The holiday season is officially over. It’s great to look back on those fond memories made: the gathering of friends and family over a aromatic, perfectly roasted turkey, all the fun-filled days of preparation for the Christmas holidays, making cookies and candy, buying just the right gifts for your loved ones, setting out the holiday decorations. Then there was New Year’s Eve, getting together with friends to say goodbye to 2018 and ring in a brand new year, filled with goals and the promise of good days ahead. You’ve taken down the decorations, resolved to eat better and exercise more, and maybe to take some time for yourself in 2019. In all the hurry and scurry of the holiday season, you may have put off some things that needed to be done. If one of those things was getting your fireplace serviced, don’t despair! It’s not too late to give Old Dominion Chimneys a call to set up an inspection and cleaning for the new year!
Why It’s Important
You may be thinking that since it’s so late in the season, you may as well just wait until the summer to get your chimney serviced. It’s important that you don’t put this off any longer, however. Having a dirty chimney can have negative consequences that could get your new year started on a very bad note. One of the most important things that we will look for when we service your chimney is creosote buildup. On these cold, blustery January days, you’ll want to use your fireplace more often. When you build a fire, smoke is drawn up the chimney, just like your chimney is designed for. Smoke is moisture that is drawn out of the wood, along with other chemicals such as benzene, naphthalene, carbon monoxide, and more. When that smoke gets to the top of your chimney, where it’s cooler, some condenses on the interior surface and over time, a thick layer of substance is formed. This is creosote, and it is highly flammable. The more you use your fireplace, the more buildup occurs, and the more likely it is that a stray spark or ember will hit, causing a dangerous chimney fire that can cause expensive repairs.
Another thing we’ll be looking for is chimney damage. Over time, weathering and the freeze-thaw cycle can cause damage to your chimney. Also, you may have had a small chimney fire without even being aware of it. If this is the case, your chimney isn’t functioning like it was designed to function, and that may mean that those dangerous chemicals that should be drawn out of your home through the chimney may be funneling back into your home, causing health issues for your family and even your family pets.
Don’t Delay Another Day!
You can see that having your fireplace serviced isn’t something that you should put off for another day! Give Old Dominion Chimneys a call today and we’ll get you on the new year’s calendar in a jiffy!
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