Firing up a chimney is the perfect way to heat the home. Make sure to take the proper cleaning precautions first. Image source: jackarnoldblog.com

One thing to remember about your chimney is that it can act as entrance to your home for a number of unwanted things—from living or dead creatures to random debris and frigid air.

Proper home improvement chimney maintenance is critical to ensuring all three keep their distance. But another thing to remember is that a failure to perform chimney upkeep can also prevent certain things from getting out of our home—like the carbon monoxide produced when you light a fire. Here are some essential chimney maintenance tips for the well being of your home and family.

Sometimes it just takes a professional.

• Hire a professional to come out and inspect your chimney at least once per year. If you tend to put your chimney through the paces during the cold season, you might consider calling out a professional more often than that. You can only take your DIY efforts so far when it comes to proper chimney maintenance, but there’s no replacement for professional care.
• Ensure your chimney flue is clear of debris prior to each use. This doesn’t require you to do anything more than sticking your head into your unlit fireplace, opening the flue, and taking a quick peek to ensure the coast is clear before lighting a fire. Look for foreign obstructions that might have made their way in and that could prevent smoke from exiting your home. If you spy anything of the sort, don’t use your chimney until you’ve called out a pro for an official inspection.
• Clean your chimney at least once per year by removing all of the ashes with a hand shovel and scrubbing the interior of your fireplace with soap and water. You can also pick up slightly more powerful cleaners made specifically for removing soot stains.
• If you’re not averse to heights, you can clear your chimney cap of leaves, bird nests, and other debris by extending a ladder or climbing onto your roof. While you’re up there, it’s always a good idea to ensure the flashing between your chimney and roof is intact—if you spy any cracks, patch them up yourself using a caulk gun.

This blog post was provided by MyMove.com, an online resource where you can find the information, products and moving deals you need to streamline and save during a move.

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