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Do I really need to get my chimney cleaned?

17 years ago

Do I really need to get my chimney cleaned before using it the first time?

It's an old house, bulit in the 50's and I have no idea how many times the chimney has been used or if it was ever cleaned. I have pulled out the rusted damper, and there is a clear line of sight to the opening at the top of the chimney. (I have a cap on the top of the chimney in the winter that i would remove before starting a fire.)

What types of risks am I taking by just dropping some wood in the fireplace and firing it up? Burn down the house? Noxious fumes in the house?

Also, there are some very small cracks in the bricks around fireplace - are these a danger or just a visual issue?

-J

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Comments (5)

mainelystuck
17 years ago
When in doubt, clean it out!!! Much cheaper then replacing your house.
elanalv
17 years ago
Yeah, it's probably a good idea. I also have a 1950's house with a fireplace. I haven't used it yet for that specific reason. Guess it's time. LOL
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If you have not had your chimney swept in a while, it would be a good idea to do it before you start using your fireplace. Chimney Sweeps can be certified, although the name of the organizaion escapes me at the monemt. If you have access to your roof, you can simply remove the cap, look down the chimney with a good flashlight, and check inside for any build-up of creosote. You should open the damper above the firebox first so you can see thru. Looking down the chimney, you should see the smooth surface of the clay liners plus mortar between the joints of the liner sections. There should be no build-up or obstructions (bird nests, dead squirrels, etc.) The previous owners of my house had their chimney swept every year. I went thru 4 burning seasons before I called a sweep and the chimney was very clean. I use only seasoned hardwood and burn hot fires. If you get a Sweep, it would be a good idea to lay some old sheets all around the fireplace area. They clean the chimney from the inside as well as from the roof so it can get mighty messy. I paid $60 (including a $20 coupon from the Yellow Pages) and live in Baltimore.
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Judy - those cupcakes look yummy! I'm in your camp. The kitchen we are remodeling had a old vented hood. In the 7 years I have lived here, I think I turned it on maybe 2 or 3 times & that usually involved a toaster incident lol... I also cook plenty but like you, don't deep fry or sear/broil very often & use just small amounts of olive oil or butter when needed and not at high heat. I never had a problem with any grease build up or other gunk & I don't really find food smells offensive (well except when I was pregnant, but those days are over). This time around, I'm going with an OTR micro, b/c my counter space is limited & I hated that the big clunker was taking up so much of my precious counter space. (I'm now trying to figure out where I can hide my toaster oven for the same reason). I'm guessing I won't use the vent much this time around either - When we sell in 10-15 yrs - our kitchen will probably be getting to that "outdated" state anyway & will be redone again - the venting to outside is in place if they want to change back to a hood - but for me, this is just fine...
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berlin
17 years ago
yes, you should probably get it cleaned and looked at if you are unsure of it's cleanliness or condition, HOWEVER, be wary of those who make false claims to the effect of "you need a new liner, i see a crack in the clay tile". many sweeps etc, are not honest at all and will convince you to spend large $$ for a needless relining. an occasional crack in a clay tile, or a bit of missing fireclay between tiles is not uncommon and in an OPEN FIREPLACE poses no real danger at all; regardless of some of the nonsense you hear on many sites.
Linda
17 years ago
Why is this even a question? Its less than $100 to have it cleaned out, and takes less than an hour. Why would you even chance it?
jerry_nj
17 years ago
You can't get a chimney cleaned in NJ for $100. $200 is more like it.

I agree, get your chimney inspected, that may cost something like $40 if you don't have anything else done, e.g., cleaned.

If the fireplace was always used as an open fireplace, i.e., didn't have an insert at some point, and was used seldom (i.e., well under a cord per year) it shouldn't need cleaning more than every 5+ years in my experience.

I agree, don't take on big repair work without getting a second or third opinion.

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