What Happens if You Don’t Clean Your Chimney?

Regular home maintenance is vital to its health and longevity. Everyone knows to stay on top of changing furnace filters once or twice a year, sealing windows and doors against drafts, and keeping your gutters free of debris. However, it’s easy to miss some other jobs that are equally important but not quite as visible. One of those jobs is the inside of your chimney. Just like any other part of your home, it needs regular, consistent maintenance from a Chimney Solutions technician. So, what happens if you don’t clean your chimney? Read on to find out.

Safety Concerns

The biggest danger of not cleaning your chimney regularly is a house fire. This could be caused by several things including creosote buildup, a blockage of debris, or something that is damaged internally.  Blockages are particularly worrisome. Toxic gases can become trapped inside your home because they cannot escape through the chimney flue. This can lead to major health problems for your family.

No one wants a house fire. Yet, if creosote build-up catches fire, it runs the risk of escaping through your flue to your roof or causing internal damage (especially if your liner is damaged). Regular inspection and cleaning can help identify these critical safety concerns and is an absolute must-do home maintenance chore for homeowners.

Build up

Creosote buildup, the thick and sticky substance that accumulates and lines the inside walls of your chimney, can affect multiple facets of your chimney’s operation. We just mentioned the possibility of a fire. In addition, creosote can lead to less efficiency in your system, leading to an acidic odor emanating into your home.

Blockages

Your chimney needs to be open to allow proper airflow from your home. Unfortunately, if your chimney is missing a cap or is damaged, animals or insects can find their way inside in search of warmth and protection from the elements.  This inevitably creates a blocked airway inside your flue leading to smoke and other gases being pushed back into your home instead of being drawn out and away. If they get stuck and cannot escape, this can result in an even more unfortunate situation and smell.  Regular cleaning ensures this is taken care of before it gets to this point.

Odor

Odor, as we’ve mentioned more than once in this blog, can be a major problem if you don’t clean your chimney. Creosote is smelly, with a campfire-like scent that is more acidic than welcoming.  Animals and other debris can leave a decomposing or foul odor behind.  Blockages can lead to gases or smoke coming back inside. Additionally, the heat and humidity of summer can intensify these odors, making them even worse to deal with.

What can you do?

Regular chimney inspections and cleaning are imperative for keeping your home safe, your chimney clean, and everyone happy. The Chimney Solutions, LLC team makes it their goal to keep your chimney in its best shape so that you can get back to spending time with your family. If yearly chimney cleanings are not currently on your homeowner’s to-do list, now is the time to give us a call. We will schedule an appointment to get your chimney back in shape. Call us at 317-757-6979 or book your inspection online.