For Chimney Sweeping & Cleaning Near You, Trust Us: Grand Junction’s Go-To Chimney Experts
It’s a simple fact – a clean chimney is a safer chimney. This is why annual maintenance is so strongly encouraged throughout the fireplace industry. At Stove Depot and Chimney Works, we’ve been proudly serving the Grand Junction area for decades. From offering quality products in our fireplace showroom to providing top-of-the-line chimney sweep services, we strive to do it all. Call today.
What Happens During a Chimney Sweeping?
From the outside, a chimney sweep service might seem as simple as running a funny-looking brush up and down the chimney flue, but it’s actually a pretty detailed process – a process that, if not done correctly, could invite damage or increase the risk of experiencing hazards. What actually happens during the chimney sweeping process?
- Protective equipment is set in place. Creosote and soot is messy, so we’ll lay down protective coverings around the fireplace to protect your home. We’ll also set up high-powered HEPA vacuums to catch any stray dust or materials.
- A quick inspection is performed. The technician will do a quick preliminary inspection of your chimney system, checking for any obvious blockages, cracks, or damage to figure out the best way to approach the sweeping.
- Your chimney gets swept. This involves using a series of brushes attached to flexible rods. The technician will insert these into the chimney flue to dislodge creosote, soot, and any blockages.
- Your firebox and smoke shelf are addressed. Once the flue is clear, the firebox and smoke shelf are cleaned. The smoke shelf often traps debris and creosote flakes.
- The tech does a final inspection and cleanup. After sweeping, the technician will do a final inspection to make sure everything is looking clear. Then, all drop clothes and equipment will be removed – no soot or dust is left behind.
Before leaving, the chimney tech will give you a report outlining what they found, what they cleaned, and any issues to watch out for or fix. Have questions for us? Reach out soon!
Why Is Annual Chimney Sweeping Important?
If your fireplace looks clean and seems to be working fine, you may be wondering if a yearly sweep is really needed. Why spend time and money on a professional cleaning when everything appears to be fine?
The truth is, chimney sweeping isn’t just about keeping things tidy – it’s a vital part of keeping your home safer and spotting damages before they get worse. Even if no damages appear to be present from your vantage point, remember that a majority of your chimney parts are internal and hidden away. While things may appear okay on the outside, there could be major issues happening within.
Consider these two scenarios:
- It’s fall, and you’re excited to start lighting fires again after a long summer. You call your local chimney sweep, who cleans and inspects your chimney. During the process, they discover some creosote buildup that’s thicker than usual and also spot a small crack in the liner. They clear out the creosote, schedule a liner repair, and in a matter of weeks, your fireplace is ready to use with peace of mind.
Or…
- Temps have cooled down, and you want to use your fireplace. You didn’t book a sweeping this year, but everything looks fine on the outside, so you assume it’s safe to light a fire. A few weeks later you notice a lack of efficiency, and you call in your sweep, only to discover a slow-moving chimney fire occurred unbeknownst to you. As a result, you have liner damage, cracked masonry, and warped metal components – and your chimney is unsafe for use until all damages are addressed.
Which sounds like the better route? It’s pretty clear – scheduling affordable maintenance early on is always going to be the better option, long term, not only for your bank account, but for your family’s peace of mind.
How Do Chimney Sweepings Keep You Safer?
- Regular chimney sweepings help you avoid chimney fires. When you burn wood, creosote – a highly flammable substance – forms and sticks to your chimney walls. If it builds up too thick, it can ignite, causing a dangerous chimney fire. Regular chimney sweepings remove this flammable buildup before it becomes a serious fire hazard.
- Regular chimney sweepings improve fireplace efficiency. You want your fireplace to warm your home effectively, right? When your chimney is cleaner, your fire burns hotter and more efficiently because airflow is better. If your chimney is dirty or blocked, fires can smolder and produce more smoke, wasting wood and making your home smell smoky.
- Regular chimney sweepings can extend the lifespan of your chimney. Think of your chimney like any other appliance – regular maintenance helps it last longer. Creosote, soot, and moisture can cause the chimney to deteriorate faster. Over time, this can lead to cracks, leaks, or structural damage that are costly to repair. A professional chimney sweep not only cleans but also inspects your chimney to catch problems early.
- Regular chimney sweepings protect your family’s health. Chimney blockages and buildup don’t just increase fire risk…they can also cause harmful gases like carbon monoxide to seep into your home. Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible but deadly, causing headaches, dizziness, or even fatal poisoning. Regular chimney sweeping helps ensure your ventilation system works properly, keeping your indoor air safer and cleaner.
- Regular chimney sweepings ensure you meet warranty and insurance requirements. Many home insurance policies and appliance warranties require proof of annual chimney inspections and cleanings for coverage to stay valid. Failing to maintain your chimney properly could void your agreement, leaving you covering the cost of unavoidable repairs on your own.
What Is Creosote? How Is It Harmful?
Creosote is a black or dark brown, sticky substance that accumulates inside your chimney’s flue. It’s made up of tar, carbon, and other byproducts produced when wood burns.
How does creosote form exactly? When you burn wood, especially if it’s green or damp, the smoke contains volatile gases and unburned particles. As these gases rise through the chimney, they cool and condense on the flue walls. Over time, this sticky residue hardens and builds up in layers, sometimes becoming thick and crusty.
What makes creosote so harmful?
The biggest issue with creosote is its extreme flammability. If a spark or hot ember ignites the creosote inside the chimney, it can cause a chimney fire. And while chimneys are designed to take on some heat, direct contact with flames is a whole other matter. Chimney fires cause a lot of damage to your flue, and they can spread to other areas of the home.
Creosote comes in three forms, each with different risk levels:
- Stage 1 (Flaky Creosote): This is the least harmful. It’s flaky and powdery and often brushes away easily during sweeping.
- Stage 2 (Sticky/Tar-like Creosote): More stubborn, this sticky and tar-like form can coat the flue walls and is harder to remove.
- Stage 3 (Glassy or Hardened Creosote): This is the most dangerous type – it’s shiny and hardened like glass or blackened glaze. It can be very difficult to remove without the proper products and poses the highest risk of igniting.
Beyond fire risk, creosote buildup can also reduce efficiency and airflow by narrowing the flue opening, cause unpleasant odors to enter your household, and trigger corrosion and damage throughout your chimney, thus shortening its lifespan.
Can I Prevent Creosote Buildup & Chimney Fires?
The good news is, while creosote is dangerous, excessive buildup is avoidable. Keep the following practices in mind as you use your fireplace.
- Burn dry, seasoned wood. Wood that’s been dried for at least six months burns hotter and cleaner, producing less creosote.
- Keep fires burning hot and fast. Smoldering fires produce more creosote, so avoid small, smoky fires – and don’t overload your fireplace.
- Avoid burning trash or cardboard. These products can create more tar and chemical buildup – anything that’s not seasoned hardwood should be kept out of the fireplace.
- Book regular chimney sweepings. Professional cleaning removes creosote before it becomes a hazard – schedule this maintenance annually.
- Use a fireplace grate to help air circulate. A grate lifts the logs and allows oxygen to flow underneath, which helps create a hotter, cleaner burn.
Creosote may be an unavoidable byproduct of burning wood, but with proper care and attention, you can keep it under control – and ensure your chimney runs safer with every season.
Grand Junction Chimney Sweep Provider: Trust Us, Every Time
When it comes to protecting your home and family, cutting corners on chimney care isn’t worth the risk or long-term expense. Let our experienced team handle the mess and stress so you can enjoy your fireplace with confidence – we’ve got your Grand Junction chimney needs covered.
Give us a call today or schedule your service online – we’d love to show you why so many local homeowners trust us year after year.
Our chimney service list is exhaustive, ensuring you can get all of your fireplace and chimney repair services completed with us too.