Winter is in its full swing and fireplaces are being used everywhere. However, fireplaces and chimneys also need some attention before you fire them up and this is where chimney sweep services come in. Here is what you can expect when you get your chimney swept.
They Will Do An Inspection
When you hire or call a chimney cleaning service to pay a visit to your house and have a look at your chimney, that’s the first step. The chimney cleaning expert will not do anything before they do a thorough sweep. It’s also a good time for you to keep the chimney inoperable for some time because working on a hot chimney is near impossible and the personnel will have to wait for a bit for the chimney to cool down.
Once that’s done, the worker will take a look at the inside as well as the outside of the chimney. They will inspect the chimney for any visible signs of damage, after which they will start the heavy lifting. An inspection is super important to do first because you both don’t know what you’re up against and you don’t want any more damage imparted to the chimney.
They Will Clean The Inside Of The Chimney
Well, that’s the most obvious thing to expect when you hire someone from a chimney cleaning service. You need to be alarmed if they’re not cleaning the chimney from the inside, because, well, that’s the part that needs the most cleaning, especially if it hasn’t been done in a very long time.
They will usually use long brushes or even scraping tools to get the soot and creosote out of the chimney and that’s going to lead to better performance of your fireplace.
They Will Go To The Roof
The chimney cleaners will also need to go up to the roof. It’s where the top chute of the chimney is exposed and they need to do some cleaning on the inside from the roof as well. If it’s your first time getting your chimney cleaned by a cleaning service, this part might sound and look weird to you. However, trust the process because your chimney will work a million times better than before if you get it cleaned from all of the nooks and corners.
The chimney cleaners usually have ladders and equipment needed for climbing up the roof and accessing the chimney crown, so you are good to go.
There Will Be A Lot Of Debris
This is the season for lots of black debris falling from your chimney. Sounds very gross, but it happens to most of us. Creosote and soot are the two main culprits that are going to go everywhere once the cleaning starts and you better be prepared for the mess.
But this can be avoided when the chimney cleaners put over sheets of plastic and tarp on the work surface so that your room and furniture can be safe from that slimy powdery substance. They will usually be cautious of this fact, and if they are not, then you can certainly point it out.
You’re Done In A Day
A lot of people might think that chimney cleaning takes a long time and they might even have to evacuate their house. Pump the brakes because there’s no such need. Chimney cleaning is fast and it can be done in a day, if not a few hours.
It doesn’t take long at all and you only need to evacuate your living room where the fireplace is, so that the workers can work without any obstruction and that they can protect the place from falling debris as well and that’s pretty much it.
They Will Clean Up
Chimney cleaning services are trained to clean up after the job and they’re pretty good at it. They have special vacuum cleaners that are meant to suck the soot and creosote and clean the surrounding space. You won’t even need to move a muscle and that’s wonderful.
This is usually a part of their job and they’re getting paid for it, so you might as well get your money’s worth. If the cleaners are not cleaning up the mess, then you can certainly file a complaint with the company with which they’re working and they will take care of the rest.
They Will Remove Nests
Let’s face it, chimneys are places of refuge for a lot of small birds and animals and if you’re not using the chimney frequently, then there might be a lot of critters in your chimney flue. When you hire chimney cleaning personnel, they are also going to take note of these things during the chimney inspection Upper Marlboro and they will also safely remove the animals and bird’s nests from the chimney so that there aren’t any obstructions in the thin chute. This is super important to do, and you will see a world of difference in how your chimney performs.
You Will Get The Rundown
Usually, after the inspection and sometimes, after the work is complete, the chimney cleaner will give you a report of sorts on the chimney. The report will usually consist of what was in the chimney, what things were and weren’t damaged if there was any extra but important work that needed to be done, and the final fee.
This report is a great guide to keep for the future because you know exactly what problems your chimney was having and you can refer to the previous report when hiring another worker to clean the chimney.
They Will Clean The Chimney Flue
Most of the debris, like soot and creosote, is present in the chute or flue of the chimney. It’s a thin passageway that allows the smoke to travel upwards and eject out of the house, instead of accumulating inside the fireplace and the room.
This is why cleaning the flue is very important and this is the part that will take the most time. Because the flue or chute is thin and there are not a lot of access points, the chimney sweep needs to put in the time to properly clean the flue, otherwise, the whole thing will be a bust and a waste of time and money.
A professional will also inspect the flue after cleaning and let you if it needs to be repaired. If it’s too old, they may even suggest you to replace it soon.
Some Will Use Technology
This is super fun to watch. Some chimney cleaners who are more advanced than others, will use special cameras that go into the flue of the chimney and see all of the dirt, without having to peek their heads in.
This is an amazingly convenient way of inspecting a chimney and it also takes a lot less time, so you are in for a treat. Technology makes things super easy and some cleaning services use it to its fullest potential. It’s fast, efficient, easy, and extremely user-friendly.
Conclusion
Chimney cleaning is super important especially if you want your chimney to work properly without fail through the dead cold of winter. So, it’s always a good idea to hire a chimney cleaning service Bowie before the chill hits the air and get the services of one again after the end of winter.
