Chimney soot removal and sweeping in Mission Bay

Matching each flue to its fireplace

A single chimney can carry several flues, and from the roof they may look alike. Brushing the wrong one leaves the fireplace untouched. We match each flue to its opening before cleaning, using the layout inside the house and the arrangement at the top.

If another appliance vents through a flue in the same chimney, tell us what it is. That flue belongs to its appliance and follows that appliance's instructions. We keep the fireplace cleaning apart from it and mention anything at the shared top that affects either one.

Details that help us plan your chimney sweep

A short call before the visit lets us bring the right rods, brushes and covers. These details help most.

Nothing on the list is required to book. Whatever you cannot answer, we find out during the free inspection. Call us with whatever you have, and we take it from there.

• How many fireplaces there are and which ones you use
• Any manual, model label or earlier record of work
• Recent smoke, odor or noises from the chimney
• Access notes for the roof, a gate or parking

The throat between firebox and smoke chamber

The throat is the narrow opening where the firebox meets the smoke chamber, usually where the damper sits. Soot and flakes build up on its edges and can partly close it. Smoke then struggles to leave, especially as a fire starts.

Cleaning clears the throat along with the damper frame. If the throat is misshapen or partly blocked by masonry, brushing cannot change that. We describe the shape we found and whether it is likely to affect how the fireplace draws.

Cleaning the flue after an animal has left

Once an animal has gone and the flue can be worked on, what it left behind still needs removing. Nest material, droppings and debris can block the passage and hold odor. They are also combustible, so they should not be left for the next fire to find.

We bag the material with care, keeping it contained in the firebox, and brush the flue and smoke shelf clear. If the entry point is still open, we note it so the problem does not repeat. The written record lists what was removed and what the top needs.