It is important to sweep your chimney at least once a year. This is not just to keep your chimney safe and in good working order, it is an insurance requirement.
When fires are burnt, they create a build-up of soot and creosote. A highly flammable substance, a build-up or layer of creosote can cause a chimney fire. Creosote build-up is the main cause of chimney fires.
A chimney fire can be identified by cracking and popping noises, accompanied by thick, dense smoke. Often, home owners don’t even realise there is a fire in their chimney. Fires weaken the chimney structure, and can spread to the rest of the building, causing danger to life and loss of property.
There are two types of fires:
1. A noise that sounds like a roar in your chimney. You may also see flames coming out of the top of the chimney.