Storm season always reveals the chimneys people forgot about

Every year, when the first cold snap hits, my phone rings off the hook. It's the same story: chimneys that haven't been touched since last winter. I went to one house where the flue was completely clogged with leaves and twigs. The damper wouldn't even budge. We had to do a full dismantle to get it clear. The homeowner had no idea it was that bad. It's a good lesson in not waiting until the last minute. A quick summer check could save a lot of trouble later.