Chimney Sweeping - Why do I need to Sweep my Chimney

Here at Dorset Log Stores we love a good fire. Crackling logs from the log store. The lumping sound of coal in the bucket. The log burner going in the winter, the chiminea in the summer and a barbecue any time we can find an excuse to. However, after a winter of roaring fires and toasty toes one thing you will need to look at is sweeping your chimney.

But why do you need to get your chimney swept? Well there are a few reasons as to why it is important.

Some Very Grand Chimneys

1. Chimneys need a free flow of air through them to allow the gasses released when wood is burnt, to escape. If the chimney is blocked then these gasses can cause health issues through you breathing them in as they build up in your home. 
2. Burning fires leads to an accumulation of soot and creosote, which is sticky and flammable. Chimney fires can cause property damage, crack chimney pots and in the worst cases burn down your house. 
3. Every time the fire burns, soot builds up in the chimney. Sometimes this can cause a plug, meaning the smoke has nowhere to escape but back out into your home, causing smoke damage to your property and great discomfort to yourself. 

How often you sweep your chimney depends on how often you have your fire burning, what sort of of fuel you are burning. However giving it a good clean out before and after the cold months of winter when it has been in most use, is usually enough.

Dorset Log Stores has a range of log stores and fireside accessories to keep your fire burning brightly all through the winter. 

Next time the blog will look at some hints and tips on sweeping your chimney and if you have any questions about our log stores, why not give us a call on 01300 345916 to talk to a member of our team. 

Thanks for Reading

James