Regular chimney maintenance is the best way to keep your Indianapolis, IN, home’s chimney in good condition. Whether you use it often or not, your chimney should be inspected and cleaned about once a year. Between annual services, you also need to watch out for any out-of-the-ordinary occurrences with your chimney. Here are five things that should give you a reason to hire a certified chimney sweep.

1. You Heard or Saw Animals in or Around Your Chimney

If you think you have an animal in your chimney, you should call for an inspection. If the certified chimney sweep finds anything, he or she can make further recommendations as to how you should handle removing the critter from inside your chimney. Once the animal is removed, you should have your chimney swept to ensure that it didn’t leave any obstructions or unwanted materials behind.

2. You Noticed a Significant Change in Fire Quality

Clean chimneys allow for warm, beautiful fires in your fireplace. If you notice poor fire quality, a significant amount of smoke coming from the fireplace or an unpleasant odor, call a chimney sweep to have your chimney inspected. Most likely, it will need to be swept or some part of your chimney repaired before you can have anymore satisfying fires.

3. Your Damper Doesn’t Want to Open or Close

The damper opens or closes to allow air and smoke flow properly. If it is hard to open or close, it could be a sign that you need to have your chimney swept and inspected. A bad or malfunctioning damper can send smoke into the house and may not let your fire burn as hot as it should. A certified chimney sweep will be able to come out to your Indianapolis home, assess your damper’s condition and recommend further action.

4. You Noticed Creosote Buildup or Chimney Damage

While we don’t expect homeowners to do their own inspections, every homeowner should keep a watchful eye on his or her chimney. If you notice a buildup of creosote or soot inside your chimney and fireplace or you see some other kind of chimney damage, don’t hesitate to call a certified chimney sweep. Building a fire when there’s creosote build up or some kind of damage present is dangerous. If you see any potential issues, schedule an appointment before using your chimney again.

5. You Neglected Servicing Your Chimney Previously

Thousands of homeowners don’t have the recommended annual chimney sweep and inspection performed. If you’re one of the homeowners who has let their chimney maintenance fall by the wayside, it’s important to reach out to a certified chimney sweep soon. That way you can get your chimney swept and inspected before anything bad happens.

At Brick + Ember Outfitters, we want all Indianapolis homeowners to have functional, safe and efficient chimneys. That’s why we offer an $89 chimney sweep and inspection service, which is more affordable than our competitors. If you’ve paid more in the past, give us a call today.