Fireplace and flue cleaning in Cutler Bay
Our family team cleans the chimney and explains any finding before you decide on the next step.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Hints that soot has built up inside
- The damper will not close fully
- Soot stains above the fireplace opening
- Sticky residue around the damper frame
- Smoke puffing out as a fire starts
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Chimney sweeping decisions explained
Let the ashes go cold before cleaning day
Ashes can hold heat long after the flames are gone. Stop using the fireplace ahead of the appointment so the firebox and any buried embers are cold when we arrive. We do not start brushing over warm material, because loosened deposits and hot ash are a poor mix.
Leave the ash where it is if you are unsure whether it has cooled. We collect it as part of the cleaning and carry it out with the rest of the debris. That way nothing warm ends up in a household bin or a paper bag by the door.
Collecting soot and debris at the fireplace
Deposits that come down the flue are gathered in the firebox and bagged there. A vacuum picks up the fine material that brushing sets loose. Nothing is swept across the floor or left for you to empty later.
The bagged debris leaves with us. We clean up the work area and haul the material away. The firebox is empty and the hearth is clear when the visit ends. If something unusual comes down, such as nest material or pieces of tile, we set it aside to show you before it goes.
Soot and debris on the smoke shelf
Many masonry fireplaces have a flat shelf behind the damper, at the base of the smoke chamber. Soot, fallen mortar, leaves and nest material can gather there. Because the shelf sits out of sight, debris on it may stay unnoticed through many fires.
Clearing the shelf by hand and with the vacuum is part of a thorough cleaning. What we find there can say something about the chimney top, such as a missing screen or loose masonry. We describe that finding separately so the cause can be dealt with and not only the debris.
When rain reaches the deposits in the flue
Water entering an uncapped or damaged chimney top mixes with soot and residue. The result can be a dark stain on the firebox walls, a sour smell or a streak running down the damper. Cleaning removes the deposits but does not stop the water.
We note where the staining starts and what the top looks like. If a cap, crown or seal is letting water in, that becomes a separate finding with its own estimate. Removing the deposits often makes the source easier to see.
Your chimney sweep, itemized before work
- Smoke chamber and smoke shelf clearing
- Cap screen clearing where reachable
- Cap and damper repairs quoted separately
- Roof and gutter clean-up below the top
Before you arrange a chimney sweep
Will soot end up on my furniture or floors?
It should not. The hearth and route are covered, the opening is sealed while the flue is brushed, and debris is bagged in the firebox. If you notice soot where it should not be afterward, tell us and we come back to deal with it.
Is the cap screen cleaned as part of the sweep?
Yes, when the top can be reached safely. We brush the mesh and clear the opening. A torn, rusted or loose screen is noted and priced as a separate repair rather than patched without your approval.
Should I empty the ashes before you arrive?
No. Leave them where they are and let the fireplace go cold. We remove the ash with the rest of the debris and take it away, so nothing warm ends up in a household bin.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Crown RepairRepair the damaged chimney top with an approach matched to the crown and supporting masonry.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo