Chimney cleaning

Top 5 Signs Your Chimney Needs Cleaning

Nothing can match the blissful feeling of sitting in a blanket in front of a fireplace on a cold winter day, all cozy and warm. However, to keep this experience pleasant and let your fireplace work efficiently, you need to regularly maintain and service the chimney. Though it is not difficult to determine if your chimney needs cleaning, getting it back to new can take some elbow grease. Fortunately, you can look at the criticalness and call a professional to do it for you.

Here are some signs your chimney needs cleaning

Sign #1- Visible Creosote and Chimney Soot: Creosote is the tar-like greasy build-up resulting from accumulating oils. You can see oily black marks if creosote levels are low. Creosote interrupts the airflow, and hence the fire does not light up nicely. If it is in higher amounts, you will see it dripping down on your firewood as they burn. Similarly, chimney soot results from incompletely burnt firewood. You may want to clean your chimney right away if you see these.

Sign #2- Poorly Burning Fire: Any material, including firewood, requires oxygen to combust completely. If the chimney is clogged with creosote and animal nests, the ventilation will be broken, and the fire will burn poorly. Another reason for poorly burning fire would be a malfunction with the fireplace damper. The incompletely burning wood will create black smoke and soot, making it difficult for you to breathe and accumulate in the chimney and further block it. Additionally, make sure your firewood is completely dry to prevent soot, smoke formation, and a bright fire. 

Sign #3- Odor From the Chimney: If you can smell a more intense odor resembling a campfire, it is a sign your chimney is clogged with creosote. Although the burning of creosote smells good, it is oily in nature, and its build-up in the chimney could catch fire and burn the entire chimney. This could also lead to house fires. Make sure you clean your chimney before starting fires every season.

Sign #4- No Air Flow: Chimney creates a seamless airflow for the burning fire. Even without a fire, you can feel air moving in and out of the fireplace on a windy day. If you cannot sense the wind or when the fire is burning, but the smoke is not going out through the chimney, it means the flue is clogged and needs to be cleaned. It can cause Carbon Monoxide build-up in a closed room, which is toxic to humans. Further, all the smoke will collect in the room and cause trouble breathing.

Sign #5- Animal Noises From the Chimney: You must clean your chimney of any animal nests before every winter season and check for any nests before starting a fire. You may be able to hear birds chirp or scratching noises from other animals if they have settled-in in your chimney while it was not being used. Cover the vent to avoid this.

About us

If you are looking for cleaning and maintenance solutions for your home’s air ducts and ventilation system, then Ductly Pro Services is a one-stop destination for you. We provide the best industry-standard cleaning services. Contact us at our website or call at 281-544-0505 to get in touch.

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