Why Once A Year
The standard is annual. It isn't a sales pitch.
NFPA 211 — the National Fire Protection Association standard for chimneys and vents — calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected at least once a year, and cleaned when the inspection calls for it.
The reason is creosote. It builds up whether you burn a lot or a little, it is highly flammable, and it is the leading cause of chimney fires. You cannot see it from your living room — the photo beside this text is what a flue looks like before a sweep.
- Annual inspection is the published national standard
- Always inspect after buying a home — you don't know its history
- Always inspect after a chimney fire, quake or major windstorm
