Debunking Myths about Chimney Cleanings and Inspections

Do you think you can clean your own chimney? Many myths have been spread about chimney cleanings, but knowing who the right person is and when a chimney needs to be cleaned is vital to ensure the safety of your home.

Here are a few incorrect myths we have heard in the past:

I do not need to hire a sweep, I can clean my own Chimney

An Annual Chimney Cleaning and Safety Inspection should always be performed by a certified sweep. There are a lot of components inside a chimney that need to be taken care of, and if you do not know what you are looking for, these problems can easily be missed.

The only time to clean my chimney is right before or after winter

This is a misconception, as a chimney can be cleaned anytime during the year. Fall is typically the busy season, and at times may be hard to get an appointment. In fact, the best time to have your chimney cleaned is during the summer. Most sweeps’ schedules are lighter and easier to schedule an appointment and if there are any problems, it allows more time to fix the issue before the chimney is in heavy use.

I don’t need a chimney cleaning, I just bought my house

Unless it’s been documented that the chimney has been serviced in the last year, it NEEDS an inspection. Taking the word of the previous homeowner is risky. The best time to have an inspection is before closing. Hire a sweep to perform an inspection before a costly repair surfaces after you have closed.

I just had a chimney liner installed, I don’t need a chimney cleaning
Getting a new chimney liner is a great way to protect your chimney and lower the amount of creosote build up. That being said it is still important to have an Annual Chimney Cleaning and Safety Inspection to remove any buildup that has accumulated in the last year.

Don’t ignore your chimney any longer. Let ChimneyTEK’s team of certified sweeps clean and inspect your chimney. Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.