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If you have a chimney, when was the last time you replaced
your liner? If that question
stumps you, then it might
be time to investigate the
situation a little and probably
even consider having your
chimney inspected. You may
be due for a new liner. Although
chimneys are designed to withstand
nearly anything, it would
seem, the truth is they aren’t
quit as indestructible as
we might think they are. The
liners in particular could
easily lose their former stability
and be a factor in a fire
or carbon monoxide poisoning
by permitting the escape of
gases and/or burning embers.
If you do, indeed, find that
you need to have new liners
installed, there are a number
of different options open
to you. The fireplaces of
today are not the fireplaces
of old – which is a good thing
for homeowners. The fireplaces
of today are not necessarily
simply made of brick. Many
are made of a variety of more
supple materials. This allows
you to replace the liners
without essentially rebuilding
the entire chimney. But first,
of course you will need to
find out if you actually need
a new liner. To do that it
is best to have your chimney
inspected by someone who knows
what they’re looking for.
And where would you go for
such a service? Well, to a
chimney sweep. Though many
may have the idea that chimney
sweeps don’t actually exist
anymore, the truth is they
are as popular as ever. As
more and more homeowners are
putting fireplaces into their
homes, the business of chimney
sweeping as become an important
element in making sure we
keep our homes safe. A chimney
sweep will install, clean
and maintain your chimney
so as to keep it in working
order and safe to use. One
of the chimney sweep’s main
jobs is to look for potential
fire hazards, as well as blockages
in your chimney. This is especially
important for those who have
a gas fireplace. If a homeowner
with a gas fireplace has blockage
in their chimney, the fumes
can easily build up inside
the home. A chimney sweep
may do an initial inspection
of your chimney, and then
depending on what they find,
they may suggest a more in-depth
inspection. Although there
are chimney sweeps who do
this type of inspection for
a living, you should keep
in mind in most localities
there is no government oversight
or industry regulators. In
addition to asking friends
and neighbors for suggestions
of someone they trust, you
might also call your local
fire department or even the
appropriate local government
office to see what they recommend.
This article on chimney liners
and fireplaces was brought
to you by FireplaceBasics.com.
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