An HVAC contractor told me recently that I should have my chimney inspected every year and cleaned every few years. The thing is, we only use our fireplace once or twice each the winter. Surely it can’t get that dirty? I’ve never had any problems with it. Is he just trying to drum up business?
– C.B., Fairfax, VA
Most people don’t realize that their chimney is an important part of their home’s heating system. Chimneys not only exhaust fumes from the fireplace, but from your furnace and water heater.
“Gas and oil furnaces, gas hot water heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves all generate carbon monoxide, which is a by-product of combustion,” explains Kevin Bristol of Air Systems, Inc. “And if the fumes aren’t exhausted properly, you can get carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause brain damage and even death.”
Regular chimney inspections can reveal damaged or deteriorating flue liners, soot build-up, debris clogging the passageway, and animal or bird nests, which all obstruct chimney flues and can lead to carbon monoxide contamination of your home.
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“Then there’s the risk of a chimney fire, which can spread to the rest of the house,” cautions Bristol, whose highly trained experts use the latest chimney cleaning and repair methods and state-of-the-art equipment. “Often, small chimney fires burn and the homeowner doesn’t even know it.” At the very least, chimney inspections and cleaning can help prevent premature chimney failure, which would require very costly repair.
Although there are no laws in the U.S. requiring chimney inspections, the Chimney Safety Institute of America, the National Fire Protection Association, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the American Lung Association all recommend yearly inspections of chimneys and furnace/heating systems.
So to answer your question – no, the contractor you spoke with wasn’t just trying to drum up business.
