If you’ve never owned a home with a fireplace, you might be surprised to learn that chimneys must be regularly cleaned to remain safe and operational. Every time you use your fireplace, the smoke deposits soot and creosote in the flue, which can accumulate over time and pose a safety risk.
Even if you rarely use your fireplace, you must stay on top of regular chimney cleaning to keep you and your family safe. Learn how often you should clean a chimney and how to recognize factors that influence chimney cleaning frequency.
What Is Creosote?
Creosote is a tar-like substance that accumulates when wood burns. It’s highly toxic and flammable and poses a significant safety risk when it builds up in a chimney. Several factors affect the level of creosote created during the burning process, including incomplete combustion, which can result from burning green or wet wood and burning without ample airflow.
How Often Should You Clean a Chimney?
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a chimney should be professionally cleaned at least once a year regardless of how much the fireplace is used. Even if your chimney is relatively clean, having an experienced set of eyes inspect the chimney before you put the fireplace to use is a good idea.
If you’ve recently moved into a new home with a fireplace, have the chimney inspected by a chimney sweep before lighting a fire to ensure it is safe and operational.
Factors That Influence Chimney Cleaning Frequency
Various factors come into play when determining how often you should clean your chimney. The most obvious of these is how often you use your fireplace. Here are some other factors you should consider:
- Fuel type. Wood-burning fireplaces create significantly more creosote, which can build up in the flue, than gas fireplaces. However, gas fireplace chimneys should still be cleaned, as creosote buildup is still a concern.
- Wood type. Even the species of wood you use can change the level of creosote buildup in your chimney. For example, pine and spruce burn quickly and create a lot of creosote compared to many other wood species. On the other hand, woods like oak and hickory burn longer and produce less creosote.
Whichever type of wood you burn in your fireplace, make sure it’s properly dried. Burning green or wet wood leads to an inefficient burn, producing excess smoke and creosote.
- Chimney design. Not all chimneys are designed the same, and some chimney designs are more prone to creosote buildup than others.
- Climate and weather. Moist, cold climates can lead to a need for more frequent chimney cleaning, as the excess moisture can accelerate the buildup of creosote and soot inside the flue.
- Age. Old chimneys or those in poor condition require more frequent inspection and possibly more frequent cleaning, as cracks, loose mortar, and other deterioration could compromise the chimney and worsen the soot and creosote buildup.
- Animal and pest infestation. If you suspect that animals or insects have entered your chimney, it’s wise to have it checked out. Birds, squirrels, and other pests can pull leaves, twigs, and other debris into the chimney to build nests. This debris can block the flue and pose a fire risk.
Signs It’s Time to Clean the Chimney
If you’re unsure whether you should prioritize cleaning your chimney, here are some signs to help you decide.
- Difficulty starting a fire and inefficient burning. Ample airflow in a chimney is a key part of an efficient fireplace. If you’re having difficulty starting and maintaining a fire, your chimney should be the first thing you check.
- Difficulty operating the damper. If you’re having difficulty opening and closing your fireplace’s damper, it could be due to buildup surrounding the mechanism.
- Visible creosote buildup. Just because your fireplace is clean doesn’t mean the chimney is. Take a peek inside the chimney using a high-powered flashlight. If you can visibly identify creosote buildup, it’s likely present throughout the entirety of the flue.
- Visible soot in the fireplace. Soot falling from your chimney into the fireplace is usually a sign that the buildup in the chimney is significant, although it could also indicate the presence of an animal in your chimney.
- Bad odor. A foul smell emitting from a fireplace is usually the result of moisture mixing with creosote and soot buildup. However, it could also indicate animal presence in the chimney.
- Smoke buildup. If smoke enters the room while the fireplace is burning, it is a sure sign that it’s having difficulty escaping through the chimney.
