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Submitted by Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing

Everyone loves a crackling fire. But wood fireplaces and stoves require regular attention to keep them operating safely and smoothly. While a chimney adds architectural interest to your home, its primary function is to carry out debris and dangerous flue gases. And as that cozy fire burns in your fireplace, soot builds up in the chimney, as well as creosote, a thick, oily residue that sticks to the inside of your chimney. Creosote is especially flammable, contributing to the fact that an estimated 25,000 yearly home fires start in the chimney (countryliving.com).

Some chimney fires can be obvious, creating a loud cracking or popping noise, dense smoke, or an intense smell. They can even be dramatic enough to be noticed by passersby, shooting flames and smoke from the chimney or emitting a loud, train-like rumbling sound.

Many chimney fires are slow burning, however, easily going undetected. And while these fires are much less showy, their high temperatures can equally cause damage to chimney structure and combustible areas nearby — highlighting how dangerous an ignored wood-burning fireplace can be.

If you’re one of the more common victims of a slow-burning chimney fire, there are a few signs to look out for that indicate one has occurred. You may find creosote flakes and pieces on your roof or ground, for example, as well as “puffy” or “honey combed” creosote, creosote-damaged roofing material, or evidence of smoke escaping through chimney mortar joints. Other signs of a chimney fire include a discolored/distorted rain cap, cracked or collapsed flue tiles or exterior masonry, a warped damper, and more (csia.org).

Simply put, clean chimneys don’t catch fire. And while you can perform some chimney cleaning chores yourself, it’s a highly dirty and dangerous job that’s best left to the professionals, especially if creosote is present. From sweeping soot to removing flammable buildup, our team at Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing is proud to introduce one of our newest services — chimney sweep. Effectively providing a clean path for the free flow of smoke out of your home, we’ll improve your safety and comfort, as well as the indoor air quality in your home.

Following a detailed checklist, a professional chimney sweep service with Barron includes sweeping the fireplace and removing that creosote buildup. Our team then checks the firebox, liners, flue, chimney exterior, and more to ensure proper function and clearances, providing recommendations if necessary for equipment or structural repairs. All in all, a chimney sweep provides the attention needed for the safety and performance of your fireplace and venting system.

While it’s best to leave the cleaning to the professionals, there are some things you can do to look after your fireplace and improve your experience:

  1. Always make sure the damper is fully open before lighting your fireplace.
  2. Be diligent about cleaning all ashes that accumulate.
  3. Never burn painted or pressure-treated wood, and use dry firewood collected a year in advance. This properly seasons the wood, lessening the flammable material that collects in the chimney.
  4. Consider a top-down method of burning, which burns cleaner and hotter, producing less smoke than other fire-building methods. For a top-down fire, first layer the largest logs at the bottom, followed by a cross-layer of smaller logs. Top it off with crushed newspaper and an inch of kindling, then light the newspaper for a safe and effective fire (today.com).

Fireplaces are at the heart of Barron’s business — a legacy of craftsmanship and quality started in 1972 by Barron’s founder, Dan L. Barron. From weeknights in the living room to the glow of Christmas morning, Dan believed that a fireplace is a gathering place, and truly the heart of the home. Introducing chimney sweep to our service offerings is a natural transition in a world that we’ve excelled in for over fifty years. Needless to say, we’re excited and honored to expand our services to safely take care of the heart of your home!

Now through the end of July, we’re offering a $299 Summer Sweep Special. We encourage you to entrust us with taking care of your fireplace or stove and give us a call! From dirty to dangerous, chimneys require a special sort of attention, and we look forward to keeping them working effectively year after year. As your Pacific Northwest home and building performance experts since 1972, we stand by Our Mission: Improving Lives™.

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