CHIMNEY SWEEPS
DELAWARE & MARYLAND

CHIMNEY SWEEPING & CHIMNEY INSPECTIONS

When and Why Chimney Inspections and Sweeping Must be Done

When

According to the National Fire Protection Association Standard 211, chimneys have to be inspected at least once every year for safety and any chimney repairs. Chimney cleaning must be done as often as needed to keep your chimney clean and safe to use, and different types of chimneys have different sweeping frequencies. Wood chimneys should be cleaned four times a year, bituminous coal chimneys twice a year, smokeless coal chimneys at least once a year, and oil chimneys once a year.

Why

Your chimney needs proper cleaning and inspections because it is unsafe to let flammable deposits or debris rest within the chimney. Acidic material is left in the chimney as a result of combustion that will cause premature deterioration if it is left unchecked. If creosote buildup gets out of hand, there is a chance that it will catch fire and spread to other areas of the house.

It usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to clean and inspect your chimney, and it is an important process to undergo. Even if the chimney is not used for an extended period of time, you will need to clean out the debris left by birds and other creatures who wander into your chimney to prevent it from being blocked. Prevent dangerous flammable material and other types of buildup from gathering in your chimney by making sure that your chimney is swept and inspected at least once per year and possibly more or as often as it needs.

What Happens During Chimney Inspection and Sweeping?

During Inspection

Typically, chimney inspectors and sweepers offer three different levels of inspection. The level one inspection is the bare minimum part of the inspection service that you will be offered. This level requires a visual inspection of the fireplace where the service technician will inspect the readily accessible parts of your chimney without any special equipment involved. They will check for the basic soundness and structure of your chimney while ensuring that there are no combustible deposits left inside of it.

The level two inspection is carried out when you need to do some minor construction or maintenance in order to make some changes to your chimney. This can include a fuel change, changes to the chimney construction, chimney cap or repairs in the event of a dramatic weather event. You will also be required to have a level two inspection for your chimney if you are selling or transferring your property. The level one inspection is also included in this type of inspection, you will be given information about anything that needs to be repaired if possible, and your chimney will be swept at the end of the inspection.

A level three inspection will include everything from a level one and two inspection, with the addition of possible total reconstruction or demolition of your chimney. This is considered to be a destructive and intrusive level of inspection, and it is usually a requirement before or after a chimney fire has occurred.

When fire hazards are suspected within your chimney, you must have a technician conduct this level of inspection in order to find out the condition of your chimney and to have any hazardous material removed as soon as possible.

To find chimney sweeps near me schedule a showroom or in-home appointment!

During Cleaning

In order to properly clean your chimney, a professional technician will come to your home with special equipment to clean the inside of your chimney and flue. Long rods with heavy metal bristles are used to clean out the inside, and we lay down drop cloth or plastic on the floor in order to protect your floor from dust or debris as we clean. We also wear proper protective gear to keep dust out of our eyes and mouths while we work our way up to clean your chimney.

Our technicians will also ask you a few questions about your chimney in order to get an understanding of the work they will need to do. For example, they may ask how much fuel you have burned since the last time you had your chimney swept, if you have had any previous problems with your chimney, or how old your stove is. Answering these questions will help your technician determine whether your chimney is in good working condition.

In order to prepare for the technician to come to your house for chimney cleaning, make sure that your fireplace is easily accessible and move any furniture that is close to it out of the way in order to prevent it from obstructing the way or getting dirty. You may want to cover your furniture as an extra precaution. They will also prevent your floor from getting dirty with their floor covers.

They will run a vacuum when they begin sweeping in order to collect airborne dust particles and pieces of debris that has fallen out of the flue. If you have any questions about your fireplace or what you can do to ensure fireplace safety, you will be encouraged to ask them about anything you need to know. They will be more than happy to provide you with the information that you need.

Why You Should Choose Our Service

When looking for chimney sweeping near me That Fireplace Store will provide you with the proper chimney cleaning, inspection and chimney repair services that you will need in order to maintain the cleanliness and overall quality of your chimney. We want to provide you with service that will give you satisfactory results. Our goal is to provide you with honest information about the work your chimney needs, offer you a reasonable and affordable price for our services, conduct ourselves in a professional manner, and leave your house as clean as it was before we arrived after we have completed inspection and sweeping.

After our job is complete, we will give you detailed information about the inspection we carried out and any repairs that will need to be made to your chimney. Overall, we want to ensure that your home is safe and clean, and to alleviate any worries you may have about your chimney.