Why Sweeping Your Chimney Is So Important
We know chimney sweeping is important. After all, it is listed at the top of the CPSC Fire Safety Checklist. But do you truly understand what is happening when your chimney is being cleaned? As someone who has been putting out fires for over 30 years, I can tell you that the educated homeowner who takes the responsibility to understand how their chimney works and the importance of cleaning it annually is a safer homeowner. That’s why we strive to educate you as much as possible about the process of sweeping as well as the safety aspects of maintaining a clean fireplace and chimney system.
The very first thing I tell people to look for is the certifications a company has. This will tell you whether the company is dedicated to education for their technicians.
Your Chimney Sweep Technician Should:
- Be certified. As mentioned above, there are several different certifications a chimney sweep can earn. We are NFI (National Fireplace Institute) – certified.
- Be trustworthy and honest. All of our employees are honest and trustworthy individuals.
- Take part in regular training. We are dedicated to continued training and education for our technicians in order to keep them well-informed of advancements in our industry.
Many homeowners are reluctant to have their chimneys swept because they are concerned that it will leave behind a colossal mess. However, with the type of vacuums that are used and technologies employed, a reliable and experienced chimney sweep will leave no mess!
Here Is How A Professional Chimney Sweep Is Done:
- Tarps or drop cloths are laid in front of the fireplace to keep the area clean and free of dust and soot.
- A specially-designed vacuum is set up to collect the soot and debris from the sweeping. We use a commercial dust collector vacuum with a .05 micron filter.
- The inside of the chimney is swept, either from the firebox up or from the top down depending on how the chimney is set up, using brushes and rods.
- The inside of the flue, firebox, damper, crown, chase cover, cap, etc are inspected for any damage, which may include cracks, rust, etc. Any needed repairs are documented and given to the customer with a written recommendation and estimate.
We recommend that the homeowners be present at the time of the inspection in case there are any immediate issues that should be looked at or address any questions that may arise. However, we do often sweep/inspect a chimney without the homeowner present. In a case like this, we will notify you of the results via mail or email.
What Next?
That depends on when the last sweeping took place. If you have used your chimney during the most recent chimney season and have not had it swept in over a year, it is time for your chimney to be swept. How often you use your chimney determines how often you should have it swept. For those with open fireplaces, we recommend that you have your chimney inspected/swept at least once every two years. Wood stoves need to be inspected/swept every year. If there has been a severe storm, and you think your chimney may have been damaged in some way, you should have your chimney inspected. If you are buying a new home, we recommend you have the chimney at least inspected if not swept before using it. There’s no way to know the condition of the chimney without a certified chimney sweeps evaluation. If it hasn’t been a year then you can wait until that anniversary is upon you.
Be proactive! Make an appointment today to have your chimney swept, so you can safely enjoy a more efficient fireplace or stove. Contact us today!
Check out how to get your chimney inspected. Just another service for your chimney system that we provide.