What it is, in plain English
Burning wood deposits creosote — a tar-like residue that lines the inside of your flue and is the leading cause of chimney fires. We sweep bottom-up with a rotary brush system that scours the entire flue, cleans the smoke shelf and firebox, and pulls everything out under negative-pressure HEPA vacuums so dust never reaches your living space. Most homes are done in 60 to 90 minutes. You get before-and-after photos, a written summary of what we found, and an honest answer if we spot anything that needs attention.
What's included
- Bottom-up rotary brush sweep of the full flue
- Smoke shelf, damper, and firebox cleaned
- HEPA-filtered negative-air vacuums — no dust in the living space
- Drop cloths laid before any tools come into the home
- Visual flue check during the sweep — issues flagged with photos
- Photos and a written summary emailed to you after the visit
Frequently asked
How often should my chimney be swept?
NFPA 211 — the national fire code that governs chimneys — calls for an annual inspection of every chimney, with cleaning whenever creosote buildup, soot, or obstruction is found. For most wood-burning homeowners, that means one sweep a year. Heavy users (multiple fires a week through winter) may need it twice. Gas-only fireplaces typically need a sweep every 2–3 years and an annual inspection.
Will my house get covered in soot?
No. We tarp the work area before any tools come inside, and our HEPA vacuums run negative-pressure throughout the sweep — pulling air and soot OUT of your firebox and into our equipment, not into your room. Most customers are surprised at how clean it stays.
Do you sweep gas fireplaces and gas inserts?
Yes. Gas appliances burn cleaner than wood but still produce condensate, debris, and (in older liners) corrosion. We sweep gas chimneys lighter than wood ones and pay extra attention to the venting and the appliance connection. We always recommend pairing a gas sweep with a Level 1 inspection.
What happens if you find a problem during the sweep?
We photograph it, show it to you on the spot, and explain what we'd do about it. If it's bigger work that's outside our core sweeping-and-inspection focus (masonry, structural repair, full restoration), we'll either talk through whether we can take it on directly or point you to a specialist we trust. We won't invent work, and we won't pressure you into anything you don't need.
How do I know when my chimney needs a sweep?
Some signs: a strong campfire smell when the fireplace isn't lit, a fire that smolders and won't catch, smoke pushing back into the room, black soot falling from the damper, or simply more than a year since the last sweep. If any of those sound familiar, book an inspection — it'll tell you whether you need a full sweep.