Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions homeowners ask most about chimney sweeping, inspections, and hiring a qualified professional.
Why inspect/clean our chimney in the Spring?
It’s natural to think you should wait for Fall’s arrival to have your fireplace, woodstove, or furnace chimney cleaned. But it’s actually much simpler to have it done now…here’s why:
- Convenient Scheduling: We have more flexibility to work around your schedule in the warmer months.
- No waiting for weeks and weeks: When the cold weather hits and everyone needs their chimney checked and/or cleaned, you might have a longer wait during our busiest time of the year-the Fall.
- Foul-smelling odor removal: Professional sweeping often helps clear foul-smelling odors from your fireplace or woodstove, set off by hot summer weather.
- Timely resolution to problems: If safety concerns are revealed during our inspection, there is plenty of time to address them before the coming winter.
- Ready to use: Your system will be ready to use once we complete the inspection and do any necessary cleaning, or make any needed repairs.
- Early arrival of cold weather: If ‘Ole Man Winter decides to pay us an early visit, you will feel confidant knowing you took care of things well before his unexpected arrival, and are ready to go!
- The intelligent choice: It’s a wise decision to have your chimney maintenance taken care of during the warm weather. Give your local chimney sweep a call, and they’ll service your chimney right away!!
What kind of Services might be available?
Some of the following services are offered by many professional chimney companies, as well as other services not listed here…check with your local chimney professional to see if they offer these services:
- Chimney Inspection & Sweeping – Evaluate chimney condition inside & out to help establish whether or not chimney is suitable for use. Many companies offer video scanning services for hard to see areas of your chimney system. Sweeping will remove dangerous, flammable creosote from inside the chimney.
- Chimney caps – Installation of raincap/animal guards can prevent potentially damaging rain, snow, animals, from entering chimney, as well as reduce risk of blockage from debris from animals & leaves. Caps are made of high quality stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and galvanized steel. Stock or custom sized caps are available.
- Glazed creosote removal – Mechanical and/or chemical removal of the most dangerous type of creosote.
- Chimney flue lining/relining – Gives new life to unlined or damaged chimneys; to prevent the penetration of flue gas byproducts like carbon monoxide gas and creosote; protect from heat transfer to hidden combustibles surrounding chimney. Liner materials include: high quality stainless steel , cast-in-place poured masonry, and aluminum…check with your professional chimney technician to see which liner would be appropriate for your system.
- Dryer vent cleaning – A properly maintained clothes dryer vent will not only help reduce the risk of fire from overheating, but improve the efficiency and reduce times to dry a load of clothes. Poorly installed vents using the vinyl flex hose(now banned by many communities in new construction) can be corrected.
- Problem solving – A multi-point evaluation/inspection may help determine causes and solutions for poor performing systems, such as smokey fireplaces or woodstoves, water infiltration due to bad flashing, deteriorating masonry, water stains on interior walls due to condensation from furnace and/or water heater, animal nesting, debris blockage, etc.
- Masonry repairs – Repairs to masonry chimneys including: Crown repair – prevent water penetration through cracks or gaps in the top of your chimney… Pointing – restore the condition of the mortar between the bricks and/or stone… Rebuilding – many times, if the deterioration is too extensive for pointing, a partial rebuild of the chimney may be recommended…Waterproofing – application of a water repellent helps protect the masonry from water damage…
- Other forms of masonry repairs may include rebuilding of the firebox using methods and materials which will increase heat output from the fireplace.
- Appliance installation – Higher efficient woodstoves, fireplaces, gas logs, glass doors, grates, etc….are many additional services available to you. Ask your professional about options.
- Animal removal or prevention – Birds and raccoons are common uninvited guests. Either humane removal as allowed by law, or the prevention of them entering the chimney can be accomplished. ………and many, more services may be available such as: gutter cleaning, power washing, damper replacement, and much, much more. Ask if you don’t see it mentioned.
Does chimney sweeping make a mess?
The short answer is NO… A professional chimney sweeping company will have clean tarps to lay around the work areas of the stove or fireplace. They will also have powerful soot/dust control vacuums running at the time of the sweeping to make sure your house stays clean. Professional chimney sweeps strive to make sure that you do not have to worry about messes after they are done sweeping your chimney.
Can I get a chimney sweep done without the inspection?
No. Chimney inspections play a vital role in the chimney sweeping process. Inspections allow us to look for defects in fireplace/stove and chimney systems before and after chimney sweeping (cleaning) is done. It allows us to let you know if there is a possible dangerous problem with your venting system. Professional chimney sweeps have specialized training that allows them to diagnose potential problems that may affect you or your house. Most of the time, a visual inspection is the most basic level of service that many companies preform. You may be able to have an inspection preformed without having the chimney swept, but you will not be able to get a chimney swept without an inspection.
I have a problem with my chimney sweep, what can I do?
Most of the time, just calling your chimney sweep and letting them know that you have a question or concern with their service will yield a positive result for you and the chimney sweep. A professional chimney sweep will address your concern in a professional and timely manner. If you questions or concerns are not addressed or resolved by the chimney sweep or their company you have a couple of options: