Chicago Chimney Cleanings
Regular chimney cleaning prevents dangerous build up of creosote and costly chimney repairs in the future.
Fireplace (Wood):
A wood-burning stove or fireplace requires special attention. When wood is burned it expels a substance called creosote. As the smoke from a fire makes its way up through your chimney and out of your home, creosote adheres to the sides of your flue. This is important because creosote is flammable. One spark from a fire, floating up into your chimney, can ignite this creosote and cause a chimney fire. This makes creosote a danger to your home and your family.
This danger can be alleviated through the regular sweeping of your chimney. Creosote, in its soft, brushable form, can be removed during a standard cleaning by a trained technician. However, if your chimney has been neglected, the creosote may harden, becoming “glazed”. Glazed creosote cannot be removed during a standard cleaning, as it is not brushable. It therefore requires a more extensive mechanical cleaning called “roto cleaning”.
According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, you should have your chimney cleaned after burning one full cord of wood. This is equivalent to 20-30 small fires, or approximately 150 pieces of wood.
Fireplace (Gas):
Gas-burning fireplaces also require cleaning, but they do not require them as often as their wood-burning counterparts, as they do not expel creosote. Instead, gas-burning fireplaces expel carbon, a black, cotton-like substance. This material will continue to build up every time you burn a fire. Eventually, it will begin falling down into your fireplace itself.
Your gas-burning fireplace also contains sand, glowing embers, and vermiculite, which help to make it more beautiful and realistic. Continued use of your fireplace will cause them to lose their appeal and, over time, they will need to be replaced. Replacement of this material, and brushing and resetting of the logs is completed in our refurbishing process.
There is no set number of fires that needs to be reached before your gas-burning fireplace is due for a cleaning or refurbishing. The commonly excepted rule is that you should have it cleaned and refurbished every two to five years, depending on usage and appearance, although, as with any gas appliance, it is highly recommended that you have it inspected annually for safety purposes.
Dryer Vent Cleaning:
Your dryer vent builds up lint with every use. This lint is flammable, and can catch fire easily, making it a danger to your home and family. To alleviate this danger, and to improve the performance of your dryer, it is essential that you keep your dryer vent clean. Again, however, there is no set time-frame as to how often you should have it cleaned. Instead, it is recommended that you base your cleaning regimen on your drying time.
Furnace Flues:
Your dryer vent builds up lint with every use. This lint is flammable, and can catch fire easily, making it a danger to your home and family. To alleviate this danger, and to improve the performance of your dryer, it is essential that you keep your dryer vent clean. Again, however, there is no set time-frame as to how often you should have it cleaned. Instead, it is recommended that you base your cleaning regimen on your drying time. When you notice your drying time begin to increase, you are due for a cleaning.
