Chimney cleaning and reline
Here is a before and after of a chimney we cleaned and relined.
Single chimney, Multiple fireplaces
A single chimney can house multiple fireplaces, each having its own separate flue.
Why Do I Need to Have My Chimney Swept?
Every time you use your fireplace, soot (creosote) is created and deposited on the inside of your chimney as the smoke travels up the flue. As that substance cools it solidifies and results in a caked on layer that will build up use after use. Creosote is made up of particles from the wood and is incredibly flammable. After enough creosote builds up, it can ignite and launch a fast-spreading, dangerous chimney fire. We will remove this creosote and leave your chimney and fireplace clean and ready for use. At the same time, we will inspect the fireplace and chimney and make sure there are no additional hazards.
What a Home Buyer Needs to Know About Chimneys and Fireplaces
The National Fire Safety Institute recommends that all chimneys and fireplaces be inspected when a property is sold.
One of the major causes of home fires in the winter are fireplaces and it is reported that there are about 15,000 house fires caused by fireplaces and chimneys in the U.S. every year. In 2020 Rachael Ray, TV Host, had her large home burn down, reportedly due to gaps or cracks in the chimney. This was despite getting the chimneys swept regularly.
Many people, including some chimney sweeps, think that just dropping a handheld mirror down the chimney will detect hazards. In most cases it will not. We have been to properties where a chimney sweep had been there before and said the property was safe, but there were major cracks and gaps in the flue which are a severe fire hazard. Read more
Is your fireplace safe?
Most people seem to think their fireplaces are safe, even though they have not had them cleaned or inspected for years, or even decades. This may not be the case. Over 15,000 home fires a year in the U.S. are attributed to fireplaces and chimneys.
I did a random survey of properties where we cleaned or inspected the chimney and fireplace during a 5 day period last October.
- 7 if 23 properties inspected were in good condition and only needed cleaning.
- 7 of the 23 properties had cracks in the flue that were a fire hazard and which required the chimney to be relined.
- 9 of the properties had other issues such as cracks between bricks that needed repair, cracks in the chimney crown, missing caps/spark arrestors, or faulty control modules on a gas fireplace.
Very Dirty Chimney
Very, very dirty Chimney after chimney fire! Then you can see what it looks like after we cleaned it.
Why you should only used a licensed and insured chimney sweep
Many chimney sweeps are not licensed, bonded or insured. Sometimes companies hire “subcontractors” who also have no insurance or licenses. It is not illegal for someone not to have a license if the work they do is under $500, however, there is a danger in having someone climb up on your roof with no insurance. The danger is that if they fall and get hurt, they can sue you.
Today, a customer told me that he had a friend who had a chimney sweep fall from his roof and die. This was 15 years ago. The homeowner was sued.
So before you let anyone climb on your roof, check if they have insurance.
Why all pre-cast chimneys should be inspected prior to close of escrow
Here is a quote from a property inspection report done by a property inspection company last week on a home in Lake Forest:
“Pre-cast concrete chimneys were built in factories and then trucked to a site and erected, as distinct from masonry chimneys that are built on site with individual bricks and mortar. In this respect, pre-cast chimneys are unique. However, like all masonry chimneys, they are vulnerable to seismic activity, but unlike masonry chimneys they are also subject to cracks that are induced by the interaction of moisture and a chemical additive that causes the reinforcing steel within the chimney to expand and crack the chimney walls. Such cracks can be small, but they are nonetheless subject to stringent repair methods. However, if any crack penetrates the chimney wall it may be difficult to repair the chimney without costly repairs or replacement or possibly relining the chimney. For this reason, we recommend that all pre-cast chimneys be further inspected/video scanned or certified by a specialist before close of escrow.”
It pays to inspect your fireplace early
It’s recommended that chimney’s are inspected every year. Almost everyone waits until the fall, so it’s difficult for the chimney sweep to service everyone well.
It really makes a lot more sense to do them at the end of the burning season in the event there are any repairs that need to be made before the unit may be put back into operation.
The last thing you want to hear the week before the big holiday party is that there are repairs needed to your fireplace before you can use it.
Watch a Chimney being Cleaned
Here is a before and after video of a chimney being cleaned in Costa Mesa, CA.
BEFORE
AFTER
