Visit these shows listed in our schedule. While Dick Van Dyke sang that the only thing you had to do for good luck was shake hands with him, the truly lucky were those who actually employed his services. The threat of chimney fires remains just as real today, so keeping a clean chimney is vital. Most Canadians burn wood in their fireplaces rather than coal, which bodes well for those who wish to clean their own chimneys they re not going to come out of the experience quite as black as old Bert did.
Chimney fires can also heat the outside of a chimney enough to ignite nearby wood and shingles.
There are a couple of things to check before you start. First is the structural integrity of the chimney itself. If it s particularly old, make sure it can support the horizontal load of a ladder and your weight leaning against it. Next, remove the damper plate and using a powerful flashlight peer both up and down the pipe to ensure there are no obstructions birds nests are quite common. This is also a good time to check the extent of the creosote buildup.