Professional Chimney Sweeping
Homeowners often take a “hands-off” approach to their chimney. After all, the majority of a chimney is out of sight. And out of sight means out of mind, right? We sure hope not. Your chimney should very much be on your mind, especially if it’s been a long time since you had it inspected or swept—or can’t recall ever having done so. Remember that your chimney isn’t just an accessory to your fireplace: it is the vehicle that carries away toxic and dangerous flue gases out of your fireplace, wood stove, or furnace. It’s what helps your fireplace remain efficient, all while keeping the air inside your home breathable. In short, if you use your fireplace or plan on doing so, or if you’ve just moved into a new home, you will need to have your chimney inspected and/or swept to make sure that it is safe and working well. We recommend that homeowners have their chimney inspected annually by one of our professional chimney sweeps to determine whether or not it needs sweeping, repairing, or if there are any other pressing issues.
How To Know If You’re At Risk Of A Chimney Fire
Every year hundreds of houses burn down because of dirty chimneys. At fault in almost all chimney fires: accumulated creosote, which is the highly-flammable substance that builds up inside your chimney or liner as a byproduct of burning wood. Creosote can accumulate more quickly if you practice poor burning practices or if you have a burning appliance or stove that’s not working well or connected properly. Chimney fires are notorious for being terribly destructive. A chimney aflame can quickly engulf a house, especially because the culprit is often the highly-flammable creosote buildup inside of a neglected chimney. However, not all chimney fires are immediately obvious. Any of the following could be signs that your chimney is catching fire or has in the past:
- A loud cracking and popping noise
- Dense smoke
- An intense burning smell
Remember that clean chimneys don’t catch fire. Have a certified chimney sweep inspect your solid fuel venting system annually and clean and repair it when needed. Fires caused by dirty chimneys are fires that could have been prevented. It is also possible that insurance companies won’t pay your claim if they find you were negligent in maintaining your chimney.
What Does A Chimney Sweep Do?
Think of having your chimney “swept,” and you may think of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins with his long-handled bristled brush and soot-smudged face. And though we do still use some old-world tools and techniques to clean chimneys today, we rely most heavily on modern methods to inspect, clean, line, waterproof, and repair chimneys. The typical chimney sweep takes a little over an hour and involves the following:
- The sweep will start by protecting your home from soot and dust, draping drop cloths or tarp over your furniture and blocking off the fireplace opening.
- Next, a high-powered industrial vacuum is inserted up the chimney, starting the process of removing all excess soot and debris.
- While the vacuum is going, the sweep uses a variety of brushes to thoroughly dislodge debris and dust from all parts of the chimney, from the firebox to the damper.
- During the cleaning process, your sweep will also check to see that your damper is assembled and installed correctly and that your mortar, brickwork, and chimney crown is in good condition.
- Your sweep will lastly conduct a smoke test, lighting a small fire in your heating appliance to see that your chimney is venting properly.
Our goal at Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc. is to provide sound advice and information about your heating element installation and educate you about safe fuel-burning practices. Have questions or want to schedule a sweep of your chimney? Here’s how to contact us. You can also click here to schedule your next chimney sweeping appointment online!
There are three levels of chimney inspection and Ace Chimney Sweeps will perform the most appropriate one for your chimney service needs.
