When’s the Best Time to Schedule Chimney Cleaning?

You know you have to clean your chimney. But is one time of the year better than the rest, and how often should you do it? Read on to find the answers.

When is the Best Time of Year to Clean My Chimney?

The best time to clean your chimney is before winter arrives, and you’ll start using your fireplace. Most people schedule chimney cleaning in the fall, which is fine, but many experts recommend scheduling chimney cleaning in the spring, and here are the reasons why.

Eliminate Odor

You’ve used your fireplace all winter, which typically means your chimney has significant creosote buildup. Creosote is a tar-like substance that’s a byproduct of burning wood and sticks to the chimneys’ interior walls. Creosote is highly flammable and responsible for many chimney fires. Beyond that, however, when the weather gets humid, the moist air can cause the creosote to release a foul odor that permeates your house. Cleaning your chimney as soon as spring arrives means you don’t have to worry about your house smelling after spring rain or a humid summer day.

Identify Problems

Another reason to schedule your chimney cleaning as early as possible is identifying issues and have ample time to repair them before you need your fireplace and chimney again. Masonry repairs go smoother during warm weather, so it’s best to take care of these issues before fall.

Less Demand

The closer it gets to winter, the busier chimney sweeps get. Most people wait until the last minute to schedule a chimney cleaning, and you may face long wait times if you choose to clean your chimney late in the year. Because there’s less demand for chimney sweeping in spring and summer, you won’t have trouble scheduling an appointment that works for you, and it’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about as you get your home winter ready.

How Often Should You Clean Your Chimney?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends annual chimney cleaning. But, the frequency depends on factors like the fuel you use, how much you’ve used your fireplace, and what type of chimney you have.

As a general rule, if you burn wood or other solid fuels and use your fireplace regularly, once a year is fine. However, if you only use your fireplace occasionally, like a few times a year, you can have it cleaned less often. Regardless of how much you use your fireplace and chimney, it’s recommended that you perform annual inspections to ensure there are no issues that could compromise your safety.

Be aware that certain circumstances warrant more frequent chimney cleaning & inspections. For example, if you’ve had a chimney fire in the past, it’s wise to schedule cleanings twice a year to be on the safe side.

Call the Chimney Cleaning Pros in Mercer County

Mercer County Chimney Service is the premier chimney sweep contractor in Hamilton, NJ. We’re a locally-owned, full-service chimney and fireplace company that does it all. Whether you need chimney sweeping repairs, inspections, rebuilding, or a fireplace, stove, or insert installation, we’re the one to call. Book your appointment today at 609-802-5288.