Regular and professional chimney cleaning offers several key benefits. It prevents dangerous fire hazards by removing flammable creosote buildup, improves airflow and heating efficiency, ensures the safe venting of smoke and harmful gases, and can help you stay in compliance with local safety codes.

Ensure you have a safe environment for them to work on, and there aren’t items such as logs, build-up of yard materials, missing or damaged shingles, and weak areas on the roof. Communicate any known electrical issues with contractors at the beginning of the project, and consider hiring an electrician to fix those. Finally, if you are attempting the project yourself, do so when there isn’t any rain, and you can safely get your footing on the roof using proper equipment, such as an extension ladder. Don’t attempt this alone, and have a helper nearby to assist.

In most cases, having a fire hydrant installed on your property, whether it’s maintained by you personally or your municipality, will reduce your insurance premiums. Its proximity to any buildings on the property will reduce the time it takes to put out a fire, thus reducing the resulting damage.

While adding fire sprinklers to your home, you may want to consider other fire prevention and protective measures. Get your smoke alarms and CO alarms inspected and replaced, if needed. Add fire doors to vulnerable areas of your home. Inspect or purchase fire extinguishers. For exterior protection, consider fire-smart landscaping practices .