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🔥 THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE

It’s hard to be upset while enjoying the cozy glow of a stove or fireplace. It’s also just as easy to forget that having a fire inside the home is inherently dangerous. Your heating appliance isn’t just a decorative feature; it’s a functional appliance, bringing heat to your home. Every time you light your stove or fireplace, you rely on the fire being contained and the byproducts safely vented. 

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As a homeowner, maintaining an efficient and safe home is always your top priority. If you have a fireplace, stove, wall heater, or chimney, regular maintenance is crucial. Unfortunately, that regular maintenance is often overlooked, and many homeowners are shocked to discover just how dirty their heating systems are. 

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There’s a lot that goes on underneath the surface of chimneys, stoves, and fireplace systems. Without proper inspection, it can be challenging to address problems. Just as we schedule annual checkups for our health, our heating systems need routine inspections, too.

🧹 WHY GET AN ANNUAL SWEEP & INSPECTION?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend that homeowners hire a certified and trained chimney professional to inspect their system yearly, regardless of the fuel type used.

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A professional inspection by a CSIA-certified technician is more than just brushing soot away. Every appointment is an opportunity to make sure your fireplace or stove is safe, operating properly, and ready for the heating season ahead.

⚠️ FAIR WARNING...

Even if you follow an annual maintenance schedule, be aware of warning signs. The following could indicate your chimney needs immediate attention.

🛢️ GAS FIREPLACES & STOVES

  • Strong gas odor

  • Soot buildup on the glass or around the appliance

  • Pilot light won't stay lit

  • Delayed ignition or loud "whoosh" when lighting

  • Yellow, lazy flames (they should be mostly blue)

  • Carbon monoxide alarm has activated

🪵 WOOD FIREPLACES & STOVES

  • Smoke entering the home

  • Strong smoky odor, even when not in use

  • Excessive creosote buildup

  • Cracked firebrick or damaged firebox

  • Difficulty starting or maintaining a fire

  • Chimney fire (loud roaring, popping, excessive sparks)

🥜 PELLET STOVES

  • Unit repeatedly shuts down or displays error codes

  • Smoke leaking into the room

  • Unusual grinding or squealing noises

🧱 CHIMNEY (ANY APPLIANCE)

  • Water stains on ceilings or around the fireplace

  • Pieces of brick, mortar, or flue tile falling into the fireplace

  • Missing or damaged chimney cap

  • Leaning chimney or visible cracks

  • Birds or animals in the chimney

  • White staining (efflorescence) or deteriorating masonry

💣 THE DANGER OF NEGLECTING FIREPLACE AND STOVE MAINTENANCE

While a yearly inspection and sweep can be easy to overlook, neglecting maintenance can lead to dangerous issues.  Gas stoves and fireplaces should be inspected for leaks, healthy gas pressure, and soot. Ignoring annual maintenance could lead to hazardous gas leaks and unsafe conditions of the heating appliance. 

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Wood or pellet stoves and fireplaces should be inspected for chimney leaks, creosote, and intact lining systems. The Indiana freeze-thaw cycle creates cracks in chimney mortar. While chimney leaks may start off small, they can create big, expensive issues long-term. The most common issues are water intrusion, mold growth, and structural damage.  

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A safe chimney lining system protects your home by venting hazardous byproducts outdoors and preventing chimney fires. Creosote is a natural byproduct of burning wood and pellets. It is highly flammable and has been listed as a probable human carcinogen by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Neglecting chimney liners and creosote can lead to chimney fires and adverse health effects.

🛠️ SCHLEMMER'S SWEEP AND INSPECTION: LET'S SAVE THE DAY!

Schlemmer's Fire & Outdoor is northeast Indiana's authority on all things fire: fireplaces, stoves, chimneys, and grills.  Our CSIA-certified chimney professionals, seasoned installers, and long-time staff carry on a standard that's been sharpened for over a century. For 123 years, our job has been simple. Protect homes, provide heat, build beautiful gathering spaces. 

During a Schlemmer’s Sweep and Inspection, we check all readily accessible portions of the chimney system, check the installation, connections, and ensure the system is free of hazardous combustible materials. 

 

We additionally check for and address the following: 

  • Creosote buildup

  • Water damage

  • Cracked flue tiles

  • Damaged chimney caps or crowns

  • Evidence of a chimney Fire

  • Loose or deteriorated mortar

  • Venting issues

  • Loose or worn gaskets

  • Animal nests or blockages

  • Worn components on gas, wood, or pellet appliances

  • Dirty components - could cause odor or missed ignitions

🔍 SPECIALTY LEVEL 2 CHIMNEY INSPECTION

In addition to sweeps and standard inspections, we offer Level 2 chimney inspections. During a level 2 inspection, a mobile chimney scan camera is snaked through the flue. The videos and pictures of the flue allow us to check for blockages, cracks, holes, deterioration, or damage that technicians wouldn’t be able to see by simply shining a flashlight up into the flue. A level 2 inspection is recommended for real estate transactions, appliance replacements, system modifications, or when damage is suspected.

This summer, don't leave fire safety and maintenance to guesswork! Schedule or call us now!

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