Don't sweep chimney care aside as fall, winter near

As we rapidly speed toward fall and winter, chimney maintenance comes to mind.

Chimneys get dirty when creosote builds up along the flue; it's kinda like cholesterol in a blood vessel. Creosote, which is releasedwhen wood burns, rises in the smoke and condenses as i t passes the relatively cool walls of the flue. You can slow the process down by being sure that the fire has an adequate air supply and keeping the damper and glass doors of the fireplace fully open. There's no way to completely prevent creosote from building up over time; however, left untreated, creosote can make your fireplace or stove burn less efficiently and can lead to a chimney fire.

Cleaning a chimney is a very messy and potentially dangerous project. It requires special brushes that are precisely fitted to the size of your flue, and plenty of drop cloths to protect the inside of your home. Depending on the configuration of your fireplace and chimney, it may be possible to sweep from the inside of the house.

Chimneys should be inspected at least once a year and cleaned as necessary. The inspection should be done by a certified technician. One example of a certification firm is Chimney Safety Institute of America . The key here is to make sure you hire a person who has the training and skill to do the job and do it right. Before you hire someone, ask about their insurance and references. Take a moment and call the Better Business Bureau to see if the firm has had any problems with other clients.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed Madan at Northwest Environmental Ser-vices (255-2266) or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood and mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the chief executive officer of Northwest Environmental Services.