut your heating costs, contacting a reputable chimney cleaning professional is an important part of keeping your family safe. A residential chimney cleaning service can provide further information.