Is your chimney ready for Father Christmas?
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Holidays Are Coming
There are just 9 days until the big day. The big man will soon be speeding around making his deliveries. If you have a flue or chimney he will need all the help he can get!
In order for our favourite red suited home invader to drop off his gifts, he needs a nice clear route. A clean, swept chimney would ensure a smooth transition in and out.
The one below would be no good at all. Lets face it, who would want to go anywhere near that.
Blockages
Recently removed from a property the dangerous image above could’ve been caused by a number of events;
- Birds and debris
- Burning the wrong fuel
- The wrong moisture content in the wood
- Slumbering overnight
- Not maintaining or sweeping regularly
More worryingly the blocked flexible liner could have caused more severe issues such as;
- A chimney fire
- Dangerous gases coming back into your room
- Corrosion of brickwork, cement and flexible liner
The Dangers
When a chimney gets blocked the dangers are quite scary. A chimney fire is can be caused by a build up of flammable soot or creosote. A simple spark can cause a fire to engulf the entire chimney very quickly. Lighting a fire that has a blocked chimney can also lead to high levels of dangerous gases coming back into your room.
Soot has a sulphuric acid element to it. When exposed to water, such as rain or condensation, sulphuric acid is created. Over a period of time this weak level of acid can and will cause damage. Prolonged exposure to the acid with cause corrosion of brickwork, cement and even flexible liners.
Prevention
Whilst the dangers can be quite scary there is a simple cure, ensure your chimney or flue is maintained and swept regularly.
To help with understanding how and why we have produced a Why Should I Sweep My Chimney download. The guide has lots of handy hints and tips in order to prevent the above picture from happening.
The next step
With all of the above in mind, if you haven’t already done so, find a sweep and get yours booked in. You could use our locate a stockist map if you are unsure of where to find a local sweep.
Set yourself a reminder each year by simply asking;
Is my chimney ready for Father Christmas?
Merry Christmas to you all, from all of us here at Eurocowl
Don’t forget your Why Should I Sweep My Chimney download.
