A fireplace is a wonderful addition to any house in Sevenoaks. It is the place where every member of the family assembles to get warmth and coziness in the months of winter. But, a fireplace system is to be well maintained to make sure common chimney problems don’t crop up to spoil the beauty and safety of the family’s favorite gathering spot.

There are many common reasons for the cause of chimney problems. A chimney scan or inspection is always recommended every 6 months to prevent a lot of chimney problems. While a fireplace system can be closely monitored by the homeowner, there are hundreds of other chimney troubles that can be understood only by a professional chimney sweep Sevenoaks.

According to professional chimney sweeps, a chimney accident can be prevented if homeowners follow some basic rules while using the fireplace.

Fireplace is not a Kitchen: Yes, we understand an open hearth offers great temptation to cook food over crackling fire. However, it is to be noted that chimney fireplace is not a place to develop such culinary skills. When you grill food over fireplace for a period of time, flames starts to accumulate in the chimney which can eventually turn out in major grease fire.

But I love to watch the chicken get roasted over the grate?

Burning chicken over home chimney fireplace is not a good idea at all. It must be carried outside the house, as outdoor hearth is best designed to do the job.

Fireplace is not Dustbin: If you consider inglenook to be a place to throw boxes, paper, sticks and other items, then you are wrong. This can cause a more of creosote deposit build up in the chimney. When you lit your fireplace, the fumes from the fire can cause serious health problems and even a big chimney fire.

Fireplace is not for performing Ball of Fire: Many people love to create huge roaring fire in their chimney. They try these, perhaps to lessen their additional work of tending the fire further or just to see the fire dancing. A ball of fire takes a lot of time to start and is the major cause for creosote buildup. Further a big fire can damage the firebox and cause long term damage in them.

These are some of the things that homeowners should avoid doing to improve the safety of the chimney. However, there are other chimney problems that are important to identify and must be repaired.

Creosote Build Up: Creosote buildup is a common problem in the inner walls of chimneys. The air released by burning of wood or coal in the fireplace is the cause for chimney creosote. If not prevented or cleaned, creosote deposits can cause smoking problems, unpleasant smell and even chimney fires.

Improper Construction: It is possible to have poorly constructed chimney .An improperly designed chimney have low temperature leading to poor passage of air. Air often gets trapped inside the chimney which gets condensed instead of getting out. In such cases, a new chimney becomes a necessity.

Blocked Chimney: A chimney fireplace gets blocked due to bird nests, animal droppings and dirt. The air gets trapped inside the chimney unable to move out and goes back towards the room, giving you a smoke-filled house. Sweeping the chimney regularly by a professional will prevent such recurring problems.

Author Bio:

Adrice White is a home safety consultant working in England. He takes the interest in writing articles about safety at home especially about chimney fires. He has been into this field for the last 10 years. You can avail more information about chimney sweep Sevenoaks and fireplace or stove from his blog posts.

You can visit his Google+