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01 March 2015

What To Expect From A Chimney Sweep NJ

By Olivia Cross


You often remove ash from the fireplace indicating that your wood has completely burnt. This is a sign that your fireplace or stove is efficient. But from the ash, there is something else that is released and goes up the chimneys. It is what does not turn to the ash particles from the wood you burn which puts the home at risk. A chimney sweep NJ can help you in removing debris and creosote that build up inside chimneys when you burn wood and other fuels.

As you burn those logs, you will find that there is smoke, gases, and other particles being released. These substances have to be removed out of the building by moving updraft in chimney flue. Creosote forms when the gases and other substances condense inside the flues. Hitting the cooler zones of chimneys, the gases and smoke form the creosote coating.

At first, creosote does not present problems because it is less and has not dried out to solidify. You may clean it easily. However, when left to remain on flues for longer, creosote becomes hard and very difficult to remove. Because it is flammable, if you do not remove it, creosote could trigger fires.

What happens is that the high temperatures may ignite the creosote or when embers from the burning fuel fly upwards through the flues, they reach the areas where creosote has build up and cause fires to start. Rising flames as well as sparks could easily ignite the coating of creosote thereby flashing through the chimneys and burning your house.

Chimneys are designed to help channel away the smoke and gases that come out from burning wood. If the chimneys are clogged, it means that they cannot function properly. It will require a check up to determine how the vents are working. It is not possible to keep chimneys completely free of creosote because every time you burn wood, you are creating more of this substance.

If the cleanup is not done properly, it could leave behind creosote that may continue to accumulate and pose risks to the home structure and people. In addition, the inspection ought to be done properly using the right equipment such as infrared cameras. The cameras can help see the inside especially the hidden areas.

Creosote is hard and does not come out easily. In order to remove it, technicians use chemicals to break down its molecules. Even with an effective cleaning, you will not eliminate this flammable substance completely. The good thing is that at minimal amounts, it does not present any major threats.

The flue liners are destroyed by the heat resulting to replacement of lining. Such fires could also spread to other parts of the home resulting to house fires. You can prevent these problems by ensuring that chimneys are cleaned at the right time. The cleanup will depend on how often you use the chimneys. You might want to do it just before winter sets in so that you prepare for the heating season at home. You may also clean the chimneys after winter so that you do not allow creosote to solidify and harden.




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