Quick AnswerIf you burn wood or use your fireplace more than a few times a season, you need an annual sweep - soot and creosote build up every time you light a fire, whether you notice it or not. NFPA 211 recommends chimneys be swept and inspected at least once a year. Skip it and you're looking at reduced draft, smoke rolling back into the room, or worse, a chimney fire.
What’s Included
A proper chimney sweep is more than a quick brush-through. Our technicians break down the entire venting system - flue, smoke chamber, and firebox - and clear it using rotary sweeping equipment paired with HEPA-filtered, dust-contained vacuums so your home stays clean during the work. We also inspect as we go, since a sweep is the best time to catch problems before they turn into repairs.
- Full flue cleaning from the damper to the crown, using rotary sweeping rods and brushes sized to your specific flue liner - clay tile, metal, or masonry - to break loose glazed soot and creosote flakes without scratching the liner.
- Smoke chamber cleaning, the rough, corbelled area above the firebox where debris tends to catch on ledges and never get swept out on its own; we hand-brush and vacuum this section since rotary rods alone can't reach every angle.
- Firebox interior wipe-down and vacuuming to remove loose soot, ash, and creosote dust that settles during the sweep, so you're not left with a dirty mess around your hearth when we pack up.
- HEPA-filtered, dust-contained equipment set up at the fireplace opening the entire time we work, which keeps soot and fine particulate from drifting into your living room air.
- A visual inspection of the flue liner, damper, and firebox for cracks, gaps, or heavy creosote glazing while the chimney is open and accessible, with photos if we spot anything worth flagging.
- A written summary after the sweep noting what we found and whether any follow-up work - like creosote removal or a repair - is recommended, with no pressure to book anything on the spot.
Signs You Need This
- You haven't had a sweep in the last 12 months, regardless of how often you burn.
- A campfire-like smell lingers in the house, even when there's no fire going.
- Smoke backs up into the room instead of drawing up the flue.
- You can see black, flaky, or tar-like buildup when you look up past the damper.
- You're getting ready for burn season and want to start clean.
Our Process
Firebox Protection Setup
We lay drop cloths and set up a HEPA-filtered vacuum at the fireplace opening before touching anything.
Rotary Flue Sweep
We run sized rotary brushes the full length of the flue to break loose soot, creosote, and debris.
Smoke Chamber & Firebox Cleaning
We hand-clean the smoke chamber and vacuum the firebox so nothing gets left behind.
Inspection & Report
We inspect the open flue for damage or heavy glazing and walk you through what we found.
How Much Does It Cost?
Chimney sweeping is priced as a flat fee before we ever touch a tool, so you know the number going in - no surprise add-ons once we're up on the roof or in your firebox. If we spot something during the sweep, like a cracked flue tile or a section of heavy creosote glazing that needs extra work, we'll give you a written estimate for that separately before doing anything beyond the standard sweep. Our winter special covers the core rotary sweep at $199; more complex venting systems or homes with multiple flues may run higher, and we'll always tell you why before we start.
FAQs
At least once a year if you use your fireplace or wood stove regularly, per NFPA 211. Heavier burners - especially wood stove users - sometimes need it twice a season.
No. We use HEPA-filtered, dust-contained equipment sealed at the fireplace opening, so soot and creosote dust stay inside the vacuum system instead of your living room.
Yes, and it's a good idea before you light it again. Chimneys that sit unused can collect animal nests, debris, and moisture damage that a sweep and inspection will catch.