It’s important to have a chimney sweep clean your chimney before and after winter. After all, burning wood produces creosote, a highly flammable and hazardous substance that builds up in your chimney over time. What should you expect when you’re having your chimney cleaned? 
Securing the Work Site
After inspecting your chimney, the chimney sweep will place a drop cloth in front of the fireplace. They’ll then insert a hose connected to an industrial vacuum under the cover.
Cleaning the Chimney and Fireplace
Afterward, the chimney sweep will run the brush down the chimney flue to remove soot and creosote. The vacuum, along with the cover, will help prevent soot and ash from spreading around your home.
Next, they’ll clean your fireplace. The chimney sweep will start by cleaning the smoke area using small brushes that can reach the sections below the damper. They’ll then collect any soot and creosote that might have fallen on the smoke shelf before scrubbing the firebox.
Inspecting the Chimney
In the past, the chimney sweep would shine a light down the chimney flue to check for creosote that’s still sticking to the chimney. However, most professional chimney sweeps now use specialized cameras to get a better look at the interior of the chimney and determine if chimney masonry repair or any additional work are needed.
Hiring Tips
Make sure to check a chimney sweep’s certifications before hiring them. In particular, you should look for a laminated identification badge given by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the body in charge of regulating chimney sweeps. A technician who passed the Certified Chimney Sweep® exam always carries this badge with them.
Looking for CSIA-certified chimney sweeps near you?
Chimney Doctors, a CSIA-certified chimney sweep and a proud member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, offers professional chimney services, including chimney relining and repairs. To schedule an appointment with one of our certified chimney sweeps, you can call us at (518) 882-5009 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Saratoga Springs, NY, as well as the surrounding communities.
