What Happens if you don't Clean Your Chimney? Expert's View

The Role of Chimney Cleaning

A chimney sweep does much more than just make a mess. If you’re wondering how long does it take to sweep a chimney, a professional cleaning is a deep and thorough process that removes all the byproducts of burning wood.

• What a chimney sweep actually removes: A sweep will remove soot, which is a fine, powdery residue. They will also remove creosote, which is a much more dangerous substance. They also get rid of any debris, like leaves, and they will remove any blockages from birds' nests or other animals.
• How a clean chimney supports safety and efficiency: A clean chimney is a safe chimney. It allows smoke, gases, and other particles to vent properly. This not only keeps your home safe from fire but also ensures that your fireplace is working as efficiently as possible. A clean chimney has a good draft, which means a better fire and less wasted energy.

Cleaning is Imperative to Health and Safety

Your chimney is the lungs of your home's heating system. If they are clogged, your home can't breathe properly.

Dangers of Not Cleaning Your Chimney

So, let's get right to the point: What Happens if you don't Clean Your Chimney? A lot of bad things can happen, and they are all very serious.

• A. Safety Concerns: The biggest risk of an unclean chimney is fire. A chimney fire can spread to the rest of your home, and it can happen much faster than you might think. A professional cleaning is the single best way to prevent this.
• B. Creosote Buildup: Creosote is the main culprit in most chimney fires. When wood burns, it releases a black, sticky residue that sticks to the inside of your chimney flue. Over time, it can build up into a hard, shiny, and highly flammable substance. It is a very serious fire hazard.
• C. Chimney Fires: A chimney fire starts when a buildup of creosote ignites. The fire can burn at over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to damage the chimney structure itself and spread to the rest of the house. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), there are over 20,000 residential chimney fires every year in the United States, causing millions of dollars in damage.
• D. Poor Air Quality & Health Hazards: A chimney that is blocked with creosote or a nest cannot vent properly. This can cause smoke and harmful gases to back up into your home. The most dangerous of these is carbon monoxide (CO), which is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly. In a well-sealed New England home, like many in Massachusetts, this is a particular danger, as a poor draft can cause a negative pressure in the house, pulling the smoke and carbon monoxide back in.
• E. Structural Damage to the Chimney: A lack of cleaning can cause a lot of structural damage to your chimney. The buildup of creosote can cause the flue liner to crack and fall apart. The constant exposure to smoke and soot can also cause the mortar to weaken and the bricks to become brittle. This kind of damage is often very expensive to repair and is usually not covered by home insurance.
• F. Animal & Debris Blockages: A chimney can be an attractive home for all sorts of animals. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons will often build nests in a chimney, especially if there is no cap. These nests are a major blockage and a serious fire hazard. They can also cause a lot of damage to the chimney itself.