'Tis the season... for having your chimneys serviced. Experts recommend having them cleaned once a year to prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mark Linn of Benchmark Chimney Preservation does not have the most glamorous job, but it is an important one. He cleans chimneys and fireplaces, including one today near Mifflinburg. Linn recommends people get their chimneys cleaned once a year.
"Chimney fires can actually burn as hot as 2,100 degrees. Even if the flame is contained inside the chimney, the heat transfer to the surrounding structure can be absolutely devastating," Linn said.
One of Linn's clients, Shawn Burns, says he knows that feeling all too well. When his family first moved into their house in Milton, they had an incident with their fireplace and had to call the fire department.
"I'm worried about my family and the investment in my home. The last thing I want to do is have a fire and have my chimney cause the house to burn down," Burns said.
Linn says having your chimney serviced is not a do-it-yourself job. He recommends calling a professional.
"I've got about 30 different size brushes so I've got something for every size flue. You don't want to just take some tire chains and jangle them on a rope, which is kind-of an old-school trick that really never worked," Linn said.
Linn recommends not waiting this late in the year to get chimneys cleaned. He says people should get their chimneys serviced before they turn on their heat or use their fireplaces.
