Chimney Cleaning FAQs

Professional Chimney Cleaners in Bergen County, NJ

Get answers to your most common chimney cleaning questions.

Why Should I Have My Chimney Cleaned?

The main reason to clean your chimney is to remove flammable deposits such as soot and creosote from the interior walls of a chimney. If you fail to keep your chimney cleaned, these deposits will build up and eventually ignite and cause a chimney fire. During the winter months, in many areas, chimney fires are the #1 cause of house fires. Not only do they cause damage to the chimney they also cause damage to other areas of the home which amount to millions of dollars in property damage annually.

How Often Should I Have My Chimney Sweeped?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend regular chimney maintenance such as chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections to keep your chimney clean and safe. Preventative measures insures your chimney is at its safest and most efficient. It also reduces the liklihood of a fire starting.

What is the Best Time to Clean My Chimney?

The best time to have your chimney cleaned is before the start of the burning season during the spring, summer or early fall. You’ll want to get your chimney cleaned well before you are going to need it. Before the weather gets cold and you’ll want to build a fire or use your furnace, hire a professional chimney sweep to clean your chimney to make sure you can safely use your chimney or furnace.

Can I Clean the Chimney Myself?

We hesitate to recommend cleaning the chimney yourself and not because it is a service we offer. We don’t recommend cleaning the chimney yourself because most people do not know how to do it properly or have the expertise or equipment to properly clean the chimney and inspect it for other failings. Missing failings in the chimney could lead to a chimney fire or other damage to the chimney and home.

Can I Keep Using My Chimney if I Had a Minor Fire?

No. If you had a chimney fire, even a minor one, then your chimney needs to be inspected and most likely cleaned prior to being used again. A chimney fire is not an effective way to clean your chimney and could be the result of damage within your chimney. Even small chimney fires can have temperatures that exceed 1800⁰f and will damage your chimney even if it looks fine from the outside.

How Long Does a Chimney Cleaning Take?

This will vary from chimney to chimney but you can plan on between 60 to 90 minutes.

Do Chimney Sweep / Cleaning Logs Work?

Yes and no. To some extent they do work as these types of logs contain a chemical catalyst with can reduce the early stages of creosote buildup up to 60% with repeated use. (Note that there are three stages of creosote buildup: Stage 1 is a flaky soot that can be easily brushed away. In Stage 2, the flakes contain hardened tar which typically can only be removed with specialized rotary tools. In Stage 3, the creosote has turned into a tar-like glaze that in many cases requires replacing the chimney liner.)

However, these logs can not replace a chimney cleaning performed by a professional service.