Chimney Cleaning in Greenfield WI | Clean Sweep

Pretty soon we will be using our chimney's again for the heating season.  Clean Sweep Chimney Service has done Chimney Cleaning in Greenfield for over 15 years.

Make sure you inspect your chimney in the fall before the burning season actually starts. If birds, squirrels or other woodland creatures have built nests inside your chimney, you'll need to clean it out before the very first use. You should also inspect it inside and out for cracks and other damage that needs to be repaired.
After the burning season starts, how often you'll need to clean your chimney will depend on three factors: how much you use your fireplace, how low or high you make the fires and what kind of wood you burn. Low-burning, smoldering fires produce more creosote than high-temperature fires. And woods such as beech, pecan, pine and cedar, which create more creosote in your chimney than low-sap, low-oil woods such as oak. Make sure, too, that wood has been aged and dried, or seasoned. Dried wood burns better and generates less creosote.
If you own a gas fireplace, you're not immune to the hazards of creosote and carbon buildup, though they accumulate more slowly than they do in wood-burning fireplaces. As a rule of thumb, when you see a thick coating of carbon on your gas logs, it's time to clean the chimney.
If you've just moved in to an older home, have the chimney inspected and cleaned before starting the fireplace for the first time, especially if it's a gas fireplace. The previous owners may have been diligent about keeping the firebox clean and neglected the chimney.
For safety's sake, check the inside of your chimney often. A bright flashlight will help you see better. A good rule of thumb to follow is whenever the creosote has accumulated to an eighth of an inch thickness, it's time to clean your chimney out.


Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepwisconsin.com

Steps you can take to keep your chimney clean | Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning

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Cold weather is at our doorsteps. How often do you take the time to thank your fireplace for all the times it kept you warm during cold fall and winter nights? How about those nights when its flickering flames sparked an evening of romance, or when its unmistakable smell brought comfort and calm to your life? There’s a great way to thank your fireplace: take good care of it!
No matter how well you care for a fireplace, the flue inside your chimney suffers a gradual build-up of creosote (hard-layered residue from the wood-smoke), which can catch fire. Periodic chimney-cleaning is necessary in order to avoid such a catastrophe. This isn’t a do-it-yourself project; you need to hire a professional to clean your chimney.
Have your chimney cleaned once a year if you use it a lot. If you use your fireplace two or three times per week during colder months, have it inspected and cleaned each year. Another handy method is to inspect and clean after every 70 fires. Ask the chimney inspector about the condition of your flue liner and (if you have a masonry chimney) mortar.
So how can you reduce creosote build-up and keep your fireplace and chimney as clean as possible this season?
First of all, encourage good draft up your chimney, simply by keeping a window open a crack when you burn a fire. The air entering your room will get sucked up the chimney. Opening a window also ensures that your indoor air quality stays good while you burn the fire.
If you have glass fireplace doors, invest in a screen to block the fire instead of using glass. Doing so will also aid in ventilating the fire and encouraging airflow through the flue.
In addition to the aforementioned ventilation tips, you can reduce creosote build-up by using only dry hardwood logs, which burn more completely.
Clean the ash out of the fireplace. Wearing a dust mask, open a window in the room and then open the damper to let the draft suck any airborne ash out of the fireplace. Then, using fire gloves, remove the old coals. Carefully sweep the remaining dust into a dustpan. Remember to wait about three days after your most recent fire to do any of this; embers stay hot for a surprisingly long time!
Cap your chimney. Not only can an uncapped chimney collect gunk and debris, but it can also cause your damper to rust or even invite animals to make it their unlucky home.
Glass cleaners, brick cleaners and other appropriate cleaners are available for purchase to maintain the happy appearance of your fireplace. If you have dish soap handy, simply dilute it to make your own glass cleaner.
These simple steps can ensure that your enjoyment of the fireplace is not dampened by lingering doubts about safety.

Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepwisconsin.com

West Allis Chimney Repair | Clean Sweep Chimney

Chimney Repairs for West Allis Chimneys 

As with most potential issues, it starts small, with erosion from wind and rain that over time cause minor cracks in the masonry on the crown and in between bricks or stone chimneys. Once there are cracks in the masonry crown or between the mortar joints on your chimney, rain water and moisture from melting ice and snow seep in and freeze overnight when the temperature drops below 32 degrees.
The water then expands just like it does in ice trays in your freezer, and as it does, the cracks and gaps widen. Once the gaps and cracks get to the point where the masonry is no longer bonded to itself, the bricks can become loose or the mortar crown can lift from the top course of masonry.  Both of these issues mean your chimney system is being damaged more and more with time, weather and ever-changing temperatures.
The sooner you address these issues and call Clean Sweep Chimney Service so we can get a highly trained and certified technician out to repair the chimney structure and masonry, the better.Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services West Allis. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepwisconsin.com

 

Milwaukee Chimney Repair | Crumbling Brick

 Crumbling brick?  Need Chimney Repair in Milwaukee? How did this happen and how do I prevent it?

 Brick homes are sturdy and usually require very little maintenance. However, when walls or other structures made of brick are allowed to stay wet for long periods, they begin to crumble. Surface repairs won't fix the problem though they might improve the brick's appearance in the short term. To deal with crumbling brick, address the underlying moisture problem and remove all damaged material.
 Brick and mortar are porous materials that absorb moisture when they're in contact with the ground, when splashed with water regularly or when a house has poor drainage. Over time, the mortar between the bricks loses its adhesive properties, turning crumbly and sandy. The bricks themselves might even crack and break due to frost action.
 Keep brick walls from crumbling by keeping them dry. Maintain gutters carefully, removing all debris regularly and ensuring that downspouts work correctly. If a gutter leaks onto the ground near the house, the water seeping into the wall can cause serious damage. Maintain proper drainage around the house; if the ground slopes toward the wall, water moves closer to the foundation rather than away from it. Reduce the danger of splashing water from swimming pools, hoses and other water sources by keeping them well away from brick walls. Check mortar stability every few years to ensure the brick remains solid. If the mortar seems to be sandy, it may need to be removed and replaced.

Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.com