Chimney sweep and flue cleaning in Lake Whippoorwill
Book a free inspection in Lake Whippoorwill and see the sweep, the method and the price in writing first.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
Parts of the fireplace we clean in Lake Whippoorwill
- Damper tested open and closed from the room
- Room covered and fireplace opening sealed
- Written record of deposits and areas cleaned
- Refractory panels cleaned without scraping
What goes into a proper chimney sweep
After a flue fire, the chimney waits for a check
If you know or suspect that a fire once burned inside your flue, say so before the sweep. One chimney maker notes that ignited creosote makes an extremely hot fire, and its instructions say the chimney should not be used again after a flue fire until it has been inspected for damage.
That sets the order of the visit. The sweep clears the deposits so the surfaces can be seen, and anything unusual our technicians notice in the deposits, the lining or the metal parts is described in writing, without guessing at the cause. A formal evaluation of possible fire damage belongs to our chimney inspection service, and the fireplace stays out of use until it is done.
A fire burning in the flue right now is a different situation. Get everyone out of the house and call 911 first.
Sweeping a metal chimney inside a framed chase
Many factory-built fireplaces vent through a metal chimney enclosed in a framed chase, often built against an outside wall, with only the cap showing above a metal chase top.
One maker's instructions, DuraVent's for its DuraChimney II, show how that top goes together. The chase top flashing leaves a ventilation opening around the pipe and sits on spacers above the chase framing, a storm collar is sealed to the pipe above it, and the chimney cap sits above both. Parts come from the listed system, not from another maker.
When our crew sweeps a chase chimney in Lake Whippoorwill, they clean the flue from the top, look at the chase top and storm collar while they are up there and note any gap that could let water into the chase. Chase repairs are quoted apart from the cleaning.
Bats in the flue go to animal removal first
Bats sometimes roost in chimneys. Getting them out is wildlife work, not cleaning, and it has to be finished before any brush goes into the flue. Sounds in the flue in the evening, droppings in the firebox or a bat inside the house are all worth mentioning when you call.
Do not try to trap or handle a bat. If you can close the damper without touching anything, do it, and keep the room door shut. A bat that has reached a living area is also a job for our animal removal service, not for a broom.
Our crew in Lake Whippoorwill passes the job to our animal removal service first, which handles the bats and sets the timing. Once the flue is empty, it is swept, any droppings are bagged with gloves on, and a cap is quoted to keep the flue closed to the next visitor.
A sturdy screen and a clear three-foot zone
NFPA heating safety advice is simple and specific. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from the fireplace, and keep a three-foot kid-free zone around an open fire. Use a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying out of the opening. The advice holds for a small fire as much as a large one.
That zone includes the things that tend to drift toward the hearth, such as rugs, stacked firewood, seasonal decorations, pet beds and toys. A screen needs to cover the whole opening and stand steady without tipping.
When our crew finishes a sweep, they check that the screen or doors are back in place and in good shape. A bent or torn screen, or one that no longer covers the full opening, is noted on the written record so you can replace it before the next fire.
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Chimney cleaning answers for Lake Whippoorwill homes
What if the flue has a hard, shiny coating the brushes cannot remove?
That is glazed creosote, and it calls for a separate removal treatment applied per the product label. We quote it as its own line, and the treated material is swept out on a second visit once it dries.
What should I do before the sweep arrives?
Let the fireplace go cold for at least a day, clear a path to the hearth and move fragile items off the mantel. Keep pets in another room, and leave the damper and any insert as they are for our crew.
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