Time flies when you are busy, and the season of fall can be of the busiest times of the year. It may be hard to believe, but the holidays are just around the corner. If you have not had time to get your home ready for visits from friends and family during the holidays, you need to get started as soon as possible. One of the most important things you should do is make sure your fireplace and chimney are working efficiently and safely. Many fire safety organizations, including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), recommend that you have your chimney professionally swept and inspected before you light the first fire of the season. Aelite Chimney Specialties can help you get your fireplace ready before the holidays, and you can trust us to make sure everything is safe because we have been taking care of chimneys in the Chicago area for over 15 years. We would like to tell you what to expect from our professional chimney maintenance services.
Chimney Sweeping
Avoiding chimney fires is one of the most important reasons why you need to have your chimney professionally swept at least once a year. You need this maintenance service to have the creosote removed from the inside of your chimney. Creosote is produced naturally during the combustion process of burning wood, and it is so flammable that the CSIA has named it as a leading cause of chimney fires. When Aelite Chimney Specialties arrives to your home to sweep your chimney, we begin by protecting your home from soot and dirt by laying down drop cloths and sealing off the area around your chimney. To make sure that we remove all of the creosote from your chimney, we use special rotating brushes and rods to scrub the entire inside of your chimney. After about an hour, your chimney will be less of a chimney fire hazard.
Chimney Inspection
You need to have your chimney professionally inspected annually to make sure there is no damage or other problems that could lead to hazardous situations. We check to see if anything is blocking your flue and can remove any debris that could force toxic gases like carbon monoxide back into your home. We also look for damage to parts of the chimney, including the liner, that could also lead to carbon monoxide leaks. The exterior of your chimney is also inspected to check for any masonry damage that could allow water penetration or could jeopardize the structure of your chimney. If our CSIA-certified chimney technicians find any problems, we will provide you with a written estimate of the repairs that are needed to make your chimney safe to use.
Are you ready to host your family with warmth this holiday season? Contact us at Aelite Chimney Specialties today to schedule an appointment to have your chimney swept and inspected.