What creosote is
When wood burns, smoke cools as it rises and leaves soot and creosote on the inside of the flue. Creosote is sticky, tar-like and flammable.
Why before the first fire
On the Westside, many fireplaces sit unused for most of the year. Birds nest in uncapped chimneys, and leaves and debris collect. A sweep before the season clears the flue so smoke goes up, not into your room.
Signs your chimney needs attention
- Smoke comes back into the room
- A strong campfire smell on warm days
- Black flakes falling into the firebox
- Sounds of birds or animals in the chimney
- Fires are hard to start or keep going
How often to sweep
Have the chimney inspected once a year if you use the fireplace, and swept whenever there's buildup. If you burn wood often, you may need a sweep more than once a season.
What a sweep includes
We protect the hearth and floor, sweep the flue, clean the firebox and smoke shelf, check the damper and cap, and show you photos. If the chimney has no cap, we can install one.