Home Saver Chimney Sweeps - Frequently Asked Questions

and what will I get for the money?

This is usually the #1 question on everyone’s mind the first time they call. Prices for professional chimney service's vary regionally, (and in some areas seasonally) but range from around $95.00 to well over $200.00. Our sweep / inspection service fee is competitively priced based upon the region we serve and includes a level 1 inspection (see levels of inspection below). There is a smalll additional fee if the appliance is an non-code compliant wood burning fireplace insert which must be pulled out in order to perform the sweep / inspection properly as well as if we have to remove more than 5 gallons of soot / ash / debris from the system being serviced.

What you get for the money: Not only do we sweep the flue, we remove and clean the connector pipes (up to 4' in length), remove any debris from the clean-out (if applicable and if owner maintained) and thoroughly sweep any solid fuel burning appliance (boilers and furnaces excluded). Fireplace service includes brushing the firebox walls, base, smoke chamber, damper door, cleaning off the smoke shelf and cleaning of any glass doors. 

We then conduct a thorough level 1 inspection of all the components of these systems, correct any minor defect issues and bring any potential or current problems to your attention right away. We will do all of this without leaving a trace of dirt on your floor or anywhere in your home....all for the same low price.

While you may find someone who will charge less for a "sweep", please keep in mind that's probably all your getting. You usually get what you pay for so before hiring anyone you may want to ask if they are a full time "Certified Chimney Professional", are fully licensed and insured, are aware of the current NFPA 211 code guidelines and are using the latest tools and technology to perform their work, safely, efficiently and cleanly while on your property. Our goal is to be the best at what we do, not the cheapest.

 A faulty chimney can be costly and even deadly. Don’t trust chimney safety to just anybody. Insist on hiring only "Certified" sweeps!

and what will you be looking for?

Per the NFPA 211 guidelines, chimneys should be cleaned and inspected at least once each year. When conducting the inspection we will be checking for things like proper clearances to combustibles, evidence of any deterioration, cracks or gaps in the appliance, the thimble area, flue, connector pipes, chimney crown and the exterior masonry structure.

We will document in writing and with digital photography any safety or structural issues we discover, bring these to your attention, make recommendations we feel are appropriate and without pressure, allow you, the customer to make any final decisions concerning any needed repairs or modifications.

We highly recommend having a chimney inspection preformed when purchasing a home or when changing or adding a new heating appliance.

Having a rain cap installed on your chimney is perhaps the simplest, most affordable thing you can do to protect the chimney flue from blockages, animals and the environment. Every chimney needs a cap!

In addition to our professional grade stainless steel lifetime warrantied chimney caps, we also offer a wide selection of custom caps in almost any design and material you can imagine. Please contact us for more information or a free, no obligation on-site evaluation!

in my fireplace or stove. What causes this and how can I resolve it?

Several factors come into play with this scenario. Here are some tips which may alleviate the problem: First and foremost, be sure there are no mechanical exhaust devices running in the house. Cloths dryers, kitchen range hood fans and bathroom exhaust fans all create a negative pressure, or vacuum in the home. When this happens, the makeup air will tend to rush down the chimney in order to equalize the pressure which will cause a very unpleasant experience!

You may also have a problem lighting a solid fuel burning appliance if there is already one burning on another floor. Example: A fireplace can remove approximately 500 cu ft of air per minute from the living space as it burns, creating a vacuum (or negative pressure) in the home. If you have a fire going on the first floor in the fireplace and have a wood stove in the basement not being used, the smoke from the fireplace flue could be drawn down the adjacent woodstove flue and into the basement as “makeup air” unless the air can enter the dwelling elsewhere (as through a slightly open window).

In many older homes which are usually drafty due to a lack of insulation and old single pane windows this was usually not an issue, but in today’s modern “tight” homes, this can be a real problem. If you have smoke when trying to start a fire in your fireplace, opening a window a few inches is a good idea. Also try using a hair dryer to pre-heat the flue then starting out with a very small fire and gradually build up to a hot fire. This will assure a warm flue and a proper draft which should eliminate the dreaded "smoky fireplace". Once the flue is warm enough to cause a good up-draft, you should be fine, but you may still need to always have a window slightly cracked in a “tight” home in order to keep from having a smoke issue.

and when the technician pulled the connector pipe from the chimney, there was a lot of orange flue tile debris or masonry debris in the pipe and the base of the chimney mixed in with the usual soot. What would cause this?

The clay flue tile lining or interior of your unlined chimney is being destroyed by the acids produced by the combustion process. This will continue to get worse and can eventually cause a chimney blockage to occur putting you and your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The most cost effective, permanent solution to the problem is to have a high quality stainless steel chimney re-lining system installed by a professional chimney service provider. This can usually be done in a day and if installed properly, will be a permanant solution to the problem.  See what is happening inside your chimney here...

and not the guy down the street who's been cleaning it for years?

Why for a minute would you even consider using an individual who has not proven that they know what they are doing?  If the certified chimney sweeps are all charging around $150.00 and some guy with an old ladder & a few brushes on his truck is only charging $45.00, you will get what you pay for.

 There is a reason to use a Certified Chimney Professional™ and that is PROVEN knowledge and expertise.

It’s your home, it’s your safety at stake. It’s also your choice. Don’t compromise, only use:

• Certified Chimney Professionals™ for inspections and cleaning of your chimney.
• Certified Chimney Reliners™ if your chimney needs a liner or if you are installing a new heating appliance.