Top 7 Fireplace Safety Tips

There’s no denying that a fireplace is a wonderful invention. It not only adds warmth to your home, but is easy to maintain and gives your house a homey aesthetic. However, as wonderful as fireplaces are, they can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. For those who have used fireplaces for years, these safety tips have become second nature. However, if you are a first time fireplace owner, you may be unaware of these crucial safety tips. Here are the top 7 ways to ensure that you can enjoy your fireplace without any problems:

Use the right type of wood

When it comes to a fireplace, the type of wood you use is crucial. Use only dry and cured firewood. When wood has too much moisture, it won’t burn properly and other types of wood could release toxic chemicals.

Install a chimney cap

A chimney cap is important because it can prevent debris and animals from entering your chimney.

Install detectors

Detectors are arguably the most important safety tip when it comes to owning and operating a fireplace. However, keep in mind that you should install both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors can let you know if there is a problem with your fireplace- such as smoke coming back into your house- or if there is an active fire. Carbon monoxide detectors, on the other hand, will inform you if your fireplace is releasing toxic levels of carbon monoxide. This can happen if there is a problem with your fireplace, such as smoke being unable to exit from the chimney.

Get your chimney professionally cleaned regularly

If you want to be safe, it’s crucial to have your chimney professionally cleaned at least twice per year. One of these times should be just before winter, as objects like bird’s nests can be blocking your chimney. When professionals like The Original Chimney Sweepers clean your chimney, we do more than just give it a thorough sweeping. We also perform a safety inspection to ensure that your fireplace is structurally sound.

Build your fire slowly

When making a fire in your fireplace, start slow. Add more firewood as the fire starts to grow. When you try to build a huge fire all at once, it could get out of hand fast and pose a safety hazard.

Keep debris away from your chimney

If you have trees that hang over your chimney, be sure to keep the branches cut. Additionally, have your roof swept for leaves and other debris that could fall into your chimney. When items block your chimney, they could prevent smoke from exiting, which can cause smoke to spill into the house or start a fire.

Keep a fire extinguisher on hand

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. While you’re unlikely to experience an unruly fire if you follow the above safety tips, it’s important to keep a fire extinguisher on hand just in case.

At The Original Chimney Sweep we are passionate about client safety. While we love chimneys and fireplaces, we understand that they can be dangerous if not handled properly. We hope that these tips can help keep you and your family safe year-round!

7 Top tips 

There’s no denying that a fireplace is a wonderful invention. It not only adds warmth to your home, but is easy to maintain and gives your house a homey aesthetic. However, as wonderful as fireplaces are, they can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. For those who have used fireplaces for years, these safety tips have become second nature. However, if you are a first time fireplace owner, you may be unaware of these crucial safety tips. Here are the top nine ways to ensure that you can enjoy your fireplace without any problems:

Use the right type of wood
When it comes to a fireplace, the type of wood you use is crucial. Use only dry and cured firewood. When wood has too much moisture, it won’t burn properly and other types of wood could release toxic chemicals.

Install a chimney cap
A chimney cap is important because it can prevent debris and animals from entering your chimney.

Install detectors
Detectors are arguably the most important safety tip when it comes to owning and operating a fireplace. However, keep in mind that you should install both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors can let you know if there is a problem with your fireplace- such as smoke coming back into your house- or if there is an active fire. Carbon monoxide detectors, on the other hand, will inform you if your fireplace is releasing toxic levels of carbon monoxide. This can happen if there is a problem with your fireplace, such as smoke being unable to exit from the chimney.

Get your chimney professionally cleaned regularly
If you want to be safe, it’s crucial to have your chimney professionally cleaned at least twice per year. One of these times should be just before winter, as objects like bird’s nests can be blocking your chimney. When professionals like The Original Chimney Sweepers clean your chimney, we do more than just give it a thorough sweeping. We also perform a safety inspection to ensure that your fireplace is structurally sound.

Build your fire slowly
When making a fire in your fireplace, start slow. Add more firewood as the fire starts to grow. When you try to build a huge fire all at once, it could get out of hand fast and pose a safety hazard.

Keep debris away from your chimney
If you have trees that hang over your chimney, be sure to keep the branches cut. Additionally, have your roof swept for leaves and other debris that could fall into your chimney. When items block your chimney, they could prevent smoke from exiting, which can cause smoke to spill into the house or start a fire.

Keep a fire extinguisher on hand
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. While you’re unlikely to experience an unruly fire if you follow the above safety tips, it’s important to keep a fire extinguisher on hand just in case.

At The Original Chimney Sweepers, www.chimneysweeps.co.za, we are passionate about client safety. While we love chimneys and fireplaces, we understand that they can be dangerous if not handled properly. We hope that these tips can help keep you and your family safe year-round!

For a hassle free booking go to http://chimneysweeps.co.za/contact.html

6 Questions to Ask a Chimney Sweep Before Hiring

There’s no question about it- hiring a chimney sweep to clean your chimney regularly is crucial.
However, not every chimney sweep company is created equal. If you’re looking for a chimney
sweep professional for the first time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are so many
options online- how do you know who to hire? Before hiring any chimney sweep company, we
recommend asking them a set list of questions. This ensures that they are professional, safe,
affordable, and reputable. Here are the top six questions to ask a chimney sweep before hiring:

How much experience do you have?
When it comes to chimney sweeping, experience is important. If a company is
brand new, chances are that their employees don’t have the knowledge or hands-on
experience necessary to do the job well. Before hiring any chimney sweep company,
ask them these two questions: How long has your company been in business?

How much experience does the specific chimney sweep who will be helping me have?
Not only does the company need to have experience in the industry, but so do their employees.
The company could have been in existence for over a decade, but if they send a new and
inexperienced chimney sweep to your home, it could be disastrous.

Do you have references?
Before you hire any service provider, you should take a look at their references and
customer testimonials. They may have a professional website, but that doesn’t mean
that they know what they’re doing. It’s always best to hear first-hand from customers
about their experience with a company before you hire them. This can save you both
time and money in the long run.

Are you insured?
Every reputable chimney sweep company has insurance. If a chimney
sweep company doesn’t have liability insurance, then they are putting both
themselves and your home at risk. Accidents can happen to even the most
experienced chimney sweeps. While this is a rare occurrence at
The Original Chimney Sweepers, our customers’ safety and peace of mind are our first priority.

Can you provide me with an estimate?
If a chimney sweep company cannot provide you with an estimate
before they begin their work, don’t trust them. Every reputable chimney
sweep company should be able to provide you with a quote after an initial inspection.

Do you conduct a safety inspection?
Some chimney sweep companies charge hefty rates and
all they do is clean out your chimney. However, At The Original
Chimney Sweepers, we prioritise our clients’ safety. For this reason, we
include tests for leaks, structural assessments of the chimney, debris inspection, and a
safety inspection. Any chimney can be cleaned, but it’s important that you are also aware
of your chimney’s condition to keep you and your family safe.

Anyone can claim to be able to thoroughly clean a chimney. However, a reputable
chimney sweep will have a positive reputation, years of experience, insurance, and
a comprehensive chimney sweeping package.

At The Original Chimney Sweepers, www.chimneysweeps.co.za, we are passionate
about providing high quality services at an affordable cost, as well as going the extra
mile to ensure client safety. If you have any questions about our company or the
services we provide, don’t hesitate to contact us.



Make a hassle free booking http://chimneysweeps.co.za/contact.html

Questions to Ask a Chimney Sweep Before Hiring 

There’s no question about it- hiring a chimney sweep to clean your chimney regularly is crucial. However, not every chimney sweep company is created equal. If you’re looking for a chimney sweep professional for the first time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are so many options online- how do you know who to hire? Before hiring any chimney sweep company, we recommend asking them a set list of questions. This ensures that they are professional, safe, affordable, and reputable.

Here are the top six questions to ask a chimney sweep before hiring:

How much experience do you have?
When it comes to chimney sweeping, experience is important. If a company is brand new, chances are that their employees don’t have the knowledge or hands-on experience necessary to do the job well.
Before hiring any chimney sweep company, ask them these two questions: How long has your company been in business? How much experience does the specific chimney sweep who will be helping me have? Not only does the company need to have experience in the industry, but so do their employees. The company could have been in existence for over a decade, but if they send a new and inexperienced chimney sweep to your home, it could be disastrous. Ask us.

Do you have references?
Before you hire any service provider, you should take a look at their references and customer testimonials. They may have a professional website, but that doesn’t mean that they know what they’re doing. It’s always best to hear first-hand from customers about their experience with a company before you hire them. This can save you both time and money in the long run.

Are you insured?
Every reputable chimney sweep company has insurance. If a chimney sweep company doesn’t have liability insurance, then they are putting both themselves and your home at risk. Accidents can happen to even the most experienced chimney sweeps. While this is a rare occurrence at The Original Chimney Sweepers, our customers’ safety and peace of mind are our first priority.

5 Signs Your Chimney Needs Sweeping

When it comes to home maintenance, it’s surprisingly easy for important tasks to slip through the cracks. Homeowners oftentimes prioritise maintenance that is visible. For example, they’re more likely to fix a crack in the ceiling than get their chimney swept. However, neglecting to sweep your chimney frequently can have dire consequences. Not only will it cause your fireplace to work poorly, but it can also be hazardous for your health. Here are a few signs that you should call a profession chimney sweep:

Bad odour

It’s natural for your fireplace to emit a smokey odour when it’s in use. However, if you notice a bad odour coming from the fireplace when there is no fire lit, it could be a sign that creosote and soot have built up in the chimney. Creosote is a byproduct of burning wood. In its early stages, it’s dusty, but after a while it can become tar-like in consistency. If not removed immediately, it can harm both your chimney and your lungs.

Excess smoke

When a fireplace is working properly, no smoke should fill the room. Instead, the smoke made by the fire should be sucked up through the chimney. However, if your room is filled with excess smoke when you light a fire, it’s a surefire sign that your chimney needs a deep cleaning. When a chimney becomes blocked with creosote, it doesn’t work correctly and causes smoke to flood the entire house. Inhaling this smoke can be dangerous for both you and your family.

Slow fire

It should not take hours for your fire to get started. If you have a slow-burning fire, it typically means that there is an obstruction in the chimney. This could be soot, creosote, and even animal activity! Regardless of the cause, it means that you need your chimney to be professionally cleaned.

Rust

If you notice rust on your firebox or damper, it could be a bad sign. Rust only forms when moisture is present and there should not be enough moisture in your fireplace to cause rust. Rust could be indicative of flue lining cracks, which are extremely dangerous because they can cause a fire.

Pieces of chimney in fireplace

The only remnants that should be in your fireplace are wood. If you notice any other bits in your fireplace, observe them closely. They just may be pieces of your chimney! If pieces of flue tiles are falling into your fireplace, it means that your chimney is not structurally safe.

If you have experienced any of the above signs with your fireplace, then it’s time to call a professional chimney sweep immediately. At The Original Chimney Sweep, we take our job very seriously. We are the leading chimney sweep professionals in Cape Town and for good reason. Not only do we service all of Cape Town’s surrounding neighborhoods, but we also use the highest quality tools available. Our technicians are highly trained and have the hands-on experience needed to clean your chimney thoroughly and leave your home spotless. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any of your chimney sweeping needs.

A clean chimney is a safe chimney. That's our motto. The Original Chimney Sweep has been servicing Cape Town and surrounding areas for over 20 years.

Sweeping residential chimneys, morso fireplaces, pizza ovens, coffee roasters and many industrial chimneys as well. We have an excellent team of well trained guys to do your chimney sweep in less than two hours. The number one cause of household fires is unclean chimneys. Soot build-up is highly flammable as well as poisonous and for this reason it needs to be cleaned out of your chimney regularly, by a professional chimney sweep in Cape Town. The best chimney specialist in Cape Town.

Our Chimney sweep includes: 

• A thorough "power" clean of the chimney
• Removal of all flammable substances e.g. soot
• Removal of birds nest from the chimney
• Check the structural condition your chimney
• Test for leaks on the chimney 
• Analysis and Inspection of debris from Chimney
• Test overall safety of Chimneys
• Grease and sand of chimney Cowl (if any) chimneys
• Written report about the Chimney sweep on request​

Our modern cleaning method means your house stays as clean as we've found it. All the work is carried out by trained Chimney sweep professionals who have the right tools for the job and many years experience in Chimney sweeping in Cape Town. The right tool for the job ensures the chimney sweep does not damage your chimney and protects the chimney structure for years to come.
Our chimney sweep is quick and affordable. Have a chimney sweeper sweep your chimney at least once a year, depending on how often you use your fireplace. Follow the icons below and follow us for the latest info and sweeps in Cape Town.

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