Chimney cleaning for fireplaces in Melrose Park
Brushes matched to the lining, loose deposits removed and hardened coatings explained before anything extra is priced.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
When the chimney is due for a sweep
- Nest material on the smoke shelf
- A cap screen furred with soot
- Smell that worsens after rain
- Heavy staining at the chimney top
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Chimney cleaning in Melrose Park, step by step
Keeping chimney odor out when the fireplace is idle
Air moving down an unused flue carries the smell of deposits into the house. A damper that seals when closed slows that air. If the damper does not close, the smell can come and go with the weather and with how the house is being cooled.
After cleaning, keep the damper closed whenever the fireplace is cold. If it will not seal, a repair or a damper at the top of the flue can be discussed as a separate item. We explain the options without adding them to the cleaning scope unless you ask.
A fireplace that is lit only now and then
Occasional fires still leave residue, and a flue that stays cold between uses can hold moisture. Light use does not mean the chimney can be forgotten. Debris and animals can move in during the long gaps.
Tell us roughly when it was last lit and whether anything odd happened, such as smoke at the opening. For a lightly used fireplace, the brushing may be quick while the checks matter more. We explain which of the two took up more of the visit and why.
Signs of past overheating inside the flue
Some deposits look puffed up and honeycombed, like burned sponge. Along with warped metal parts or cracked tiles, that can point to a past fire in the flue that nobody noticed. We point these signs out when we see them.
A flue that may have burned should not go back into use on the strength of a cleaning. We explain what we saw and what a closer look at the lining would involve. The written record notes the signs so the decision is on paper.
Soot marks on the outside of the chimney
Dark staining on the chimney top, the cap or the siding near it comes from smoke leaving the flue. A little is expected on a working chimney. Heavy, sticky marks can mean the fires are smoky or that residue is being carried out by rain.
We note the pattern when we are at the top. Cleaning outside surfaces is not part of an ordinary sweep, and we say so before you approve. If the staining tells us something about the fires, we explain that instead of simply scrubbing it away.
Sweep scope agreed before the rods go up
- Written record of the work
- Findings listed apart from cleaning
- Cleanout opening emptied where present
- Insert liner access per the manual
Sweep and flue questions from Melrose Park
Will cleaning get rid of the smell from my fireplace?
It often reduces it, because deposits are a common source. It may not remove it entirely if water in the masonry or air moving down the flue is involved. We tell you before the work if cleaning alone is unlikely to be enough.
What if part of the flue cannot be reached?
We tell you where the unreached section is and why, and the written record notes it. You are not told the flue is clean when part of it went unbrushed. We also explain whether that section affects safe use.
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.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Leak RepairFind the chimney water entry point and plan a repair before restoring the damaged finish.
- Chimney Masonry RepairRepair affected chimney brickwork and joints with materials selected for the construction already in place.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
- Gas Fireplace Repair and ServiceGet a model-specific gas fireplace service plan for the fault you are seeing or the maintenance your unit needs.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo