Chimney sweep and flue cleaning in Lake Como

Taking off and resetting a metal chimney cap

On a factory-built chimney, the cap often has to come off before the flue can be brushed from the top. How it comes off depends on the system. One maker's instructions, for example, have the spark arrestor released by loosening its bolts and twisting it free, then reinstalled with every bolt fully engaged in its slot.

The steps are the ones written for the chimney on your roof. Our technicians keep the parts together, clean the screen while it is off and reset the cap so it sits square and locks the way the maker intended. Nothing is swapped for a part from another system, because the chimney was listed with its own parts.

If the cap is bent, rusted through or missing fasteners, our crew in Lake Como tells you before putting it back and quotes the correct replacement separately.

A seasonal home that sits closed for months

A home closed up for months gives a chimney a long, quiet stretch. Birds and animals look for sheltered openings, leaves collect on an uncapped flue, and deposits that pick up moisture can start to smell.

Before the first fire of your stay, a sweep clears what settled in while the house was empty, and the damper gets worked through its full range after months in one position.

If you are away when the visit happens, our crew can work with a caretaker or property manager and send the written record afterward. Closing the damper and capping the flue before you leave Lake Como for the season cuts down on what the chimney collects while you are gone, and the estimate shows a cap if the flue does not have one.

The written record you keep after a sweep

Every sweep ends with a written record of what was cleaned. It notes the date, the fireplace or stove, which flue was swept, the kind of deposits found and the areas the brushes reached.

It also lists what was not done. Glazed sections left for a separate treatment, any part of the flue that could not be reached, and any repair item found during the visual check are written down with the reason. If a section was treated for glaze, the record notes that a follow-up sweep is still due.

Keep the record with your appliance manuals and past repair papers. It helps the next sweep, helps a buyer if you sell, and gives any later technician a starting point instead of a guess.

• Date and system cleaned
• Deposit type before cleaning
• Areas reached and areas not reached
• Findings left for a separate decision

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