Maintenance Tips

CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE TIPS IN YORK COUNTY

We know that you care about your home safety. So do we. At Absolute Chimney Service, we have a responsibility to not only help you with your usual chimney needs, but also to help educate our friends, neighbors, and community members about the dangers that come with owning a chimney. As experts in our field, we’re happy to pass these tips on to you and your family to ensure a safe, healthy environment while using a chimney. Take a look!

CLEANINGS & INSPECTIONS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE…

It’s a scary thought, we know, but going too long without a proper, professional chimney cleaning and inspection can actually cost you and your loved ones your lives. Proper ventilation allows for toxic gases like carbon monoxide, lethal to humans, to be disposed of properly outdoors. Get a professional cleaning and inspection once per year!

CARBON DIOXIDE/SMOKE DETECTORS

You can never underestimate the power of basic precautions when it comes to fire safety. First and foremost, both smoke and CO detectors are a necessity in any home, and will provide the first indication of a problem in your home. Be sure to change the batteries often!

HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE – FIRE DRILL!

Make an escape plan! Create an exit plan for you, your family, and pets to follow in case of an emergency, and be sure that everyone knows the plan perfectly. Have family fire drills to practice your escape plan periodically!

REMOVE STOVE & FIREPLACE ASHES

You should always dispose of stove or fireplace ashes in a steel container stored on a noncombustible surface. Do not, however, store them in a garage, for example, or anywhere else there may be fuel supplies that could possibly ignite from the ashes.

CLEAN THE STOVEPIPE REGULARLY

Keep an eye on the stovepipe and, if possible, try and clean the stove and stovepipe weekly. Chimney fires often start in the stovepipe, so it’s important to keep it clean.

SOMETHING TO WATCH OUT FOR:

BACK-PUFFING WOOD STOVES

If a stove puffs smoke back at you when you try to add wood, or if you smell a smokey odor when you enter your house, you might be experiencing either a down draft or a blockage in the chimney flue. Stop using your stove and contact your chimney sweep immediately.