“Soot”, “Creosote”, “Black dirt”, “Foul Smell”, “Intense Gas”= Poison
These words are very familiar with chimney cleaning job.
The chimney sweeps are usually exposed to the dangers of the airborne ash and soot that end from gas, oil and wood kindling. HVAC labors, chimney and cleaners often face insect bites, animal droppings, vapors, fumes, paint toxicity, water repellents, solvents, etc. that cause damage to their health to a great extent.
Not only the workers but also the house residents or the industrial workers who stay in and out the building where the chimney is located also encounter the ill effects of the vent produced poison. The gas released by the furnace usually spread inside the building if the stack is blocked and can’t release it outside.
What are the adverse effects of creosote?
The oily black substance building up in your chimney pipeline can be the main reason behind the unfortunate health issues:
- Respiratory concern:Lungs problems are common among people who breaths in creosote particles
- Skin Problems: Rashes and severe dermal irritation
- Mental disorders: Confusion and seizures have been noticed
- Eye Problems:Burning sensations, red eyes, swollen eyelids, sensitivity to light, etc.
- Cancer: – Skin cancer, lungs cancer, scrotum cancer are some of the examples
- Abdominal troubles:Liver and kidneys are severely affected
What happens when you inhale the chimney soot?
Incomplete combustion forms chimney soot. When the wood doesn’t burn hot, and wholly, powdery dust occurs in the chimney’s interior and escalate in the air inside the home. Soot extracts are genotoxic and carry carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Therefore, it’s natural to have ill effects like respiratory infections, lungs problems, carcinogenic issues, etc.
What is the adverse effect of carbon monoxide contamination?
The colorless, tasteless and odorless poisonous gas can’t be detected. This gas is formed due to inadequate oxygen to complete the oxidation process. The health risks resulting from carbon monoxide:
- Brain damage
- Flu
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- A headache
- Confusion
- Heart issues
- Death
Moreover, breathing in soots, creosote and carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, etc. also cause asthma, bronchitis, nervous issues, etc.
What happens due to chimney swifts?
Have you noticed the small black or brown cute looking birds that gracefully reside in your home chimney?
Though they are pleasing to behold, yet they are very naughty. You may think that these little creatures can’t cause any harm to you, but, the truth is they are the big culprits behind your specific health problems. Their droppings result in Histoplasmosis. It’s a respiratory infection caused by a fungus named histplasma capsulatum.
What are the symptoms of Histoplasmosis?
- Fever
- A chronic cough
- Weight loss
- Lack of appetite
- Excessive sweat
- Chills
- Chest pain
Now, as you are aware of the harmful effects of inhaling in poisonous airs and particles, you must agree to clean your chimney regularly. Approach a professional chimney sweep who can determine the damages to your chimney’s interior wall. He will suggest you regarding the necessary precautions to be taken for halting the further costs. He will repair and clean the whole fireplace and its related devices systematically with advanced gadgets.
Thus, if the creosote, soot, and other deposits are removed entirely, your health won’t be affected severely.
You can ask the expert to check carbon monoxide content in your room and thereby install a detector.
It’s better if you give your chimney a new makeover prior the winter when you need the furnace 24 hours for the warmth and pleasure. You can do the initial cleaning with the help of the cleaning products available in the market.
If you wish to give it an expert touch, call the soot soldier who can correct the draft, tell whether the flue size is okay and look if there is any negative pressure.
To make your warming pleasure satisfactory 100%, you must burn dry and seasoned firewood. Upgrade your fireplace with an insert for fewer residues.
Don’t wait for the worst thing to happen to you and your family. If you refrain from regular chimney cleaning, it will not only leave you breath in soot but also make your home or office vulnerable to devastating fire. Irregular checking will cost you a bomb. Therefore, don’t waste your hard earned cash foolishly. Instead, have a happy life with polished chimney.
Contributed by:www.jamesthesweep.co.uk
