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CHIMNEY cleaning & Sweep
CLEAR OUT SOOT, CREOSOTE, AND DEBRIS.
Your chimney operates out of sight, effectively carrying smoke and exhaust out of your home. Over time, soot, creosote, and other debris can accumulate within the chimney's passage.
Since a fireplace chimney and a heating-system chimney do not collect the same materials, we carefully examine what the chimney serves and what we find inside before selecting the right chimney cleaning approach.
A regular chimney cleaning or standard chimney sweep involves the removal of soot, creosote, and debris from the flue, smoke chamber, and other accessible areas that facilitate the exit of smoke and combustion emissions from your home.
We tailor our tools and methods to suit the specific chimney and the types of deposits we encounter during this soot removal process.
Soot buildup inside a clay flue chimney can complicate the cleaning process. Regular chimney cleaning helps make parts of the flue easier to evaluate. Some damage may be visible before the chimney sweep begins; however, other conditions may only become evident once soot removal occurs. If we identify any issues that could pose safety risks during the cleaning, we will conduct a more thorough inspection of the chimney before deciding how to proceed.
Scheduling a chimney cleaning can help reveal buildup, blockages, and visible damage, including areas where deposits may be hiding. Before we begin the chimney sweep, we inspect accessible areas to determine if cleaning is necessary. Our soot removal process eliminates creosote and debris, making parts of the flue easier to evaluate. While some damage may be visible immediately, other issues can become apparent once the deposits are removed. If we find something that requires a closer look before we proceed, we’ll explain our findings and recommend the next steps.
- Soot blockage in the breach entrance of chimney.
WHAT WE OFFER
MECHANICAL CLEANINGS
Most chimney cleanings performed by our chimney sweep involve brushing the flue with a nylon or wire brush specifically chosen for the chimney system and the type of deposits, such as soot, inside. Depending on the system and accessibility, we typically hand-brush the chimney for effective soot removal. For more stubborn buildup, we may utilize rotary equipment when the flue is appropriate. We take care to control dust and debris, then efficiently remove loosened material with specialized vacuums, filters, and collection bags designed for fine particulates.
CHEMICAL CLEANINGS
Chemical treatments may be used in chimney cleaning when creosote is hard, glazed, or difficult to remove with brushing alone. A professional-grade product can assist in changing or loosening certain deposits, making soot removal more effective.
This treatment is a supporting step in the chimney sweep process, not a stand-alone solution. After the chemical treatment, the affected areas still require mechanical brushing, and the loosened creosote and debris must be removed from the chimney and other accessible areas.
HEATING SYSTEM CHIMNEY Type I
OIL-FIRED SYSTEMS: FOLLOW THE SOOT.
An oil-fired furnace or boiler burns heating oil inside a combustion chamber. The heat warms air or water for the home, while the exhaust travels through the connector and up the chimney. These heating systems can leave soot in the smoke pipe, chimney, and even the chimney cap. As soot builds up, it can narrow the exhaust path and interfere with draft, potentially affecting how well the system vents and its efficiency.
Heavy soot accumulation might also indicate that the burner or combustion needs attention. If a burner is operating poorly, unburned oil can collect in the combustion chamber. If that oil ignites, it can cause a puffback. While soot removal can improve your system's venting performance, a chimney cleaning alone may not address underlying burner issues.
If we notice signs of heavy soot or poor venting, we’ll explain our findings and recommend scheduling a chimney sweep or having a qualified technician check the heating equipment.
HEATING SYSTEM CHIMNEY Type II
GAS-FIRED SYSTEMS: CLEAN BURN, HIDDEN WEAR.
A gas-fired furnace or boiler burns natural gas or propane at a burner. The heat warms air or water for the home, and the combustion gases travel through the venting system and out of the house.
Gas appliances generally don’t produce the same soot buildup as oil systems, but soot can still appear when a gas appliance isn’t burning properly. If you notice soot or carbon deposits, it’s a crucial sign to have the appliance and its venting checked, possibly requiring chimney cleaning and soot removal.
Some high-efficiency gas appliances produce cooler, moisture-rich exhaust. This can cause the interior smoke pipe (the metal pipe going from your gas appliance(s) to the chimney breach) to rust out, and in older masonry chimneys, that exhaust can contribute to the deterioration of a clay tile liner.
As the clay tile flakes or breaks down, pieces can fall into the flue and collect there, restricting the venting path. If your gas appliance vents through a masonry chimney, a chimney sweep inspection can help identify debris or visible liner damage and determine whether further evaluation is needed.
HEATING SYSTEM CHIMNEY Type III
COAL-FIRED SYSTEMS: OLD-SCHOOL HEAT, SIMILAR SOOT
Coal is a solid fuel used in a stove or heating appliance. Some coal systems heat a room directly, while others transfer heat to water or air that circulates throughout the home. Similar to oil-fired systems, coal-fired systems can produce soot that accumulates in the smoke pipe, also known as the connector, and inside the chimney. Additionally, coal leaves ash in the appliance, with fine particles possibly collecting along the venting path.
As part of our chimney cleaning services, we carefully inspect the appliance connection and the chimney for soot, ash, blockages, and any signs of wear. Our chimney sweep team then addresses and cleans the areas that require attention, depending on the specific coal appliance and its venting system.
Fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and fireplace inserts burn solid fuel. As wood burns, smoke, gases, moisture and fine particles travel through the venting system. When those gases cool or the fire burns incompletely, creosote can collect on the inside of the flue. The amount and type of buildup depend on the appliance, the fuel, the way it is burned and the condition of the chimney.
MASONRY FIREPLACES
A masonry fireplace chimney may collect soot and creosote from the firebox through the smoke chamber and into the flue. When accessible and appropriate for the system, cleaning may include the firebox, damper area, smoke shelf, smoke chamber and flue.
We commonly clean fireplace chimneys from the bottom up, although the direction and access point depend on the chimney and the work being performed. We protect the area around the fireplace, control dust and remove the loosened material with specialized vacuum equipment.
WOOD BURNING STOVES AND FIREPLACE INSERTS
A wood-burning stove or fireplace insert vents through a connector pipe, chimney liner or listed chimney system. These systems can collect creosote in the connector, liner and areas around the appliance connection.
Cleaning must follow the route of the venting system and account for baffles, elbows, offsets and other components that may affect access.
We clean the accessible venting components that are appropriate for the system and explain when an appliance component, connector or concealed area needs additional service or evaluation.
FACTORY BUILT FIREPLACES
Factory-built fireplaces use listed chimney components designed to work together as a system. The cleaning tools and method must be suitable for those components. We clean accessible areas of the chimney system while watching for buildup, obstructions and visible signs of damaged or incompatible parts.
Because factory-built systems depend on compatible listed components, damaged parts may need to be repaired or replaced with components approved for that particular make and model.
Does The Wood Used For Fires In a Fire Matter?
Seasoned firewood generally burns hotter and cleaner than wet or unseasoned wood. Smoldering fires, restricted airflow and wet wood can produce more smoke and creosote.
Even with good burning habits, the chimney still needs to be checked because deposits and obstructions collect where you cannot easily see them.
Cleanings can make parts of the flue easier to evaluate. Some damage is visible before work begins; other conditions may become clearer once deposits are removed.
Provent Chimney