One responsibility you have as a homeowner is scheduling an appointment to have your chimney professionally swept and inspected every year to ensure your fireplace and chimney system are working safely and efficiently. These annual chimney maintenance services are recommended by national fire safety organizations, including the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to be taken care of before lighting the first fire of the year.
With cooler weather just around the corner, you should give a call to Blue Ridge Chimney Services. Make an appointment with one of our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps. Once September arrives, they will have a busy schedule for the rest of the year as they work long hours to make sure the chimneys in the Shenandoah Valley will function safely all winter. It can be hard to get an appointment on the most convenient date for you. We suggest you go ahead and schedule these important services in August. We would like to tell you what you can expect from us when we sweep and inspect your chimney.
Chimney Sweeping
The chimney sweeps at Blue Ridge Chimney Services have years of experience and have been trained and certified by the CSIA, so you can trust us to properly sweep your chimney. We take great care to make sure every bit of creosote is removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire. Creosote is so flammable that it is named by the CSIA as a leading cause of chimney fires. We begin this process by laying down tarps and drop cloths on the floor around the fireplace to keep them clean.
We will always treat your home with respect and will ask you to move furniture and any breakable items at least six to eight feet away from the hearth. Once we have protected that area, we use specialized tools like rotating brushes on extended rods to sweep your chimney from top to bottom. After the sweeping is complete, we will dispose of the removed soot and creosote and clean up any other type mess from the process.
Chimney Inspection
Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps will then take a close look at the exterior and interior of your chimney for any damage or other problems that could pose hazards that would cause your chimney to be unsafe to use. We will check the flue for blockages of debris that would keep the chimney from being able to properly exhaust smoke, gases and other byproducts of combustion. If a blockage is present, we will remove it to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The components of your chimney, including the liner, masonry, and chimney cap, will be examined for cracks, gaps, or other damage that could lead to water leaks, heat transferring to the combustible parts of your home to ignite a fire, and carbon monoxide leaking into your home. If we find any damage, you will be given a written explanation and photos of the damage as well as a written estimate of the repairs that are necessary for your chimney to work safely.
Schedule Today
Beat the fall rush! Contact us at Blue Ridge Chimney Services today to schedule an appointment for your annual professional chimney maintenance services. You will be ready to safely light the first fire of the fall after we have swept and inspected your chimney.