Chimney Sweep

The National Fire Protection Agency has NFPA Code 211 in which it states, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year. Connectors, spark arrestors, cleanouts, and tee fittings connected to chimneys for oil, gas and pellet venting systems shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness and deposits. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”

While creosote buildup causes most chimney fires, every chimney can pose danger to your home. Bird and animal nests, or even fallen leaves can block a chimney and direct deadly carbon monoxide from the furnace back into your home. In 1996, over 100 people died in their homes from carbon monoxide poisoning. Another 5,500 house fires resulted from chimneys and chimney connectors serving heating systems burning liquid and other fuels. (The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Why should you choose us?

1. We clean the entire chimney, including tough-to-clean areas like the smoke chamber and smoke shelf.
2. You can be totally confident that any chimney problems we identify are real problems and not an attempt to sell you an expensive repair that isn’t needed.

If you need a routine chimney sweep to remove any debris or creosote buildup, or you require chimney repair services to address issues such as cracked masonry, damaged flue liners, or chimney leaks we are just a call away.

In our experience, creosote buildup is a common problem.

Creosote Buildup in your Chimney

Anytime a fireplace or stove is used, the burning wood deposits a thin layer of flammable sticky tar-like substance, inside the chimney lining or flue. Since creosote is highly flammable and probably creates the biggest potential hazard when using a fireplace, it’s wise to try and minimize the amount of buildup that occurs. Failure to remove creosote from the flue can result in a deadly chimney fire, according to the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Creosote has three stages. As each stage increases, they become more hazardous and are increasingly difficult to remove from the flue.

Stage 1 – The first stage of creosote is like flaky soot that is easy to brush away with a basic chimney brush.
Stage 2 – Creosote is shiny and hard black flakes. The flakes actually contain hardened tar that is not easily brushed away, but it can be removed without extreme measures. A rotary loop is most often used to remove second degree creosote. A powerful drill turns metal rods that get the job done.
Stage 3 – Third-stage creosote is something to be avoided. Not only is it extremely difficult to clean, it is a highly concentrated fuel that resembles a coating of tar dripping down inside of your chimney liner. This type of glazed creosote can become very thick as it hardens and is repeatedly recoated with another layer. A hot fire can easily ignite this type of creosote, which is extremely hazardous.

Many times, if the removal of third degree creosote becomes very difficult, it is best to replace the chimney liner.