Chimney sweep visits for homes in Coral Gables

When the flue bends between hearth and top

Not every flue runs straight. Some bend to pass framing or to reach the roof at a different point, and the bend changes what a rod can reach. Flexible rods handle gentle offsets, while a sharp bend may limit how far a brush travels from one end.

Where both ends are accessible, the flue is cleaned from each side to cover the middle. If a section still cannot be reached, we say where it is and what that means for the result. You should not be told a flue is clean when part of it went unbrushed.

Chimney cleaning words you may hear

A few terms come up often when a chimney is cleaned. Knowing them makes the estimate and the written record easier to follow.

Ask us to point to each part during the visit. Seeing where the smoke chamber ends and the flue begins helps when a finding mentions one of them.

• The flue carries smoke up and out of the house
• The smoke chamber is the sloped space between damper and flue
• The damper opens for a fire and closes when the fireplace rests
• The cap screen stops sparks and keeps animals out

Booking a sweep and an inspection together

Some households want the flue cleaned and the whole chimney evaluated on the same visit. The two can be combined, with the cleaning done ahead of the evaluation so the lining is visible. The estimate then prices the cleaning and the evaluation on separate lines.

Tell us the reason for the wider look, such as a change in how the fireplace performs or plans to use it more. That purpose shapes what is examined. The written record keeps the cleaning results and the evaluation findings apart.

Leaves and twigs inside the flue

Leaves, twigs and seed pods can drop into an open flue or blow in past a damaged screen. They pile up on the smoke shelf or catch in a bend. Dry plant material is combustible and can also restrict the draft.

We clear what we find and say where it collected. A torn screen or an open top is noted as the cause. If trees overhang the chimney, you may see the same debris again, and that is worth knowing before the next fire.