More than a simple formality, this gesture is crucial before winter to avoid hefty bills and to ensure the safety of your home.
As winter approaches, many homes are preparing to turn on their heating again, or light their fireplaces to enjoy the comforting warmth of the fire. But before restarting your heating, it is essential to carry out some checks to ensure that your devices are working properly, to save money, but also to avoid any domestic accident, such as a fire, or a gas explosion, etc.
If certain actions such as purging your radiators and dusting them are known, a crucial action is often neglected: sweeping the chimney. Much more than a simple formality, this operation plays a key role in the safety of homes. However, many ignore it or put off this essential task. Forgetting to sweep your chimney can have serious consequences, both for the health of residents and for their wallets.
Chimney sweeping consists of cleaning chimney exhaust pipes to remove soot deposits and other combustion residues. When using a fireplace, the combustion of wood, coal or other fuels produces fine particles, including soot and creosote. These residues gradually accumulate in the duct and can lead to partial or total blockages.
One of the major dangers of this clogging is the risk of fire. Indeed, creosote is highly flammable. When it accumulates in sufficient quantity, a simple spark can be enough to cause a fire to start inside the conduit, thus risking spreading throughout the home. Every year, hundreds of home fires are caused by poor chimney maintenance.
Another often underestimated danger is carbon monoxide poisoning. If the ducts are blocked, combustion gases can be poorly evacuated and accumulate in the home. Odorless and invisible, carbon monoxide is a silent killer that causes discomfort, nausea, and in the most severe cases, can lead to death.
Beyond the health and safety risks, neglecting your chimney sweeping can also be costly financially. In France, chimney sweeping is a legal obligation. It must be carried out at least once a year, or even twice, by a certified professional. In the event of a loss linked to an unmaintained chimney, insurance companies may refuse to cover the damage, leaving owners facing considerable costs.
In addition, in the event of an inspection or complaint, offenders may be fined for non-compliance with maintenance obligations. This risks costing you a third class fine of up to €450. The bill can quickly mount up, especially if there is material or human damage.