FAQ
Do I need a sweep? What do you look for?
We begin by assessing your chimney flue, looking for creosote, spiderwebs, and other debris. If you have less than 1/4 inch, we will check with you to see if you want us to sweep anyways. If not, we will only charge our inspection fee.
How do you do the sweep?
We have specialized brushes of various sizes, we use the brush that is right for your flue. If you have a metal liner, we use a flexible brush that works for any diameter. If you have a brick chimney, we use a brush with long bristles to get into the corners and get all of that pesky creosote buildup.
We start at the top and attach sections of our specialized flexible fiberglass rods to go all the way to the bottom. The rods bend up to 90 degrees, and we can reach up to multiple stories of flues.
If you wait too long to get your sweep the creosote can get hard and caked on. Don’t worry, we can take care of that too! We have a specialized drill attachment, and even metal rods with a chain, for the especially pesky creosote.
What about my chimney cap? I think it's plugged.
That is very common! The mesh grate which provides airflow for your flue can get covered in black soot. It can be hard to see what is going on from the ground. We get up on your roof and make sure it has proper airflow. While we are up there we unclog the metal screen.
I'm worried you are going to make a mess!
Maybe you’ve had a bad experience with a sweep in the past? Keeping your home clean is a priority for us! We use a variety of tools such as: tarps, vacuums, and plastic sheeting. We also only stick to the areas of your house that are related to the inspection of your chimney.
After a long day of chimney sweeping we are probably covered! Don’t worry, we use gloves and are very careful to avoid touching unnecessary surfaces. Even if something does get a smudge, creosote (while it looks scary) wipes off quite easy.
How long are you going to be here?
That depends on how pesky your fireplace setup is. Most sweeps range between 30 minutes to an hour.
Safety is our first priority, we may take a little longer to do things the safe way. Sometimes we have to take a few things apart if you have a wood stove, just like a puzzle. We will take the extra time needed to make sure all the pieces are back where they belong!
What are you looking for in the inspection?
The most common issues are exterior wear and tear. Here in the PNW, water and time can deteriorate many components of your chimney set up. We will look at your cap, flue, flashing, sealants, crown, bricks, and mortar.
If you have woodstove we will look over it’s components to make sure your stove is working efficiently and there are no posed fire hazards.
We will let you know what we see, and how concerning the problem is. If we can, we will offer you multiple solutions at different price points. Our goal is for your home to be safe, not to get your money.
Are you licensed and bonded?
Yes we are! Rest assured, we want our bases covered just as much as you do.