Chimney sweep and fireplace cleaning in Dixie Belle

Glazed buildup inside the smoke chamber

The smoke chamber is the sloped space between the damper and the start of the flue. Deposits there can harden into a glaze just as they do higher up. Because the walls angle inward, a straight flue brush does not reach every face of it.

Glazed deposits in the smoke chamber get the same kind of removal treatment as a glazed flue. One product label describes a sprayer made for that space, and the treatment is applied per the label. Once it dries, the loosened material is brushed down and collected from the smoke shelf and firebox.

The smoke chamber is its own area on your estimate. You see whether it needs only brushing or a glazed treatment, and once it is clean you learn whether the mortar coating on its walls is still intact.

A damp, musty flue after rain

A musty smell that shows up after rain usually points to water in the chimney. Wet soot and ash smell different from dry deposits, and water that keeps getting into the flue keeps them damp long after the rain has stopped.

Sweeping out the damp deposits helps, but the smell comes back if the water keeps coming in. Water can get in through an uncapped flue, a cracked crown or gaps in the flashing where the chimney meets the roof.

Our technicians look for signs of water during the sweep, such as rust on the damper, staining in the firebox or wet debris on the smoke shelf. Each entry point is named on the estimate, whether it calls for a cap, crown or leak repair, so you can stop the water first.

Damage found mid-sweep gets its own estimate line

A sweep exposes surfaces that were hidden under soot, so it is a natural time to find damage. Here is what can show up once the brushes finish.

None of these is fixed as part of the sweep, and none is added to the bill without your say. Our technicians stop, show you what they found and explain what it means for using the fireplace. If a finding means the fireplace should wait until it is repaired, they say that plainly too.

Each finding becomes its own line on the written estimate, with the repair described in plain words. You can approve the sweep in Dixie Belle now and decide on repairs separately or later.

• Cracked or shifted flue tile
• Loose or missing mortar in the lining
• A damper plate rusted thin or warped
• A cap screen torn or rusted through

Getting your fireplace ready for the sweep

The fireplace needs to be cold. Plan the last fire at least a day ahead so the ash and firebox have cooled completely before the crew arrives.

Our crew brings the drop cloths, covers and tools, so you do not need to cover anything yourself. Leave the damper where it is, and do not try to open a stuck one or pull out an insert before the visit, since forcing parts can damage them.

If the yard has a locked gate, a dog or a tricky spot for the ladder, mention it when you set up the visit so the day goes smoothly.

• No fire for at least a day before the visit
• A clear path from the door to the hearth
• Pets and children kept in another room
• Fragile items moved off the mantel