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Safe Chimney Venting
You may not realize it, but your chimney is one of the most important safety features in your home. Without a chimney there is no safe way to vent the products of combustion created when you burn wood, oil, propane, or natural gas to heat your home. Your chimney safely vents the gases and smoke created when fossil fuels are burned, thus allowing houses to have central heating systems, wood stoves, or fireplaces.
However, like any other safety feature, chimneys require maintenance and care to ensure that they work safely and properly. If you have a natural gas, propane, or oil furnace, a yearly inspection by a qualified furnace technician should be part of your home maintenance program. The technician will inspect the furnace and the chimney to ensure that both are working safely. They can determine if the chimney is in need of repairs by visually inspecting the unit from the furnace to the roof.
There is always the possibility of cracked or damaged flue tiles, broken brick and bird or animal nests blocking a masonry chimney. A blocked or damaged chimney may allow dangerous (and deadly) amounts of carbon monoxide to enter your home, putting you and your family at risk.
If you burn wood, a yearly inspection and cleaning by a W.E.T.T. (Wood Energy Technical Transfer) certified sweep should be mandatory. W.E.T.T. certified sweeps or technicians are trained and certified to do any type of work on wood burning appliance or chimney. They have the knowledge and the skills to inspect and clean your chimney and any wood-burning appliance, as well as to offer advice on safe and efficient wood burning. W.E.T.T. certified sweeps and technicians are found in the yellow pages of any phone book under the heading CHIMNEY CLEANING & SWEEPING.
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