Why Now is a Good Time to Start Thinking about a Chimney Inspection

1. Why Now is a Good Time to Start Thinking about a Chimney Inspection If you haven’t spent much time thinking about the importance of chimney inspections, now is a good time to start – and now is also a good time to schedule your annual inspection with a trusted professional. Chimney inspections keep you and your family safe, prevent serious damage from springtime rains, and help extend the overall life of your chimney. Why Do You Need a Chimney Inspection? A chimney inspection isn’t just something you should do when you buy or sell a home or when you suspect an issue. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends annual chimney inspections for numerous reasons. When a professional inspects your chimney – usually during a cleaning – he or she can catch any potential issues that might otherwise get missed. A cracked chimney cap or even a rusted flue can cause serious and even dangerous problems, so catching them early can save more than just money. It can even save your family’s health. What Does an Inspection Entail? A standard annual chimney inspection involves a professional looking at all the visible parts of your chimney and checking them for integrity. He or she will check out the masonry and make sure there is no spalling or cracking, look at the firebox and chimney liner to ensure they are in good condition, ensure your damper opens and closes properly (and completely), and even insert a camera down into the chimney to check for issues that he or she would not otherwise be able to see. The combination of these things takes no more than a couple of hours. Cleaning + Inspection in the Spring Most homeowners will agree that it is best to schedule your cleaning and inspection for the same time during the spring months. By spring, most of the cold weather is over, which means you aren’t as likely to use your fireplace. What’s more, thanks to the warmer weather, the thorough cleaning and inspection will carry you through until the following fall when you are likely to need your fireplace for warmth once again. Finally, it is always a good idea to schedule your cleaning and inspection in the spring because professionals are typically slower this time of year, and that allows you to get the perfect time and day to suit your needs. Don’t Put it Off Putting off a chimney cleaning and inspection until fall may seem like a great way to temporarily save some money, but it can cause a host of issues for families and homeowners. Chimney service companies are at their busiest in the fall, and while they work hard to provide timely service, they have fewer time slots available, which means your appointment may not be quite as convenient. Furthermore, waiting until fall puts your home at risk for water damage that is most likely to occur during the spring months and during summer squalls. Scheduling your annual chimney inspection for the springtime months benefits you, your family, and even your home in various ways. Not only can you prevent potentially serious structural damage that can affect your family’s health, but it can also ensure that your fireplace is ready to go by the time the next cold snap comes around – and that could happen sooner than you might think.