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Now’s the Time for a Chimney Sweep

During burn season, we periodically get calls for inspections and sweeps due to problems with their chimney systems. However, in general, homeowners should get these services done during the off-season. There are a few reasons it is best to schedule inspections and sweeps in spring and summer.

First, by scheduling in the spring, you are able to clean away all the debris, soot, and creosote from the previous winter. Second, you are able to get these services without interrupting the use of your fireplace. Third, by scheduling during the off-season, you’re able to miss the “fall rush”.  This is the time between October and January when the chimney sweep companies are booked full with installations and repairs.

Benefits of a Chimney Sweep

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both agree that chimneys need annual inspection and regular cleanings to remain safe and efficient. A clean chimney will not stink as summer humidity and air pressure pushes through the chimney. Clean chimneys are better prepared and ready for fires in the fall.

When creosote and soot are regularly removed from the system, there will be less buildup, less malfunction, and cleanings are also easier and cheaper. Since your clean chimney will work more efficiently, your sweep will prevent damage in the future. In short, chimney sweeps prevent fires, prevent damage, and save you money. There’s no reason not to schedule yours today!

Beat the Fall Rush

During the fall and first part of winter, chimney sweep companies are busy with emergency calls, installations, and repairs. It is often difficult for homeowners to get on the schedule for routine maintenance. If you wait until the fall to schedule your sweep or inspection, you may not be able to get the appointment time you’d like or the technician you trust. You may even have to postpone using your fireplace until you get the repairs and maintenance the fireplace needs.

Additionally, if you wait until fall to schedule your chimney sweep or inspection and a hazard is identified, you may not have the time or money to repair it before you need your fireplace. Ensure your chimney is safe and clean before you need it! Schedule your services now!

Chief Chimney Services Clean Suffolk Co Chimneys

Residents and homeowners of Suffolk County, you are in luck. At Chief Chimney Services, we clean wood-burning, oil, and gas fireplaces and appliances. During a sweeping, you can count on our utmost professionalism and care. Our technician will come into the home and use drop clothes and a vacuum system to contain the mess. We will clean the system from top to bottom while paying attention to the overall safety and checking for obstructions and hazards.

After your appointment, you will get a report if your technician found anything amiss, and a repair plan or schedule an inspection if necessary. If there are no problems with your system, then it is ready for use this fall! If you’re ready to schedule your summer chimney sweep so that you’re ready for fall, schedule with Chief online today!

Beat the Fall Rush and Get Your Chimney Inspections and Repairs Done Now

In the chimney and fireplace industry, late spring and summer is considered the off-season. This is when burning season has finished and emergency calls decrease to a standstill. It frees up the schedule for the chimney sweep companies, and allows customers the freedom to get work done at their convenience.

The Fall Rush

When the weather becomes cool some homeowners need to have their chimney swept or inspected before use. Others may be caught without proper wood to burn, and decide to burn wood that isn’t suitable, essentially causing problems in the chimney system. Still others may have had a chimney sweep or inspection in the spring or summer, but forgot to followup for some repairs. So instead of using the fireplace for home heating, they have to wait until the chimney sweep can fit them in to have repairs made. The fall rush is not a great time to need a chimney sweep.

Tips and Tricks to Beat the Rush

It’s not hard to beat the fall rush, but it will save you a headache in the long run. Here are a few tips to get you going:

—Summer Appointments
Homeowners can simply schedule inspections and repairs during the off-season. By scheduling your chimney appointments now, you are more likely to prevent costly damage to your chimney, fireplace, and home or property. Also, if your chimney needs repairs, it’s a good idea to hire a professional to make the repairs now, before an entire summer of rain and warm weather can possibly penetrate the chimney.

—Forward Scheduling
Homeowners can schedule appointments in advance, so they’re taken care of when they need them. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends a yearly, level 1 inspection for homes that have had no changes. Since this is also a requirement of most homeowners insurance, it’s not something you can or should avoid. So schedule in advance. Schedule a year in advance, and don’t worry about it for a year!

—Preventative Measures
There are many things a homeowner can do to prevent problems with the chimney. For instance, choosing proper wood for burning in the fireplace, and also by choosing NOT to burn non-organic substances. Burning trash, clothes, plastic, or treated wood is never a good idea.

Homeowners can also discuss preventative measures with their chimney sweep. Chimney sweeps and inspections are very important measures to take, but waterproofing is also a very easy and inexpensive way to prevent a lot of damage.

The old Benjamin Franklin saying is true: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By preventing damage, you won’t need to make an emergency call to your chimney sweep in the middle of the fall rush.

Call Chief Chimney Services today to schedule your appointment now.

Don’t Wait Untill Fall To Have Your Chimney Inspected

Savvy homeowners know that they should have their chimneys cleaned once a year. What you may not realize is the mindset of having your chimney cleaning done in the fall is not always the best practice. The chimney professionals from Chief Chimney Services in Central Suffolk County New York want homeowners to know that summer and spring are two of the best times to set an appointment for your annual inspection and cleaning.

Having a clear view of your chimney structure without regard to weather conditions also enables your chimney professional to block potential entrances for animals, birds, and rodents before they search for a warm place to spend the winter and enter your home via your chimney.

Summertime offers some distinct advantages when having your chimneys inspected and swept. First and perhaps the most obvious is the weather. It’s much easier to navigate on a roof that is not covered with ice and snow. Also, it is much easier to do a thorough inspection of the chimney, masonry, flashing, chimney cap, shingles, etc. when the area is not covered in ice and snow. If repairs are needed, extreme cold can affect the effectiveness of some sealant and masonry products. As the fall weather approaches, homeowners recognize the change of weather means fireplaces will once again be fired up and they need to be prepared, that’s why chimney companies are flooded with calls after Labor Day. Ashley Eldridge, Director of Education for the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) explains, “By scheduling (in summertime), you will have time to complete any necessary repairs before the start of the heating season. Not to mention the peace of mind you will get knowing that your fireplace or wood stove is ready to go for those dark days of winter.”

While sometimes spring rains impede inspections, the rainy season also allows your chimney professional to check for leaks and seepage and be pro-active with repair measures, that’s why springtime is also a good time for a chimney inspection, weather permitting.

There is also more appointment time flexibility when you schedule your appointment outside the busiest time of the year, which starts Labor Day and carries through until spring.
Having a clear view of your chimney structure without regard to weather conditions also enables your chimney professional to block potential entrances for animals, birds, and rodents before they search for a warm place to spend the winter and enter your home via your chimney.

Most chimney professionals are equipped to do service calls all year long and only the most extreme weather conditions prevent them from doing their work. The important thing to remember is to have a safety inspection and cleaning performed by a CSIA professional before using your fireplace for the first time each year.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 211 also states that, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”

When you follow the recommendations of the chimney experts you know you will be saving on utility costs by ensuring your heating mechanisms are operating at maximum efficiency, and your family is safe for fire and toxic gas hazards.

Don’t wait, contact your local chimney professional today, and if you live in Suffolk County, call Chief Chimney Services.