Chimney professionals demonstrate their competency through certification by the Chimney Safety Institute of America CSIA , the National Fireplace Institute for installers of hearth appliances , the Wood Energy Technology Transfer program in Canada, and some state chimney sweep organizations.
Unfortunately, false claims of certification are a fairly common complaint within the chimney service profession. After surveying the job to be done to have your chimney swept, the sweep will secure the work area, protecting it from ash, soot and dust.
Furniture will be moved if necessary. To protect your floor, the sweep will place a drop cloth on the floor in front of the fireplace or wood stove. Some companies will even lay down rug runners all the way from the front door to the fireplace. Routine cleaning may be done either from below or from the roof using a brush fitted to the interior of your flue attached to a flexible rod system. All of the loosened soot and creosote should be contained and none should escape into your air or onto your furnishings.
The sweep will remove the loosened soot and creosote from the system with a vacuum or shovel. When the job is completed, you should see no telltale soot or ash, no sign that anyone has been inside your house working in the cinders. Many chimney professionals are equipped with specialized cameras for viewing the interior of the system.
Careful inspection of the chimney may reveal problems that could be potentially hazardous. What We Offer. Chimney Inspections. Proper maintenance begins with good old fashioned hygiene. Learn more our maintenance process here. Chimney Maintenance. Whatever we find, we can fix. Find out more about our repair process here. Chimney Repair. Want to upgrade your fireplace? Gas Logs. Looking for retractable awnings? Retractable Awnings. All rights reserved. Financing Privacy Policy Promotional Details.
Twitter Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin. That is why the National Fire Protection Association recommends having your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once a year.
To be a part of the NCSG, they have to continue their education and keep up to date with the newest best practices, tools and products. If you are having any type of issue with your fireplace or chimney, a CSIA-certified chimney sweep should be able to fix it or recommend a solution. When a chimney sweep arrives at your home, they will bring in a variety of tools: drop clothes, long-handled brushes, ladders, and flashlights. They may bring video equipment as well if they need to do a Level 2 or Level 3 inspection.
These inspections are typically scheduled after a Level 1 inspection if the chimney sweep notices warning signs that there may be damage within the chimney.
If you have any furniture that is close to the fireplace, you should move it back so that the chimney sweep can have easy access. Professional chimney sweeps, like ours, will always lay drop clothes down on the floor around the fireplace to catch any ashes, pieces of creosote and other debris that may fall down the chimney.
We also vacuum around the chimney before we leave so that your home looks as good when we leave as it did when we arrived. Most professional chimney sweeps combine the cost of a cleaning and Level 1 inspection. This is what you can expect when having your chimney swept. Chimney sweeps are certified technicians who have an array of equipment used to clean the inside of your chimney and flue of a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove.
Creosote is a thick, hard coating of toxic debris that is created when wood, fossil fuel, or tar is burned. It needs to be removed to ensure your safety when lighting a fire. The main tool that a chimney sweep uses resembles a giant bottle brush.
They will put down a drop cloth and use a shop vac to decrease soot levels inside the home. A mask and goggles protect their eyes and nose.
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