Must-Know Tips for Taking Care of Your Chimney

A fireplace is a wonderful way to keep your home warm and cozy during the winter. If the house gets too cold, you can conveniently and safely start a fire to warm it up.
A functioning fireplace and chimney system requires attention throughout the year in order to work safely and properly. In the guide below, we’ll introduce you to the must-know tips for taking care of your chimney every year.
Mind the Décor
Because your chimney and fireplace go hand-in-hand, keep both in mind when it comes to safety and maintenance. Fireplaces can be dangerous if you set up fire or combustion hazards nearby.
Keep carpets, blankets, holiday decorations, and other flammable and combustible materials away from the chimney, especially when you want to stoke a fire. A common practice for fire safety is keeping flammable materials at least three feet away from fireplaces. Keep this in mind anytime you feel the desire to decorate near your fireplace.
Call the Experts
Chimneys require routine maintenance. Once a year, call a certified chimney expert to inspect and clean it. That way, you can keep the fireplace functioning safely all year round. Likewise, if you spot any damages to your chimney, don’t hesitate to call in an expert to help.
Hopping online and contacting a professional chimney repair service will help you solve a wide range of problems. Before you partner with professionals, visit their website and look for credentials, customer reviews, and available services. That way, you can avoid hiring the wrong person for the job.
Trim Your Trees
One of the top tips for taking care of your chimney that’s easy to neglect is tree maintenance. You might assume that nature wouldn’t influence chimney safety. However, if you allow tree branches to hang over your roof, they can fall and damage your roofing or enter your chimney.
Suffice it to say, chimney blockages can be dangerous when you want to stoke a warm fire. So, keep an eye on your trees throughout the year and trim them when necessary—it’s a simple safety step that will keep you and your house and chimney safe in the long run!