What is a Chimney Sweep?
Chimney sweeps are expert technicians who specialize in everything chimney. They have an array of equipment used to clean the inside of your chimney and flue of a wood burning fireplace or stove. Over time, a chimney can get clogged with debris and gunk and even creosote. Creosote is a thick, hard coating of toxic debris that is created when wood, fossil fuel or tar is burned. It needs to be removed to ensure your safety when lighting a fire. Chimney sweeps are well equipped to handle this challenge.
The Process
The chimney sweep should begin by laying down a drop cloth or plastic to protect your home. They should also use a shop-vac to keep dust levels down, and wear a mask and goggles in order to keep dust and debris out of their eyes and nose. They may start from the flue and work their way up the chimney or they may start on the roof and work their way down. Their goal is to scrape all the coating that has built up from fires off of the chimney lining. After it falls down the chimney, it will be vacuumed and swept away. The simplicity of the process is determined by the amount of debris located inside of your chimney.
Critters and Jitters
When a chimney hasn’t been in use for quite some time, animals tend to make a home inside of your chimney. Birds, bats, bugs and other critters like the chimney for a home because it’s dark, safe and dry.
A Chimney sweep would be able to locate key indicators of unwelcome visitors in your chimney, and would be able to safely remove them.
How Can You Prepare?
So you have had the chance to learn a brief overview of what Chimney Sweeps do. While this is not an exhaustive list, it helps educate you on what you can expect from a chimney sweep. As you prepare for a chimney sweeps visit, there are a few things you can do to make the chimney sweeps job easier.
1. Make sure that the fireplace is easily accessible. Move any furniture and decor out of the way.
2. Move any furniture that you wouldn’t want any dust on.
Professional Chimney sweeps are interested in your home and your personal safety. If you have questions about your fireplace and fireplace safety, reach out to us! Feel free to contact us for all of your Chimney and Fireplace Cleaning!