Nothing beats turning on the fireplace to warm up on a cold winter day. Unfortunately, weather, age, and combustion byproducts like creosote can all affect the chimney’s performance and pose a safety risk.

You should plan for professional cleaning with a certified chimney sweep to ensure your chimney runs efficiently and securely. While the chimney sweep will do most of the work, here are some ideas to help you prepare for their visit.

Ensure the chimney is cool.

Do not use your fireplace or stove for 24 hours before the chimney sweep visit. This window allows your fireplace or stove, its components, and the chimney to cool completely, ensuring that your chimney sweeps do not get burned while working.

Remember to recycle any remaining ashes from the fireplace in your garden. You should note that if you don’t do it, the chimney sweep will remove the ashes and dispose of them, and you don’t want this.

Clear the area around the fireplace.

Your chimney sweep will use expert equipment, tools, and supplies to scrub and clean your chimney and fireplace thoroughly. To do this, the technician will need clear access to the fireplace.

To ensure the area is clear, clear the fireplace of any furniture, toys, or other obstructions. You should also cover any surrounding furnishings in case dust or soot particles become airborne during cleaning.

Put away pets and decorative pieces.

You don’t want your pets to be wounded or uncomfortable during the chimney sweep visit, do you?  You also do not want your pet to escape accidentally. To ensure this doesn’t happen, keep your pets in another room to keep them away from the cleaning equipment and avoid their toes or paws from being squashed.

If you are like other homeowners, when the fireplace is not in use, you like to decorate the mantle with portraits, knickknacks, and other items.

While this is good, you should set aside any decorative or fragile things before your cleaning session. This will improve cleaning efficiency while also protecting your valuables from unintentional damage.

Have an off-season appointment.

Chimney cleaning professionals are often swamped with emergency service requests throughout the fire season, from October to March. If feasible, arrange your visit during the off-season, which runs from April to September.

This increases scheduling flexibility and lets the cleaning company service your appliance sooner. A cleaning toward the conclusion of the burning season, in late spring or early summer, eliminates creosote from your chimney before it causes corrosion or an unpleasant odor in your home, which can occur during warm, humid months.

In addition to getting a quick service when you hire professionals during the off-season, it also means that you save money as the cleaning companies charge a discount as they aren’t too busy.

Mark problematic areas in your chimney.

Just because you are hiring a professional doesn’t mean that you should leave everything to them. Instead, you should also take the initiative to inspect your chimney.

When the chimney sweep arrives, he will inquire if you have noticed any foul odors or wetness, as well as other inquiries, to do an initial examination of the chimney’s condition.

It is critical to advise your technician of any problems you have, so make a list to prepare for your sweep session. It will also assist the technician in discovering areas that require immediate care.

What makes a good chimney sweep?

When hiring a chimney sweep for your property, you shouldn’t hire just any contractor. Instead, you should take your time and find a suitable professional for your project.

Some of the things you should look out for include:

Years in service

Not every chimney sweep has been in business for 35 years, but the number of years a company has been in operation is a good indicator of its business methods.

Companies that have a high level of customer satisfaction tend to stay in business longer. Choose a company that has consistently proved its ability to give high-quality service. If you want to try a newer firm, read their ratings before phoning.

Certification

The most prominent governing body that controls the chimney-sweeping industry is the CSIA. The body provides training to keep chimney sweeps up to speed on proper chimney function and safety.

Every chimney service technician should be certified and posted on the CSIA website. Choosing firms with certified specialists ensures that your chimney sweep is a trained professional who understands what to look for while checking and cleaning your chimney.

Customer service

Before cleaning, your chimney sweep should listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have. Reports of changes in the behavior of your fireplace or chimney, new sounds you heard during a scorching burn, or any other alteration may assist your sweep during an examination. If your sweep is pushy and only wants to get in and out, you may have chosen the wrong firm, so stay away from them.

Use of modern equipment

Modern technology ensures that your chimney sweep comprehensively inspects your chimney. A chimney sweeper should use a high-speed vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove debris and soot around your fireplace.

The sweep should employ (if possible) an HD video recorder that can be dropped down your chimney to inspect for flaws.

You should note that not every chimney is large enough to accommodate the specialist video camera; in this instance, a manual inspection with a flashlight will suffice. The latest equipment enables the sweeper to do an even more thorough job, so, if possible, work with a chimney cleaning services Ellicott City provider using high-quality equipment.

Parting shot

Unfortunately, excessive creosote from filthy chimneys is the leading cause of residential structure fires. Hiring a chimney cleaning professional reduces the fire risk, increases fireplace heating efficiency, and ensures that your chimney and fireplace operate safely over the winter.

You should follow the above tips to eliminate the cleaning professional and always ensure that you hire the most experienced.

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