Home Improvement

How often should you have your chimney swept?

Ask the Remodeler offers tips for heating your home safely when the winter winds blow.

By far the most important concern for wood or pellet burning is to keeping the flue free of hazards.

By Mark Philben, The Boston Globe

2 minutes to read

With all of us firmly in the grip of another New England winter, everyone’s thoughts turn to skiing, skating, snowshoeing, etc., and staying warm. For those of you who are lucky enough to have a wood- or pellet-burning fireplace/stove, take steps to ensure you are heating your home safely.

By far the most important concern for wood or pellet burning is keeping the flue free of hazards. The most common problem is creosote buildup. We used to run a chimney division within our company and told our clients to have theirs swept every year. A professional chimney sweep will inspect the metal cap, the masonry crown, and check for cracks in the mortar and flue liner. It is not uncommon for animals to nest in the liner during the warmer months. A professional should sweep the flue liner all the way down to the firebox. We used to tell our clients to burn a creosote-sweeping log before the chimney sweep comes. This loosens the buildup.

Advertisement:

Ask the Remodeler

If the flue is an insulated, stainless liner, the chimney sweep will perform most of the same duties done with a masonry liner. They will also check the connections where sections of the metal liner are joined.

Often the home’s boiler and water heater will utilize one of the flues inside a chimney. You should get these inspected for obstructions and have the connections in the flue checked down to the basement. If neglected, these can lead to carbon monoxide getting into the house.

Inside your home, the chimney sweep should check the refractory brick in the firebox itself and make sure that the flue damper is working properly. Most New England fireplaces still have an ash dump that opens up at the bottom of the firebox. Ashes are pushed into the little trap door and down to the bottom of the chimney in the basement. There will be a small metal door to the ash dump down there, where you can vacuum up the debris.

Advertisement:

One more note: Gas inserts are very popular. You should have their flues inspected for animal infiltration and issues with the liner connections. Check the nozzle that injects the fuel regularly. These can get clogged or wear out. It’s easy for a professional to spot issues.

I hope this helps. Stay warm and safe. Spring is weeks away.

Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com