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FAQ
Why do chimney's need to be cleaned?
Dangerous, flammable materials may be found within the chimney. Of course, the fireplace is supposed to be on fire, but the chimney above it is only supposed to vent the byproducts of combustion as the flame is created, like water vapor and smoke. When a fire starts in the chimney, it can spread to the inside attic or outside of a home and become engulfed in flames sooner than one would expect. We see this each year in our line of work.
What is Creosote?
When chimney sweeps inspect your chimney, they are looking for any number of potential signs of damage to the inside of the flue or the outside structure. But primarily, what they look for and clean is creosote. Creosote is a tar like substance that builds up within the chimney after you burn wood. It combines with soot and becomes highly flammable. When a creosote buildup is too thick, a chimney sweep may tell you the fireplace is unsafe to use until the problem is resolved.
Can I clean my own chimney?
Cleaning a chimney requires more than a broom and some patience. A chimney sweep has the experience and tools to determine just how much creosote is in the chimney and how to remove it and is therefore qualified to select the proper tools. There are brushes in different sizes and shapes designed for different jobs, and other equipment for scraping or prepping a surface may also be required.
A qualified chimney sweep is trained, first and foremost, for safety. This goes beyond safe practices of climbing a ladder, although this certainly factors into it. They are also providing a thorough inspection to make sure your home is absolutely safe the next time you start up your fireplace and that there are no hidden defects or damage not visible to homeowners. It’s important to hire a professional anytime you need chimney and fireplace services.
How often should my chimney be cleaned or inspected?
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), homeowners insurance agencies, and local residential code officials all recommend annual inspection of all fireplaces, chimneys, and vents—regardless of how much you use your fireplace or fuel-burning stove. At least one inspection and cleaning per year ensures that there are no obstructions that could cause a chimney fire or force deadly carbon monoxide into your home. Animals, environmental impacts, and our climate all play a role in the deterioration, damage, or degradation of chimneys in our area. Catching these problems early will save thousands of dollars in repairs later down the road. The difference between inspecting each year and every other year could be upwards of $5000 in restoration repairs if water gets into outside cracks and freezes and pops out pieces of brick or mortar.
What are other reasons it’s important to inspect my chimney often?
Some insurance policies, and certified family homes require annual chimney inspection & cleaning.
This is a common requirement for homeowner’s insurance & many people don’t realize it until it is too late.
Some insurance companies will not cover damage caused from a fireplace or wood stove if you do not have proof that the chimney has been cleaned and inspected at least once a year by a professional.
What’s the best time of year to have my chimney swept?
Spring cleaning: For those who suffer from allergies, spring may be the best time. Why? Modern home construction and recent home renovations makes homes air tight; but when you run your clothes dryer or exhaust fan, massive volumes of indoor air are exhausted that must be replaced. In many homes, that incoming air is often drawn in via the chimney, bringing with it fine soot and even creosote fumes or smells. If your chimney is swept AFTER the burning season (ie, Spring), you could spare your family from increased indoor air pollution or allergies during the AC season. You will also be ready for the first cold snap and won’t have to worry about your chimney when you go to have that first fire.
Fall cleanings: If you haven’t had your chimney swept in a while, or if you burned more than a cord of wood last year, it’s best to have your chimney cleaned before the fall season. Flammable creosote could have built up last year, and having it removed now will prevent a possible chimney fire. We are typically the busiest during the fall and may have a 1 week wait list so we always recommend “spring cleaning”.
If I don’t use my chimney often, why should I have it cleaned and inspected?
If I don’t use my chimney often, why should I have it cleaned and inspected?
Chimney’s make great homes for bees, wasps, birds, and other wildlife–especially when they are not often used or are in disrepair. We have responded to homeowners having problems with poor venting or smoke backing up into their homes, only to find that the flue was partially or completely clogged with a bee hive, squirrels and their nests, sticks/leaves, or even duck and bird’s nests!
Hives, sticks/leaves and nests are flammable and can lead to chimney fires. They can also cause structural damage to your chimney. Sometimes the nests are clearly visible, but other times they can be deep down in your chimney, closer to the warmth of your home
Is it SAFE to hire bargain “chimney sweeps”?
PLEASE… do not put your family’s safety at risk to save a few dollars! As a firefighter owned business, A Fireman’s Chimney Sweep offers the most competitive price for a certified chimney sweep who is licensed, and insured to work on your home. If another contractor gives you a low-ball price… BEWARE! If they damage your home, you won’t be compensated. If they hurt themselves on your property, they could even sue you!
As with all things, you get what you pay for. Many of our competitors hire cheap, unskilled, even illegal labor, give them a 1-hour “seminar” on chimney sweeping, and then turn them loose in your home. The results can be disastrous. We’ve been called out to homes that have been completely dusted inside by soot explosions caused by inexperienced chimney sweeps. We’ve also followed up on previous inspections, only to find major safety issues or needed repairs which the previous chimney sweep was unable to identify or unqualified to remedy. See our facebook photo gallery for some real examples of what some of our competitors missed.
Beware of Bait and Switch tactics! In fact, some “cheap” chimney companies use their “inexpensive” sweep price as a way to get in the door and then up-sell you on major repairs that may not even be necessary. We recently swept and inspected a new customer’s chimney, only to find out afterwards that another “budget” chimney company had insisted the day before that this customer’s chimney needed $9,000.00 in masonry repairs! Another tactic is to offer a low-ball price that does not include an inspection AND cleaning. It is ILLEGAL for a chimney sweep not to perform both at the same time. A chimney and fireplace can’t be adequately inspected unless they are clean and free of any build up, and code does not allow them to sell you just a sweep without inspecting it to make sure the chimney is safe.
How do I know if my firewood is properly “seasoned?”
Properly seasoned firewood will show cracks in the end of the cut pieces; those cracks are evidence that most of the moisture has evaporated, meaning it will easily burn. Non-seasoned or “green” firewood will have a high moisture content, will be difficult to start or keep burning, may hiss as steam escapes, and could cause a build-up of flammable creosote in your chimney as it smolders or burns at a much lower temperature (heat is lost in the evaporation process).
Why does my fireplace smell?
There are several sources of odor that could come from your chimney, including creosote, mold, or wildlife debris. The most common cause is a buildup of creosote—an oily byproduct of wood fires. Creosote is commonly found inside chimney flues when wood burns incompletely, producing soot and tarry smoke and staining. Build up of creosote over time can not only create an odor in your home (especially during the warmer, more humid months), but it is also flammable and can lead to a catastrophic chimney fire. If you’re having problems with odors from your fireplace and chimney, call A Fireman’s Chimney Sweep today. We will clean your chimney and flue, and inspect for water infiltration (which leads to mold), wildlife and/or debris, or creosote. No matter the problem, we’ll return your chimney to a safe, odor-free condition, and help prevent future problems.
Why does my basement fireplace smoke when I open the door?
Fireplaces/wood stoves that are placed into a below grade area of your home are in a negative pressure space, which means cold air will settle here and become trapped creating a scenario where smoke follows the path of least resistance and travels back into the home. It is important to remember to keep these chimneys clean to operate properly, any build up can cause turbulence and smoke to roll in the chimney which makes it difficult for smoke to travel up and out the chimney. On days that are extremely cold, inversions, raining and/or low cloud days, and foggy weather can cause these symptoms to worsen or become more noticeable to homeowners.