Chimney Sweep Services

Estates Chimney will professionally clean your fireplace or stove, clean-out, flue, flue vent assembly along with your chimney for improved efficiency and perform a safety inspection for one low fee.

Chimney Maintenance
Safety is a major concern when it comes to maintaining and inspecting your chimney. It is recommended that you have your chimney serviced on a regular basis or before using your stove or fireplace if it hasn't been used in a while. Why you ask? If it isn't venting properly smoke and harmful gases could back up into your home.

A substance known as Creosote, a by-product of burning wood, condenses on the relatively cool surface of the chimney. As it builds up it is either black or brown and can be crusty and flaky ... tar-like, drippy and sticky ... or shiny and hardened. Many times you will see all forms in one chimney. Creosote is highly combustible and if a significant quantity builds up it can result in a chimney fire. Even though any amount of Creosote can burn Chimney Sweeps are most concerned when creosote builds up in sufficient quantities to sustain a long, hot, devastating chimney fire.

A well maintained (cleaned and inspected) chimney will not catch fire. Make sure to have your chimney system inspected annually by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep like Estates Chimney Sweep.

Conditions that encourage rapid build up of Creosote:

• Restricted Air Supply
• Unseasoned Wood
• Cooler-Than-Normal Chimney Temperatures

Prevention:

• Use seasoned woods only (dryness is more important than hard wood versus soft wood considerations)
• Build smaller, hotter fires that bum more completely and produce less smoke.
• Never burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, trash or Christmas trees; these can spark a chimney fire.
• Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures where wood stoves are in use, so you can adjust burning practices as needed.
• Have the chimney inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.