Chimney Cleaning Service FAQ's

The National Fire Protection Association recommends having your chimney inspected at least once per year. If it has been more than one year since you've had your chimney inspected, you should get an inspection immediately. That said, the frequency at which your chimney should be cleaned depends on how often you use your fireplace or stove. If you are a heavy user, you may need to have it cleaned more than once per year. Read More...

The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, "Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary." This is the national safety standard and is the correct way to approach the problem. It takes into account the fact that even if you don't use your chimney much, animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe to use.

Many of our chimney cleanings also include a level one, top to bottom, inside and outside chimney inspection, which times can vary depending upon the extent of cleaning needed or the level of damage discovered. Generally, most chimney cleanings can be completed in about an hour.

Many fireplaces consume coal or wood as fuels. These materials both contain the element carbon. When they burn, they releases small quantities of oily hydrocarbons and ash into the smoke. As hot air rises up the chimney flue towards the outdoors, it leaves traces of these tar-like sooty residues along the surface of the pipe. Over time, the deposits may accumulate and pose a safety hazard. Today, people often refer to this waxy fireplace soot by the name of a popular wood preservative: "creosote"

The main issue with creosote is that it’s extremely flammable. As the amount of creosote inside the chimney flue increases so does your risk of a chimney fire. And not only can a chimney fire completely wreck your chimney and mantel, but it can also turn into a destructive and deadly house fire.

Extended exposure to high temperatures does melt this flammable debris: so a fireplace with an uncleaned chimney flue potentially becomes a fire hazard in the absence of periodic cleaning. The other problem with creosote is that it doesn’t go away on its own; it “grows” in a kind of self-perpetuating cycle. Creosote accumulates due to a lack of open ventilation, which causes the creosote to coat the walls of the chimney flue, which narrows the passageway, which restricts ventilation even more, which in turn causes more creosote to accumulate inside the chimney flue, or at least until something (e.g., total blockage or a fire) renders the structure completely unusable. Read More...

Once a chimney sweep gets on the roof, they will pass a chimney sweeping brush through the chimney opening and down through the piping and scrape all the build up of soot, cresote, and debris. However, if you have a soot hach the chimney sweep will use that instead as it is easier access. 

Chimney sweeping can be extremly messy and, if not careful, can even damage your surrounding furniture and flooring. Thats why calling the professionals out to do the job will ensure that the job gets done properly and will not cause damage to your furnishings. 

Chimney relining is where the professional chimney company replaces the old chimney flue liner. The liner in your chimney flue is important because it prevents the fires heat from going through the bricks and affecting the home. Its also helps in protecting the surrounding chimney structure from the corrosive gasses that fires produce. 

If your are unsure about wether your chimney needs relined always call the professionals to come out and take a look. They will tell you if you even have a liner (older chimneys may not have one) or if your current one is in need of a replacement. If you are not ready to call a professional just watch out for loss of heat from your fireplace as the surrounding internal structure could be absorbing the heat.

The bad odor coming from your chimney could be that there is cresote build up inside your chimney. Cresote accumulates as a byproduct of burning wood and can be used as a natural excellerent, potentially causing a house fire. There could also be other reasons, such as an animal, that may have made their home in your chimney. If you are noticing a foul odor from your chimney call in the professionals to have them take a look at your chimney. 

If you are noticing smoke coming into your home, rather than going up and out the chimney, you may have a blockage in your chimney. Many small creatures such as birds or squirrels like to build nests in chimneys and the twigs may be stopping the smoke from escaping properly. Windswept debris may also be a factor on why they smoke isnt going where it should. Calling a chimney sweep to clean your chimney will ensure that your fireplace smoke will exit the way its supposed to. 

If you have a white doscoloration on the outside if your chimney, it is called EFFLORESCENCE which is a substance that is found of bricks and stone and form due to excess water in the structure that evaporated and left dehind salt deposits. 

The efflorescence itself is not harmful, but it is an indicator of a more serious problem. They are a sign that there is a water leakage in the structure. If you notice this substance has formed on your chimney call the professionals right away to get the underlying problem inspected and fixed before further damage is caused by the water leakage.  

Chimney flashing is what is seals the space between your chimney and roof. Flashing is extremly imprtant as it is what keeps rain or snow from leaking into your house. If you are noticing wet spots on your ceiling near your chimney or fireplace, that could be an indicator that your chimney flashing needs replaced. 

Gas chimneys need the same amout of care and upkeep as a wood fireplace does. Getting it inspected annually is important to make sure the it is still structurally sound. Getting an annual cleaning is important as well. You wont have a creosote build up but small critters like bird or squirrels may build nests in your chimney.