What to Expect When Having A Chimney Sweep

1. What to Expect When Having A Chimney Sweep If there is a wood burning fireplace in your home that isn’t used very often, then you may feel there is no reason to have it swept. As it turns out, having your chimney serviced once or twice a year improves the quality of air in your home, and gets rid of creosote and other harmful debris. Your chimney sweep can provide you feedback on how your fireplace has been functioning, and will suggest operating tips to improve its performance. A chimney free of debris lets you enjoy your fireplace without worry. Chimney-sweeping season is upon us. Making an appointment with SootMaster before the cooler months is best practice; after all, we want to have a roaring fire for when it is cold outside! Now that you have it in your head to do this, here is what to expect when having your chimney swept. What is Chimney Sweeping? Chimney sweeps are certified technicians who have an array of equipment used to clean the inside of your chimney and flue of a wood burning fireplace or wood stove. Over time, a chimney can get clogged with debris and gunk and even creosote*; you don’t want this to accumulate. *Creosote is a thick, hard coating of toxic debris that is created when wood, fossil fuel or tar is burned. It needs to be removed to ensure your safety when lighting a fire.

2. What to Expect Chimney sweeps use long rods with a heavy metal bristle structure around the tip; it sort of looks like a giant bottle brush. The chimney sweep should lay down a drop cloth or plastic to protect your home, use a shop-vac to keep dust levels down, and wear a mask and goggles in order to keep dust and debris out of their eyes and nose. They may start from the flue and work their way up the chimney. Or they may start on the roof and work their way down. Or sometimes they may even do both. Their goal is to scrape all the coating that has built up from fires off of the chimney lining. After it falls down the chimney, it will be vacuumed and swept away. Critters and Jitters When the chimney isn’t in use, birds, bats and other critters can make a nest in your chimney. Animals like the chimney for a home because it’s dark, safe and dry. Having a chimney sweep in once or twice a year can help you keep furry and feathered friends away while maintaining a clean and efficient fireplace. How Do You Prepare? Prepare for a chimney sweep’s visit by making sure that the fireplace is easily accessible. Move any furniture and decor out of the way, you may also want to cover it, just in case. You should also make sure that access to the chimney is clear so that the sweep can do their job. Professional Chimney sweeps are interested in your home and your personal safety. If you have questions about your fireplace and fireplace safety, Ask the SootMaster! Feel free to contact us for all of your Chimney and Fireplace Cleaning in Panama City, FL! Article Source: https://www.sootmaster.net/chimney-sweeping-expect/