Do It Yourself and Other Educational Chimney and Fire Safety Articles

This picture shows the order of the seasons that it is best to call your chimney sweep from left to right.  Spring is the best season, followed by summer, and fall and winter are less optimal.

If you believe you have a safety concern with your chimney, the best time to call is NOW! Never put off an issue that you believe could be putting you or your family at risk. If there is a problem with the structural integrity of your chimney, this is an emergency that should not be delayed. Do not wait until you want to use your fireplace to take care of a repair you know you need today.

Emergencies aside, most people do not think about getting their chimney cleaned until the fall or early winter because that is when they think about lighting a cozy fire. As a result, our chimney sweeps are busiest during this time of year.

If you simply need an annual cleaning and inspection before using your fireplace or heating appliance, the best time of the year to hire a chimney sweep is the spring. This is when the weather starts to heat up and when chimneys are the dirtiest after heating your house all winter. Rather than letting the creosote buildup from an entire winter’s use sit inside your chimney until the next winter, it’s best to get the service done in the spring. You will avoid further complications like an odor building up in your fireplace in summer from humidity mixing with dirty creosote. Best of all, your sweep will have a lighter schedule which will mean they will be available to service your chimney faster than if you wait until the fall and winter months.

The time it takes for a chimney sweep to completely clean and inspect your chimney and fireplace or heating appliance varies.  It depends on the amount of creosote deposited on the chimney and if there are any further complications during the inspection such as cracks, leaks, or blockages in the chimney from animals.  When you call to schedule an appointment, our chimney sweeps will give you a time estimate as well as the full extent of work they will perform to properly service your chimney following safety codes.