Keeping a fireplace clean and in good condition guarantees the safety of a home. One of the advances in technology in terms of chimney sweep tools is the invention of different specific chemicals for chimney cleaning. They are commonly used when mechanical methods are not sufficient if there is an excessive accumulation of soot or other deposits. There are various formats such as aerosols, logs, and liquids.
What should I look for in a chimney sweep?
When was the last time you had your chimney cleaned? If it has not been since the last winter, then it is time to consider a certified and licensed chimney sweep professional. The chimney sweeps professional should be certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, a nonprofit organization. CSIA has a website you can find here, which provides recommended safety measures that will help you make a decision on what to look for in a professional. Here are some of the questions that you should ask your chimney sweep professional:
- What kind of experience do you have?
- Are you certified, and if so, how long has it been since you were certified?
- How many years have you been in the business?
- Do you have any recent references?
- Are you a member of the Better Business Bureau?
- Have you had any filings of unresolved customer complaints?
- If so, how many, and why weren’t they resolved?
- Can you provide proof of commercial liability insurance?
- Are you affiliated with CSIA, and does it prominently show on your website?
You should definitely choose a professional who uses video scanning equipment, so you can also get to see the exact issue to make sure the professional is telling you everything as it is. It is so important to ask pertinent questions because it is your safety at issue.
How Much Should a Chimney Sweep Cost?
The average cost to clean a chimney is roughly $244 as indicated by more than 16,000 homeowners nationwide. Typically, though, the most realistic and practical cost to clean a chimney is a minimum of $128 and a maximum of $362. If you have a wood fireplace that needs regular maintaining, it will range in price from $85 to $100 for each cleaning. If your chimney has any kind of buildup, of course, the cost would be more, usually up to $800. Most chimney cleaning kits sell for a minimum of $50 but no more than $100. The good thing is that when you burn wood in your fireplace during the winter months, it does reduce your electric cost and gives off that comfy appeal. However, it is necessary to clean the residue that accumulates in your chimney, as well as leaves, which can cause a fire.
Benefits of Hiring a Chimney Sweep vs. Doing it Yourself
While you can clean your own chimney, it is best to have a professional over to get it done because of the expertise and skill needed to do it right. In addition, chimney cleaning must be a regular occurrence, especially during the winter months. You may think that your chimney does not need to be cleaned, but you would be mistaken because the residue that accumulates is not safe and burning firewood causes an accumulation of creosote and soot, which can ignite if sparked by fire. The result would be damage to your prized property, and this would not be something that you would want to have happened in the winter or at any time, for that matter. It would work out to be quite expensive to fix the damages. So, it is best to hire a professional, especially since you may not have the necessary equipment, such as a video scanning tool, to see inside your chimney and determine the extent of the accumulation.
Contact a professional
Maintaining and properly cleaning a fireplace takes time and effort. In addition, there is a wide variety of chimney sweep tools needed, which you may not have because they are special tools. It is recommended that you hire a professional who can ensure a complete and successful cleaning with the least inconvenience or rent a top-quality fireplace cleaning kit.
