A chimney sweep in Edgewater with a written record
Start with a free inspection, approve the cleaning you want, then see what came down before we leave.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Hints that soot has built up inside
- Soot specks on the hearth between fires
- Smoke drifting into the room
- Sticky residue around the damper frame
- Heavy staining at the chimney top
Jump to
Sweeping the flue and the parts around it
What a chimney maintenance visit can include
A maintenance visit is a planned look at a chimney that is in regular use. It can include cleaning, a check of the cap screen and damper, and a conversation about any change you have noticed. The scope is agreed before the visit, like any other job.
Tell us which parts matter most to you. Some households mainly want the flue kept clear, while others want the damper and cap looked at each time. We write down what each visit covered, so the next one starts from the record rather than from memory.
Soot stains around the fireplace opening
Dark marks above the fireplace opening can come from smoke spilling out as a fire starts or dies down. Light surface soot can often be wiped from smooth faces during the cleaning. Porous stone and brick hold soot more deeply, and cleaning them is a separate task.
Ask whether face cleaning is included before you approve the estimate, so the scope is clear. We also look at why the smoke escaped. Staining that returns after every fire can point to a draft issue rather than a cleaning one.
Leave the fireplace cold for the visit
There is no need to light a fire to show us a problem. A test fire before a sweep only adds warm ash and fresh residue to the work area. If you want us to see a symptom, describe it or show us the marks it has left.
After cleaning, we can talk through how to judge the next fire. Watch whether smoke rises cleanly, whether the room stays clear and whether odor appears. Those observations tell us more than a demonstration on cleaning day would.
Smoke you can see or smell regularly
A fireplace in good order should send its smoke up and out. EPA guidance notes that if you regularly see or smell smoke, there may be a problem. The cause might be the fuel, the way the fire is built, or a restriction in the chimney.
Cleaning addresses the restriction part. When we visit, we ask about the smoke before we start, then look at the flue and cap screen with that complaint in mind. If the flue turns out clear and the smoke persists, we explain the other likely causes.
Items in a chimney cleaning visit
- Cleanout opening emptied where present
- Top access plan agreed in advance
- Blockage identified before any brushing
- Walk-through of results at the hearth
Sweep and flue questions from Edgewater
Why do you look at the flue after it is brushed?
Soot hides the surface. Once it is off, cracks, gaps and damaged parts are easier to see. That visual check is limited to what the brushes reached, and anything it raises is explained separately.
Can you sweep the chimney if the damper is stuck?
Often we can clean around it, depending on where it is stuck. We will not force it, because that can bend the frame. A stuck damper is noted and priced as a separate repair.
Can you tell if the chimney had a fire inside it?
Sometimes the signs are visible, such as puffed deposits, warped metal or cracked tiles. We point them out and explain what a closer look at the lining would involve before any further use.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Gas Fireplace Repair and ServiceGet a model-specific gas fireplace service plan for the fault you are seeing or the maintenance your unit needs.
- Chimney RebuildRebuild the affected chimney section with the retained structure, roof connection and passage included in the plan.
- Chimney Flue RepairAssess repairs to damaged existing flue linings and distinguish them from a new liner installation.
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
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