We all know that a chimney cleaning is a recommended home improvement task that should be completed twice a year, but many homeowners fail to realize that a chimney inspection is essential if you are planning to use your fireplace regularly in the colder months. A yearly inspection will reveal any damage that has been dealt with your chimney during the course of the year.

Chimney Inspection in the Off Season

The first step to chimney cleaning is to schedule an annual inspection of your chimney as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The earlier you choose to schedule your chimney inspection the better. If you choose to wait until the fall season to hire an inspection, most licensed chimney sweeps will be entering their busy season in which case it will be more difficult to schedule your inspection. We recommend that you have your chimney inspected during the spring and summer months to beat the rush.

Follow Up with a Chimney Sweeping

The second step is to arrange a cleaning of your chimney, it is possible for you to acquire the tools that you will need to clean your chimney yourself, but we recommend that you a professional chimney sweep for this task. For the inexperienced homeowner, it is definitely a major health risk if you choose to complete this task yourself. Professional chimney sweeps are able to effectively clean your chimney while leaving your home exactly how you left it, without any mess from the creosote deposits.