Perhaps one of the biggest perks to renting a home or apartment is that often it provides maintenance-free living. Generally, all of the major home-maintenance tasks, such as cutting the grass, repairing leaks and installing a new roof, fall to the property owner. There are two elements of crucial maintenance that often get lost on rental properties: chimney sweeping and dryer vent cleaning.
If you’re a renter, and your home has a chimney or clothing dryer, you may be wondering if you need to have either appliance cleaned in order to keep you, your family and your home safe. The simple answer to your query is yes! The more complicated part is knowing how to ensure that your chimney and dryer vents are cleaned and safe for use.
Why Your Apartment Chimney Needs to be Swept
Dirty chimneys are a leading cause of chimney fires. Each time a fire burns in a fireplace, flammable creosote builds up within the chimney. If that creosote becomes too thick, it can ignite and cause a chimney fire. There are other reasons to be sure that your apartment’s chimney has been swept, even if the fireplace is gas. Chimneys can become clogged with leaves, debris and even animal nests. They can break down over time and become unsafe for use. Fireplaces can malfunction. An annual chimney sweeping and inspection helps to guarantee that your chimney is free from dangerous creosote and debris, and that the entire fireplace and chimney system is in good working order.
Why Your Dryer Vents Need to be Cleaned
Like dirty chimneys, dirty dryer vents can ignite fires, or lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide within your apartment. The dryer vents in apartment buildings are even more susceptible to dangerous buildups of lint. That’s because dryer vents within an apartment building are often part of a complex, winding dryer vent system. To keep residential buildings safe from a dryer fire or carbon monoxide, it’s recommended that dryer vents are professionally cleaned at least once per year.
How to be Sure that Your Chimney and Dryer Vents are Cleaned
While chimney sweeping and dryer vent cleaning is crucial for home safety, too often if falls through the cracks for apartment buildings and rental homes. If you’re concerned that your chimney hasn’t been swept and inspected within the last year or that your dryer vents have become clogged with lint, you should talk to your landlord immediately. You should never burn a fire in a fireplace that hasn’t been swept and inspected in more than a year. Additionally, you should not use a dryer if you notice signs that the dryer vents are clogged, such as longer than normal drying times, a burning smell during dryer cycles or excessive heat in your dryer or laundry room.
If your landlord is looking for a place to turn for chimney sweeping or dryer vent cleaning, recommend that he or she call Fluesbrothers Chimney Service today! We’ll ensure that chimneys and dryer vents in your apartment are clean and safe for use.
