Something Came Down the Chimney... And It Wasn't Santa
We never know what might come down a chimney when we open the fireplace flu during an Atlanta home inspection. We have recently had birds, snakes, and a nest full of live wasps come out (on separate occasions, thankfully!). Unfortunately, it looks like this frog got a little toasty sometime near the end of last winter. While various specimens of wildlife may keep things amusing, there is one thing we find in most chimneys that is very serious. It's all that black stuff–the soot. If you don't know when your chimney was last cleaned, do not make the mistake of starting a fire the first evening the temperature plummets. You need to call a qualified chimney sweep and have your chimney inspected and cleaned. As the Chimney Safety Institute of America says, "Clean chimneys don't catch fire." So make sure you have a clean chimney before starting your first fire this fall. It's not worth risking a chimney fire and endangering your family.
