Unless you are both a scientist and adventurous enough to stick your head inside your fireplace and up your chimney, you probably don’t know what could be inside blocking your chimney. Well New Buck Chimney Sweeps is a professional company that doesn’t mind getting a little dirty to keep you safe. They offer an extensive amount of services; one of the most common being the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney sweeps. These chimney sweeps and basic maintenance should be administered once a year.
Creosote can build up inside of your chimney. It is toxic and if not cleaned, can be a fire and health hazard.
It is important to know what is blocking your chimney. There is always the possibility of something like a twig or fallen piece of brick getting in and causing the problem, but most of the time the determined culprits are creosotes. These are accumulation of particles released from untreated wood and as they are released up the chimney they are clumped together and attached to the inside sides of the structure. Creosotes can be extremely harmful to ones health. These chemicals can come in contact with your body numerous ways and can have multiple side effects on your body. However, they can also have a positive affect if used correctly, and are commonly found in medicine for dandruff and psoriasis. Some people do not have a choice of whether or not to be around creosotes. If you are required to work around them, make sure that you are wearing clothing that is covering your body and that you wash these articles of clothing in a different load than the rest of your laundry.
If creosotes build up in your chimney, they can overtime cause draft problems. This could be potentially dangerous to you and your family because the smoke is not properly able to flow out of the home. This could cause Carbon Monoxide to make its way into the home, which can begin to make you sick if you inhale high levels. Creosotes are also one of the leading causes of chimney fires. They can also cause a foul odor to come out of your chimney. If the creosotes are not removed in a timely fashion, they can sink into the structure of the chimney and cannot be removed. If you suspect that you have a blockage, you should always call a professional to be sure that your home is safe.