Many people often wonder about cleaning a chimney, including how often the chimney should be cleaned. Before we go into the process of cleaning a chimney, take a look at some very interesting facts about chimneys.

Early Romans used tubes inside walls to draw smoke out of bakeries; however true chimneys did not appear in Europe until the 12th century. The idea that Santa Claus comes down the chimney to deliver Christmas gifts comes from a poem by Clement Clark Moore written in 1823. The tallest freestanding brick chimney in the world is the Anaconda Smelter Stack in Montana, standing 585 feet high.

Cleaning a chimney is very important to the safety of your home. Dirty chimneys can cause fires. The resulting fires from a dirty chimney can result in fires that burn at more than 2,000 degrees. Most of these fires are caused by a build up of creosote and these creosote fires have caused an estimated 15,000 home fires each year. Cleaning a chimney regular will help prevent the build up of creosote.

When considering cleaning a chimney, it is best to turn to professional chimney sweeps. Professional chimney sweeps are very knowledgeable about their trade and the processes of cleaning a chimney, including how often should you have your chimney cleaned.

A chimney sweep will do several things when cleaning a chimney. In addition to cleaning a chimney, he will also inspect your chimney caps and chimney flue liners. This will ensure that the entire chimney is in good working order.
If your chimney does need repairs, a chimney professional can make sure that these repairs are done properly so you can rest assured that your chimney is safe and sound. Most chimney companies and professionals suggest that you have your chimney inspected at least once every year, usually at the start of the colder seasons when you will be starting to burn fires.
Cleaning a chimney is not a long process; however, it is not advised that you try to do it yourself. Chimney cleaners have the proper tools and safety equipment for getting on your roof when cleaning a chimney. Call a professional today to make sure that your home stays safe.