Check if your chimney is blocked when you light the fireplace. If it is, then this can be a dangerous situation since the combustion of wood releases carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals that are dangerous to you and your family's health. You may notice black smoke coming into your house from your fireplace if the chimney is badly clogged. However, in less severe circumstances, you might not even be able to detect the fume backup. Instead, keep an eye out for strange odors while your fireplace burns. If your fireplace is ventilated correctly, the only fragrance you should detect is a subtle, pleasant one.

Have you noticed even when your house is clean, it still doesn't smell fresh? The issue may be your chimney. As you light the fireplace, creosote is formed from the moisture and other compounds present in the wood. When this combination touches the cooler, interior surface of your chimney, it condenses and produces a layer of creosote, which rises from your chimney in the form of smoke. This substance has a strong odor and is quite explosive. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, creosote can ignite even at a temperature of 451 degrees Fahrenheit.

A chimney's creosote will start to resemble hard, black tar flakes once it has built up to a particular extent. Due to drafts or other disturbances, these flakes can occasionally chip off the inside of the chimney and fall into the fireplace. Creosote buildup in older homes can lead to the chimney's liner cracking. Some older homes have terra-cotta chimney liners, which can separate when creosote gets hot or builds up too much in one area. Terra-cotta shards will resemble broken tiles that have dropped into the fireplace.

Your chimney is essential, especially during the cold seasons. If you notice it's not as efficient and effective as it should be, call Bricks Chimney Services, and we'll have all your chimney cleaning needs taken care of before the snow falls.