Most houses are built with fireplaces. These can be for warming the house during the cold season or to add character to the living room. Most people clean their fireplaces but neglect to clean the chimneys . When wood is burnt not all of it burns completely it then forms creosote and soot. This can block a chimney and hinder the flow of smoke. Annual chimney cleaning should be conducted to prevent this build up.
It is advised to have your chimney cleaned at least once a year. This is generally in the fall just before temperatures drop and the fireplace needs to be flared up. Although San Diego is generally warm around the months of December it is cold and there may be need to light the fireplace. Thus clear clean and well maintained chimneys are important.
You may decide to take on the task of cleaning yourself and in such a case it will be best if you are properly prepared. This will entail talking to an expert for advice on what should be done . They should also advise you on what equipment to purchase and what safety precautions to take to avoid inhaling the soot. It would also be advisable to cover your furniture with a plastic sheet to avoid dirtying it.
If on the other hand you decide to use a company you should ensure they are certified and licensed. They should have documentation from the Chimney Safety Institute of America. They should also have been doing follow up courses with their employees, to ensure they are up to date with the new techniques and equipment used.
The employees should be properly trained certified and have a sound understanding of the equipment used. Work involving soot is generally messy and this can be minimized by using a chimney vacuum which holds the soot and creosote. Any items within the room should be covered with plastic liners to prevent them collecting soot.
In most cases the chimney needs to be cleaned only once a year you can have a list of companies to choose from. This can be attained from references from friends and also online form the company website. It is advisable to pick a company with many good reviews and comments. Before and after photos of previous jobs can also help you choose a reliable and efficient company.
The cost also needs to be considered when picking the right company to clean for you. Generally when you hire a company to clean the chimney they will also inspect it for any cracks or problems. Properly going through the pricing of different companies is needed . It will allow you to compare them and settle on one that falls within your price range and allow you to plan for it.
Work experience is a key factor when choosing any company to do a job for you.in this particular case a company with over ten years experience is better as they have been at the job for a while and have accumulated a lot of information and techniques.
When you are looking for the facts about chimney cleaning, go to the web pages online here today. More details are available at http://www.villagesweep.com now.