The fireplace is a central meeting area in a home, a place for warmth and friendship, and a center piece for conversation. Even though they require very little maintenance, neglecting fireplace cleaning is a mistake that can have disastrous results.
About Chimney Fires
When wood is burned in a fireplace, the smoke it creates leaves deposits along the inside of your chimney. These deposits build up over time, forming a black gummy substance called creosote. When enough creosote builds up and temperatures begin to run high, it can ignite, causing a chimney fire.
About Smoke Damage
More than one homeowner has had this experience: For whatever reason, you decide to start a fire in your rarely used fireplace only to find that somewhere in its dormancy, the chimney has been blocked and large amounts of smoke begin billowing into the house. In some cases, this smoke can cause damage to carpet, curtains, and upholstery, as well as leave an odor that is very difficult to get rid of. In the most extreme instances, the discoloration and stench left by large amounts of smoke cannot be removed by conventional cleaning techniques.
Preventing Smoke Damage
The easiest way to prevent chimney fires and smoke damage is to have your chimney cleaned regularly by a professional chimney sweep. In addition to removing clogs and creosote, a professional fireplace cleaning will also identify some other problems such as missing or malfunctioning flue caps. When you compare the cost of an annual fireplace cleaning to the price of smoke damage clean-up (or even worse, repairs after a chimney fire), there is simply no contest as to which is more economical.
Cleaning Up Smoke Damage
Deodorizing techniques will remove the odors from a space sometimes without altering the appearance of any surfaces. One method is use of an ozone generator which produces ozone gas to remove the smell permanently without harming furnishings. The use of high concentration of ozone should be done by a professional who understands the safety issues involved with such a procedure.
Another deodorizing method is a fogging machine which produces a hot, thick smoke with an odor destroying agent. Because this smoke is hot, it rises and fills the same nooks and spaces the original smoke entered. However, because this device leaves a film of residue behind, a thorough cleaning should follow this procedure.
If scorching or burnt materials are left behind, the area should be sprayed with a soot sealer, repainted and then the above mentioned methods can be used to destroy odors.
If an ember pops out of the fireplace and onto carpet, it can cause a burn rather quickly. Fireplace burns are relatively easy to repair. The lack of wear patterns around fireplaces usually makes it easy to insert new carpet from a remnant or closet. Some small areas the size of a dime can be tufted in with new yarns. These repairs generally aren't very expensive, and are well worth the investment.
Many companies have specific training and know the right materials to clean up after smoke damage has occurred. Often, they are able to "erase" the soot right off the walls and wallpaper without damage to the finish, and clean the carpets, furniture, and window coverings.
