A lot of people tend to schedule chimney inspections and sweepings when the cooler weather begins. That said, while technically scheduling your chimney inspection in fall or winter has no detrimental effects, we suggest getting this maintenance done on the earlier side – like now, during the warm summer months.
The logic of this is pretty simple. Since you’ll need to use your fireplace in the fall and winter months, you should get it ready before the actual seasons start. Beyond that, a summer chimney inspection also offers several other advantages. We’ve listed 4 of the biggest benefits of scheduling an inspection before the fall season begins:
1. Avoid Scheduling Hassles
During the fall, everyone is trying to get inspections completed, which means that chimney companies are loaded with other customers. Oftentimes, homeowners find that the earliest appointment they can get will be weeks away – which means putting a big delay at the start of your burning season. On top of that, depending on the condition of your chimney, they may need to do repairs, which means it’s back to the calendar, further delaying those cozy fires.
But if you schedule an early inspection during the summer months? This won’t be a problem. Since the demand for chimney care services is not that significant during our off-season, it will be easier for you to get an appointment sooner and on a day that works well for you.
2. More Time to Address Chimney Buildup & Damages
With early scheduling, a chimney specialist will be able to alert you to any issues that your chimney has right away, giving you ample to take care of any repairs, sweepings, or replacements parts before that first cold snap hits and you need to use your fireplace.
And remember – some chimney repairs may not be a one-day process, especially if the damage is severe. Scheduling them now ensures everything can be handled promptly and efficiently, well before the start of your burn season (and our busy season).
On top of all that, due to the warmer and drier weather of summer, now is a great for masonry repairs throughout your chimney as the materials used will be able to cure faster and last longer. Yes, these can be done in winter if the right techniques and tools are used, but you won’t get those high-quality results you’re hoping for – and may need more repairs again sooner than expected.
3. No Delays When Starting Your Burn Season
As mentioned above, the volume of people scheduling chimney services starts to increase when the fall season begins, making it incredibly difficult to get an immediate slot. This prevents you from using your fireplace and delays the start of your burn season.
Even scheduling a chimney inspection at the beginning of the fall season may not fare well for you. If the chimney specialist sees any buildup or damage that needs to be addressed, you will need to schedule another appointment in order to get this taken care of. Problem is, since most chimney care companies are fully booked by that time, you may need to wait weeks before they can get back to you. You won’t be able to use your fireplace throughout this waiting time, even if you really need to so you can offset energy costs.
4. Avoid Further Damages & Keep Your System Safer
Chimney damages are one thing you want addressed as quickly as possible. Things like mold growth, water damage, crumbling masonry, rusted metal components, and the like will only continue to get worse if professional action isn’t taken. And the worse issues get, the more time-consuming and costly they will be to fix. In these cases, affordable and preventative care now is always better than expensive repairs or rebuilds down the road.
On top of all that, staying on top of chimney care will keep your system standing stronger for longer. Chimney neglect is one surefire way to shorten the lifespan of your fireplace fast – and lower the value of your home while you’re at it.
How Often Should You Schedule Chimney Inspections?
Chimney inspections should be scheduled at least once a year. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), annual inspections and cleanings should not just be done on fireplace chimneys, but on other heating equipment such as oil or gas furnaces, as well. This is important to protect your home from accidental fires, flue blockages, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
The NFPA also reported that half of home heating fires happen between December and February. These are the cold months for several eastern states, including us here in New York. With this, you should make sure that you have your chimney for your wood stove and fireplace inspected as early as summer to ensure that you can use it safely when the cooler seasons begin.
Schedule Your Early Chimney Inspection With the Experts
If you want to ensure that your chimney inspection will be done professionally, you should get in touch with a reliable and qualified chimney company – like us! This gives you the guarantee that you can safely use your chimney on time when the fall season begins.
Experience this kind of high-quality chimney care services when you get in touch with All Seasons Chimney. We offer a wide a range of different chimney services, allowing us to properly take care of your chimney, no matter what you need. We can even handle your chimney installations, making us an all-around chimney care company.
Schedule an early inspection or chimney installation today by calling 845-375-3640. We’d love to hear from you!