Need To Have Your Chimney Swept? Call PA’s Only CSIA- Certified Master Chimney Sweep
Keeping up with routine chimney sweepings and cleanings is one of the best ways to protect your home against fire and keep your chimney in great condition, season after season. The team here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service knows just how important it is that chimneys be cleaned regularly and well, which is why, when you call on us to do the job, you get a better, more thorough sweeping.
Most companies will simply push a brush up and down in the chimney and do a quick visual check of the chimney using a flashlight. As the only chimney company in Pennsylvania to have received all of the available certifications from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the National Fireplace Institute (NFI), and Fireplace Investigation, Research, and Education Services (F.I.R.E.), we know it takes more than that to keep a chimney cleaner and safer.
With Lou Curley’s Chimney Service on the job, you get more:
- A better sweeping —When we clean masonry fireplaces, we use rotary brushes that attach to a drill and spin-clean the interior of the chimney. This provides a much more effective cleaning and removes more soot and creosote than a simple wire brush would. While some companies may offer rotary sweeping, it’s typically an additional charge, but here at Lou’s Chimney Service, it’s our standard.
- A better inspection — A flashlight inspection may reveal obvious safety hazards like flue blockages, but it’s not going to provide a good, up-close look at the entire chimney. Instead of naked eye inspections, we perform video scans of the entire interior of the flue. Should we find defects or damage, we’ll show you pictures of our findings so you don’t have to just take our word for it. We choose to include a video scan with every inspection because we know our clients want the peace of mind that comes with knowing the chimney is clean, free of damage, and ready to be used. Again, some companies may offer this service, but it’s typically an add-on.
- A better technician —Unfortunately, no training is required to become a chimney sweep, and many companies set up shop without getting any formal training or certification. Here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service, we know that the more training and education we receive, the better we’ll be at serving our customers, which is why we’ve invested in every available certification from the CSIA, F.I.R.E., and the NFI. We’re the only chimney company in Pennsylvania to hold all of those certifications, and we’re also the only CSIA Master Chimney Sweep in PA, so when we’re in your home, you can be confident you’re in good hands.
How Often Should You Clean Or Sweep Your Chimney?
Use, system design, burning habits, type of wood burned, house pressures, and a multitude of other factors all affect the chimney system and determine how often you should have your chimney swept. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that every chimney should be inspected annually, whether it vents a fireplace, stove, gas furnace/boiler, or oil furnace/boiler. If the inspection reveals a soot or creosote buildup of 1/8” or greater, the chimney should be cleaned/swept.
What Should You Look For In A Chimney Sweep?
Because the chimney industry is unregulated, service and training levels aren’t consistent. To ensure you’re in good hands, look for a company that’s certified by a nationally recognized agency in the service you need. When hiring a company to sweep or clean your chimney, verify that they’re CSIA-certified chimney sweeps. To earn this credential, which is considered the “gold standard” of the chimney sweeping industry and should be the minimum requirement for anyone servicing your chimney, you must pass two tests on sweeping practices and code requirements.
When Should You Schedule Your Chimney Cleaning?
Now that you know you should schedule an inspection every year so you’ll know when it’s time for a sweeping and you know what to look for in a chimney sweep, what time of year is best for scheduling these services? While any time of year will do, the best time to schedule a chimney inspection and sweeping is in the spring, right after the heating season ends. Soot and creosote are corrosive and can lead to unpleasant smells and chimney damage, so it’s best to get both out of your chimney as quickly as possible. Sweeping or cleaning your chimney right after the burning season is similar to brushing your teeth right after eating — it’s what’s recommended by professionals!
Schedule your next chimney inspection now and mark it off your list of chimney services for the year.