That depends on the size and condition of the flue and fireplace. The standard chimney sweep and safety inspection takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to clean and evaluate.

That question really depends on how often you burn, what you burn and how you burn. Primarily a cord to a cord and a half of wood is recommended also. Even if a chimney is seldom used without a cap can allow birds, squirrels, raccoons and other critters may have been using your chimney making it unsafe to use without clearing out the accumulated debris from nesting activity or the structure could have deteriorated to the point where the chimney is unsafe to use. The National Fire Protection Association says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”

Usually repairs are scheduled on a subsequent appointment to the initial chimney sweep and chimney inspection. However, we often can install caps on the day of a chimney cleaning.

Smoking problems are a major complaint among many home owners. Many things (from not opening the damper to a poorly designed chimney) will cause smoke to enter the living quarters. In some cases, heavy creosote accumulation in the flue can reduce the flue size enough to cause smoking. A good chimney cleaning will correct this smoking problem.

The chimney liner is design to safely expel hot flue gases to the exterior atmosphere. NFPA states that chimney’s MUST have a liner that is able to contain the materials of combustion. There are a few reasons why you may need a new liner; if your chimney currently has no liner, if it was installed improperly or if it is deteriorating or defective in some way. If the liner is too small, the gases will back into the home and cause smoking issues. If the liner is sized too large, the smoke will travel slowly up the chimney and large amounts of creosote will form on the liner. When Sweeping a chimney we also conduct a Level One Inspection, this sometimes leads to finding possible hazards within the chimney, like broken flue tiles.

Chimney Masters cleaning process leaves your home soot and dust free. We put down drop cloths, cover the fireplace and use a high powered vacuum to keep any mess contained to our equipment. We brush the firebox build-up, and our vacuum catches all the freed creosote and debris. Your chimney is cleaned from the top of the chimney down to the fireplace and then from the fireplace on up above the damper, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, lintel area and flue. We guarantee no mess to your home. Our chimney cleaning service includes a full video visual inspection of the fireplace, firebox, chimney, damper and liner.

The dryer vent technician will thoroughly inspect and clean your venting system, which can over time become clogged with dust and debris, as well as nesting insects and animals. We will also verify that your dryer vent is sized and installed correctly. For example, plastic ducts (flammable) that join the dryer to the wall will be replaced with metal ducts (non-flammable).

These inspections are more necessary now than they once were because dryers in newer homes are typically located away from outside walls (in places like bathrooms, kitchens, and hall closets), creating longer venting distances with more bending. As a result, dryer ducts are harder to access, and this extra length means more surface area where lint can collect and animals and birds can hide.

It is recommended that you have your clothes dryer duct cleaned annually because lint and debris can build up and cause your dryer to exhaust at less than optimum efficiency.

This creates potentially hazardous conditions, including carbon monoxide intrusion and the possibility for fires. If your clothes dryer is improperly vented or the exhaust duct is blocked by lint or debris, carbon monoxide can leak into your living space and poison your family.

Birds, mice, and other pests and insects can enter your dryer vent (usually from the outside of your home) and make a nest there. This infestation typically compromises your dryer’s venting capability, and can eventually lead to a dryer failure or a fire. We are happy to rodent-proof your dryer duct.

Cleaning your rain gutter system is an important part of your home’s routine maintenance. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up into the walls & lead to both exterior and interior damage. Standing water in a clogged gutter is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, a concern with the spring West Nile virus & EEE season.

In the winter clogged gutters freeze into heavy blocks of ice causing your gutters to pull away from your home, shorting the gutter systems lifespan & creating an overhead ice hazard & can lead to large ice dams & icicles.

This is one of those questions that depend on your specific location and the amount of trees. Many residences can suffice with a yearly gutter cleaning. Some, without many nearby tall trees, can go longer, possibly two to four years between cleanings. Others, in more densely treed areas, require multiple cleaning per year.

Aside from the gutters capacity to hold water and debris as mentioned above, there is still the corrosive, rusting aspect of gutters filled with decaying organic matter. Additionally, very full and overflowing gutters increase the risk of roof and window leaks. Unless your house has extenuating circumstances, yearly cleaning is the best bet and a good starting interval.

The following are recommended times to clean your gutters. Because weather patterns are different each year a range is given for each cleaning.

Spring – Between April & end of June to rid your gutters of an accumulation of fall & winter debris.

In addition, some of the tender tree foliage is blown off the trees along with blossoms & pollen strings which because of their consistency will clog gutters causing them to hold water, providing a perfect breeding ground for mosquito larva.

Mid to late Summer – August through September because, despite the fact that most leaves are firmly attached to the trees, some still come down & end up in the gutters. Thunderstorms, strong winds & drought, all are strong contributors to large accumulations of leaves, pine needles, sticks & debris during the summer.

Early Fall – October through November, leaves & needles quickly accumulate in your gutters & their sheer volume requires the gutters to be cleared.

The wear & tear from ice dams & heavy snow can lead to the end of most gutter systems causing the gutters and downspouts to pull away and cause the corners, seams and end caps to leak. Extend the life of your gutter system with our “Tune-Up” service consisting of re-nailing/screwing loose gutters & downspouts, we add gutter hangers & screws where needed, resealing all corners, end caps, seams, & outlets, replace missing parts and reconnect disconnected parts. Please call us for a quote to have your gutter system tuned.