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Things Blocking Your Chimney

Keep that chimney clear! Know what causes a clogged up chimney and try your best to keep them out.

Keep that chimney clear! Know what causes a clogged up chimney and try your best to keep them out.

Did you know that many of the problems that the chimney faces are due to blockages in the flue? Yes, chimney fires, having a smoky or stinky fireplace, and poor chimney draft – these are some of the problems you could encounter just because of an obstruction in the chimney. Guaranteed Chimney Service, Inc. has long been maintaining the chimneys and fireplaces of Eastern Suffolk County for over 10 years. Here are some key things we look for:

Little Four-Legged Critters

Do you hear any little paws scurrying around in your chimney? There’s a probability that squirrels or raccoons could have found it a cozy place to stay. You are prone to having these animals inside your chimney when you live near forests or where there are a lot of trees. However, it is harmful both to you and the animal if it resides in your chimney.

Chimney Swifts

These are cigar-shaped birds that spend most of their life airborne. But when they’re not in the air, these creatures spend their time congregating inside chimneys, just as the name implies. They fly swiftly around the chimney to check if it is a suitable breeding ground.

Snakes

We all know that snakes like the ground but believe it or not, we’ve had a few cases of snakes in the chimney. They are cold-blooded animals and during winter they have trouble finding a place where there is enough heat, so chimneys are the perfect place to keep themselves warm.

Spider Webs

Spiders and their webs are often underestimated when is comes to blocking the chimney. Maybe one spider web cannot harm the chimney but thousands of them will. Plus, debris can easily get caught in the web, thickening their delicate barricade all the more.

Debris

Of course, we all should know that the most common causes of blockages are debris. First up is the by-product from regular use of the fireplace: creosote. Yes, it will inevitably stick to the walls of the chimney, but what we don’t want is for it to accumulate and become glazed creosote because, not only can it create an obstruction, it is extremely flammable. This is the number one cause for chimney fires.
Then there’s environmental debris which includes leaves and twigs. If your chimney crown is wide open without anything covering it, then expect to find these in your chimney. They are the largest contributor to a blocked chimney opening because they are above or just near a chimney.

If you think that your chimney could be blocked by any of those examples mentioned above, contact us immediately. The very first thing we can do is to give a thorough chimney inspection and sweeping. Actually, these two should be done on a regular basis, not just when there is already a problem with the chimney. Our next recommendation would be to have a chimney cap installed to prevent any of these things from entering your chimney in the first place. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps will carefully install one for you. Here at Guaranteed Chimney Service, Inc. we believe in “Old Fashioned Reliable Service”.

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