topic Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned in Community Chat

Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

NickNack — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:36:01 GMT

I haven't used my fireplace in about five years, but wanted to use it this year. I'm having a chimney sweep come tomorrow to clean it. It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow. Can they clean the chimney in the rain?

I Googled it, and all I found out was that you could clean the chimney from inside the house. I don't want them to do that and doubt that they would anyway. Google really didn't say anything about cleaning it in the rain.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

LizzieInSRQ — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:42:22 GMT

Call them in the morning if they are closed now and ask them

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

BlueFinch — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:44:34 GMT

Mine has always been cleaned from the inside of the house. They never even go on the roof. It's never been a problem.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

mspatmac — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:47:26 GMT

Mine has only been cleaned from inside. No issues at all. Home spotless when they left.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

NickNack — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:51:01 GMT

Thank you @BlueFinch and @mspatmac . My sister thought hers at her old house was cleaned from the inside, too. It just never occurred to me that they would do that. What about cleaning the chimney cap? I guess I can ask them all this tomorrow.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

DiAnne — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:51:02 GMT

They have always cleaned my chimney from inside and I live in the PNW where it rains often.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

fthunt — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:59:01 GMT

Hired a chimney sweep for over 20 years...... for a wood burning fireplace.....................

If doing the cleaning you deserve for your money....they go up on roof and with a big wire brush - dis-lodge all the gunk from inside of chimney.

Then they come inside - same wire brush and dis-lodge gunk up the chimney while a big shop vac takes up all the debris.

If they don't clean the top part - - they are taking advantage of you and may be scared of heights. (many are so they take a short cut)

For gas inset - they don't go up on the roof. Wood burning is the most dangerous because of the soot build up from wood.

We paid around $100 plus tax for wood burning cleaning

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

fthunt — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 23:00:00 GMT

In the rain.........yes, no problem other than they will get a little wet.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

NickNack — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 23:03:16 GMT

Thank you @fthunt . I was just reading a chimney sweep's website, and it said that a professional chimney sweep would do the inside and outside. I wish I had read about it before I booked them so I would have asked questions. I scheduled this over a month ago.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 23:16:07 GMT

@NickNack Our chimney sweep always cleans from inside the house. He spreads protective coverings over the hearth and carpet. Make sure you get his certification of cleaning to keep on file. If you should have a chimney fire, you will need to prove you had your chimney cleaned. We get our chimney cleaned every or every other year, because we cook over our fireplace and also use our fireplace quite a bit.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

NickNack — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 23:18:14 GMT

Thank you @PA Mom-mom . I will be sure and ask him for the certificate of cleaning.

Should I move my furniture out of the way? I think I will.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 23:21:27 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
Thank you @PA Mom-mom . I will be sure and ask him for the certificate of cleaning.

Should I move my furniture out of the way? I think I will.

@NickNack We never do, and we have upholstered wing chairs right next to the fireplace. But you can ask your sweep what he or she would suggest.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

SeaMaiden — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:06:49 GMT

I just had mine cleaned. They go on the roof and clean scrub the inside with brushes...and inspect everything. Then come inside and clean and vacuum it all out.

Re: Question About Having Chimney Cleaned

NickNack — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 19:46:45 GMT

I appreciate everyone's replies. The Chimney Sweeps guys came this morning. One of them went on my roof, and the other one stayed inside at the fireplace.

It's a cold dreary day, and I just built a fire. 😊