Book Your Charlottesville Chimney Sweeping With The Chimney Guys
All kinds of things can find their way into your chimney over time, whether it’s critters trying to set up camp, debris making its way in on windy days, or creosote clinging to your chimney liner. Stay vigilant and book your next chimney sweep service with us. For quality chimney services near you, we’re here to help. We serve Charlottesville, Ruckersville, Crozet, Madison, and all cities and towns surrounding.
Do Chimney Sweepings Remove Creosote?
One of the major reasons chimney sweeping is necessary is to remove creosote from the chimney system.
What is creosote? It’s a residue that forms when you light a fire. Basically, the smoke, condensation, and acidic gases that the fire produces cool as they near the top of your chimney – and as they cool, they settle onto the interior walls of the chimney, forming creosote.
What does creosote look like? It’s typically very dark in color, and it can come in a few different forms – flaky, sticky, or hard/glazed. The most important thing to note is that, no matter the form or color it takes, creosote is extremely flammable. If it isn’t regularly removed from your flue, you could experience a chimney fire.
Now, your firebox can handle that kind of heat, no problem…but your chimney liner and masonry? Not so much. Chimney fires can cause a lot of damage and will likely warrant the need for expensive repairs, so avoiding them is always the best route. To do so, book your chimney sweep service with us today.
"I needed an emergency chimney repair ASAP and The Chimney Guys did everything they could to quickly resolve the problem, efficiently and thoroughly. Everyone I spoke to was knowledgeable and friendly. Good customer service is hard to find these days. I totally recommend them."
-Jennifer P.
Can I Stop Creosote From Forming in My Chimney?
No matter how well you maintain your fireplace, creosote is always going to accumulate when you burn wood fires. Fortunately, there are practices you can adopt to significantly slow the rate at which it forms. These include the following:
- Using only seasoned wood as fuel
- Burning hotter fires
- Prioritizing good airflow
- Warming the flue before starting a fire
- Avoiding burning artificial logs
- Opening the damper fully to invite in plenty of oxygen
And, of course, to always keep your creosote in check, be sure to book annual inspections with our experts.
What Are Signs of an Active Chimney Fire?
Most people assume they’ll know if they’ve had a chimney fire. After all, they’ve got to be pretty loud, obvious events, right? Well, that’s not actually the norm. In fact, most chimney fires are very quiet in nature, leaving homeowners unaware that anything has happened at all. While it’s true that some chimney fires make loud popping noises, produce large amounts of smoke, or give off a really intense smell, this just isn’t normally the case.
How can this be? Fires need oxygen and fuel to be large and noticeable, but chimney fires don’t have much access to either of these elements. This means that they burn slowly, not drawing much attention. That being said, temperatures still remain extraordinarily high, so don’t underestimate the damage they can do.
What are signs you’ve had a chimney fire and don’t know it?
A chimney fire can be extremely dangerous, and many homeowners may not even realize one has occurred. Here are some signs that you may have had a chimney fire without knowing it:
- Creosote inside the chimney is puffy, cracked, or takes on a honeycomb texture
- Warped metal components, such as the damper or chimney cap
- Cracked, split, or missing flue tiles
- Discolorted or distorted chimney exterior
- Black, sooty residue around your fireplace
- Fireplace starts drafting poorly or producing excessive smoke
- Strong, unusual odor come from the flue
- Loud, popping noises that went unexplained
If you notice any of these signs, do not use your fireplace until a professional chimney sweep inspects and repairs any damage. Chimney fires can weaken the structure, making it unsafe for use.
Book Your Next Chimney Sweep Service Today
Learning about chimney fires tends to leave fireplace owners feeling pretty unsettled. These events can do quite a bit of damage in a hurry – and they’re sneaky about it too. The good news is that routine, regular chimney sweepings can ensure chimney fires don’t become a threat to your home.
The Chimney Guys can take care of this important service for you. We have hundreds of hours of training and education under our belts, and a CSIA certification to show for it. Combine that with 10+ years of hands-on experience, and you can feel good about trusting us to handle your next chimney service.
Call to schedule a chimney sweeping and get the peace of mind you and your household deserve.
Dealing with a smoky fireplace? There are lots of potential causes – we’ll start with a sweep and inspection, then go from there.