Now that the temperatures are dropping, you might be getting ready to start a fire in your fireplace. If you are, make sure you schedule chimney services before you do. Lighting a fire in your fireplace before you have the chimney serviced could put you at risk for some serious problems. This is especially true if it's been a few years since you had your chimney serviced. If you're not sure that you need to have your chimney serviced this year, read the list provided below. Here are just a few of the problems you could be missing without the chimney service. 

There Could Be Flue Damage

If you haven't had your chimney serviced in the past few years, there could be hidden flue damage that needs to be addressed. You might not know this, but the flue liner is one of the most important parts of your fireplace. First, the flue liner provides a safe path for combustible material to get through to the outside. Second, the flue liner helps to keep all the heat inside the chimney and away from your home. If the flue liner is damaged, your fireplace isn't safe to use, which is why you need chimney service this winter. With chimney service, any flue damage will be identified and repaired. 

There Could Be an Obstruction

If your chimney hasn't been cleaned in a while, you have no way of knowing what's hiding up inside the structure. This is especially true if the chimney cap is damaged or missing. Without the chimney cap, debris could have fallen into the chimney. Not only that, pests could have built their nests inside the chimney. Unfortunately, those obstructions can pose a serious problem, especially once you light a fire in the fireplace. First, the obstruction won't allow the smoke to vacate the chimney properly. Second, the obstruction could lead to a chimney fire. To avoid those risks, call for chimney service right away. 

There Could Be Creosote Buildup

If it's been more than a year since you had your chimney serviced, you could be dealing with a massive creosote buildup. Each time you have a fire in your fireplace, creosote is deposited on the walls of the chimney. Creosote is hazardous for a couple of reasons. First, the buildup can be another cause of chimney obstructions. Second, creosote gases can cause lung, skin, and throat irritations. Finally, creosote can cause chimney fires. Before you're faced with those issues, schedule chimney services this winter.