If your new home has a fireplace and you've never owned one before, it's important to know how to use and maintain your fireplace. Even if it operates on gas rather than wood, you still need to have the chimney checked at least once a year. A wood-burning fireplace will probably need to be cleaned at least once a year, and maybe more if you use the fireplace a lot. Here's a look at the type of maintenance your fireplace needs including chimney sweeping.

A Visual Inspection  

It's important to start with a visual inspection so the chimney sweep can see how dirty the chimney is. This lets them know if you're having it cleaned often enough. If creosote has built up, they may recommend more frequent cleanings.

A visual inspection also includes checking inside the chimney for debris and animal nests. These things could be fire hazards if they're not cleaned out. That's why it's good to schedule chimney sweeping before you use your fireplace for the first time each autumn.

In addition, the chimney sweep looks for signs of damage that should be repaired so your fireplace and chimney operate safely all winter long.

Chimney Sweeping

Chimney sweeping sounds like it could be a dirty job. When you think of sweeping soot, you may visualize black soot dust spreading over your home. You don't have to worry about that. A chimney sweep uses modern equipment to keep your home clean while the work is going on. If they do get the firebox a little dirty, they'll clean up the mess before they go.

Chimney sweeping is done with a vacuum attachment so all the soot and debris are sucked outside of your home. A brush is also used to sweep the sides of the chimney to get rid of soot. The sweeping may be done from the bottom up so the soot knocked loose is sucked up the chimney and outside rather than fall to the floor of your fireplace.

Any debris caught in the chimney will be removed so your chimney is safe for building a fire and not at risk of igniting due to buildup on the sides. The chimney sweeping company will probably work from inside your house as well as from the roof. They may even use an inspection camera to look inside the chimney for a close look.

They may put down tarps in your home so the crew doesn't track in dirt or spread soot around accidentally. When they're finished, your home should be clean, and you won't have to worry about your home or fireplace being a hazard.

Contact chimney sweeping services to learn more.