Top 10 chimney maintenance questions

 

If you use the fireplace in your house then you should know the importance of chimney maintenance. Much like your car, your fireplace and chimney need routine servicing over their lifetime. While people may like to avoid the hassle, this maintenance is the key to keeping your fireplace system, home, and family safe. Below are some of the many questions we have been asked over the years and to help you understand the importance of chimney maintenance and when and where we can help.

 

How to maintain your chimney system

The most essential way to maintain your chimneys is by having them inspected at least once per year. If you’ve recently purchased a new stainless steel liner system, then it likely comes with a warranty. Depending on the manufacturer, a chimney liner warranty could be 10-20 years. An annual inspection is a requirement to fulfill the liner warranty claims if needed.

 

How often does your fireplace need maintenance

A fireplace and its chimney flue need to be swept and inspected at least once per year. Please keep in mind that this is only the minimum recommendation for the proper upkeep of your burning system, no matter what type of fuel you use (gas or wood). It’s also true for any gas appliance that has a flue pipe, which also requires regular maintenance for performance and safety. Other systems that need annual cleaning are gas furnaces or water heaters, and wood stoves and oil burners.

 

How can I tell if my chimney needs cleaning

Suppose your fireplace is experiencing poor fire performance, animal entry, a strong campfire smell, or oil spots on the walls. In that case, it’s a definitive sign you need to schedule a professional inspection and cleaning. Failure to act on these warning signs can lead to dangerous situations in your home, such as fires and carbon monoxide entry.

You must be able to identify these warning signs successfully:

Poor Fire Performance – If your fires aren’t burning as efficiently, or starting one is a struggle, the fire isn’t receiving adequate oxygen levels. Your flue could be clogged, or a specific part isn’t functioning correctly.

Animal Entry – Do you hear animal noises coming from your flue area? Do you see nesting on the top? If yes, you need to hire a professional to remove it. Animals and their nests can prevent proper airflow and even cause fires.

Odors – Campfires are a comforting smell only when they’re not near your fireplace! This is a tell-tale sign that dangerous creosote is building up within your system.

Oil Spots – Oil spots on your walls isn’t just visually unattractive, it’s a clear sign that creosote is present.

What’s the average cost to have a chimney swept

The average cost of an North Atlantic Chimneys cleaning is $280 with a free Level 1 inspection. Some companies are more expensive than others, but the prices vary primarily due to the type of system being serviced.

If your systems showing signs of malfunction or damage your local certified sweep may suggest that you get it fixed or replaced. To promote transparency during inspections, our technicians take photos and videos to ensure you understand what’s going on within your flue where the bulk of issues are hidden from the view of hearth and home owners.

 

How do you sweep a chimney

The process of sweeping a chimney goes in these general steps:

• A full inspection of the system.
• Place a drop cloth around the cleaning area.
• Put on all protective equipment.
• Take out any hindering objects from the fireplace.
• Start sweeping the flue with the appropriate tools while the HEPA vacuum is simultaneously on.
• Finally, brush and vacuum around the firebox area.

Warning: Please keep in mind that this is a very brief overview of the process. There is far more to sweeping than just merely cleaning out your flue. Performing these steps is much more complicated and requires extensive knowledge of chimney types, fireplace types, professional equipment, and sweeping practices.

 

Can I clean my flue from the bottom

Yes, in most cases, you can absolutely have your chimney cleaned from the bottom. Sweeping from the top can be dangerous and a lot of work. You’ll be required to safely climb a ladder, walk across the roof, disassemble the cap, and clean the flue using the correct methods and equipment.

Sweeping from the below is just as detailed in terms of technical knowledge. Still, it’s much easier if you don’t feel comfortable on a roof.

As we said before, you need to schedule an inspection before doing chimney maintenance and repair work. But if you insist on sweeping your fireplace, we recommend that you clean from the bottom.

 

Can I clean my chimney myself

Yes, if you’re a competent DIYer, you technically could clean your flue yourself. But even if you’re a DIY expert in all things, you should still hire a professional to conduct an annual inspection and cleaning.

While DIY typically implies that you’ll save on price, professional sweeps utilize various industry tools and specialty equipment during their cleanings.

There are also serious safety concerns involved. While cleaning, exposure to creosote and other dangerous carcinogens is constant. In some cases, sweeping from the roof is the only option. That’s dangerous and scary for people of all ages!

 

How often should I clean my chimney

Your chimney should be cleaned and inspected at least once a year according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and other veteran professionals. It should also always be swept when any amount of glazed creosote is present.

Experts worldwide have told customers that exact statement a thousand times. And we’ll continue to say it because it’s an essential aspect of wood-burning and gas fireplace chimney maintenance. As a fireplace owner, you should follow this maintenance tip religiously.

If you use a wood-burning fireplace year-round, your system may need cleaned 2 to 3 times per year. Of course, the more fires started, the more creosote that will be built-up. Spending a couple hundred dollars on inspections and cleaning is better than worrying about putting your family and home at risk.

 

Do cleaning logs really work

While the CSIA gave their accepted product status to chimney cleaning logs, they don’t really work as an effective cleaner. It may sound great, but $15 cleaning logs are not, and never will be, a substitute for hiring a professional sweep.

Cleaning logs won’t properly clean your system, but that doesn’t mean they’re useless. As you can read more in our creosote sweeping blog, they can play a vital role in the chimney maintenance process. To minimize creosote follow these maintenance tips:

• Burn wood with 15 to 25 percent moisture content
• Follow manufacturer and technician instructions.
• Utilize cleaning logs every few dozen fires.

 

Can your chimney catch on fire

Chimneys can catch fire, and unfortunately it happens more often than anyone would like. Over 25,000 chimney fires happen per year, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to your home. These fires typically occur due to an abundance of creosote build-up or debris catching fire inside the flue. Restricted air, improperly seasoned firewood, and cool temperatures in the system encourage creosote build-up.

Other than chimney fires obviously being extremely destructive, a ignificant issue is that most of them go undetected. That’s why the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that your chimney should be cleaned and inspected at least once a year.