Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning and repair by Clean Sweep Chimney Service.

Chimney Repair

Residential and commercial service Chimney safety inspections Chimney brick replacement Chimney tuckpointing Chimney rebuilding Chimney waterproofing New chimney flashing Flue replacement Flue tile replacement Chimney cap installation Fireplace firebox repair Fireplace removal Fireplace installation Fireplace insert installation Top-mount chimney damper installation Elimination of smoke and odor problems

Chimney Relining

Residential and commercial service Chimney liner safety inspection Installation of replacement and new chimney liners Flue replacement and relining Relining for fireplace, heat stove or furnace chimneys Wide range of material and price options Stainless steel chimney liners Aluminum chimney liners Tile chimney liners Galvanized pipe chimney liners 10-year workmanship guarantee

Chimney Cleaning

Chimney Sweep Services, Chimney safety inspection, Chimney creosote removal, Fireplace chimney cleaning, Furnace chimney cleaning, Woodstove chimney cleaning,

Smoke and odor elimination, and Animal removal.

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 athttp://cleansweepwisconsin.com

Contact Clean Sweep Chimney Service today

at 414-483-9996 to schedule an appointment

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning and repair

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning and repair by Clean Sweep Chimney Service of Milwaukee has found a nice article from CSIA.org to help with some common questions. 

Q. How often should I have my chimney swept?
This a tougher question than it sounds. The simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 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." This is the national safety standard and is the correct way to approach the problem. It takes into account the fact that even if you don't use your chimney much, animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe to use.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be swept at 1/8" of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. This is considered to be enough fuel buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home. Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic is that the deposit is quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace.

---

Q. My fireplace stinks, especially in the summer. What can I do?
The smell is due to creosote deposits in the chimney, a natural byproduct of woodburning. The odor is usually worse in the summer when the humidity is high and the air conditioner is turned on. A good sweeping will help but usually won't solve the problem completely. There are commercial chimney deodorants that work pretty well, and many people have good results with baking soda or even kitty litter set in the fireplace. The real problem is the air being drawn down the chimney, a symptom of overall pressure problems in the house. Some make-up air should be introduced somewhere else in the house. A tight sealing, top mounted damper will also reduce this air flow coming down the chimney.

---

Q. When I build a fire in my upstairs fireplace, I get smoke from the basement fireplace.
This has become quite a common problem in modern air tight houses where weather-proofing has sealed up the usual air infiltration routes. The fireplace in use exhausts household air until a negative pressure situation exists. If the house is fairly tight, the simplest route for makeup air to enter the structure is often the unused fireplace chimney. As air is drawn down this unused flue, it picks up smoke that is exiting nearby from the fireplace in use and delivers the smoke to the living area. The best solution is to provide makeup air to the house so the negative pressure problem no longer exists, thus eliminating not only the smoke problem, but also the potential for carbon monoxide to be drawn back down the furnace chimney. A secondary solution is to install a top mount damper on the fireplace that is used the least.

---

Q. I heat with gas. Should this chimney be checked too?
Without a doubt! Although gas is generally a clean burning fuel, the chimney can become non-functional from bird nests or other debris blocking the flue. Modern furnaces can also cause many problems with the average flues intended to vent the older generation of furnaces. We suggest you check the areas on gas and carbon monoxide for more information.

---

Q: What is level 3 creosote? I have an 80 year old home that was a longtime rental house. I have lived here five years and have been using the fireplace for four of those years. I do not know how long it has been since my chimney was swept (potentially decades, if ever). I just had a chimney sweep at my house and he informed me that the creosote in my chimney was quite thick (he used the term "level 3" creosote). He also said that in the smoke chamber, the brick is stepped (instead of smooth) and that there is a lot of dangerous buildup in there. He recommended two applications of an acid cleaning (which he said are not entirely foolproof, and work better above 45°F) and that we use a chemical when we burn our fire to help "chalkify" the creosote buildup. He showed me the buildup inside with a light and everything he said seemed to make sense. Does this sound like it's on the up and up? I can't find any info on this acid cleaning and I would like to know if this sounds like it is the proper course of action in a case like mine.
What you have described sounds pretty typical. In addition to the chemical treatment that you mentioned, professional-grade chemicals, usually in the form of a powder, can be applied by chimney sweeps to help change the nature of the glazed creosote to a form that can be removed by a professional with a brush Both forms of these products require some heat such as you would find in a small fire in the fireplace.
If the creosote is gummy, about the only way to deal with the creosote is with a chemical treatment or with an acid application. Acid applications are not as commonly used since they are harder to apply and have to be neutralized a few days after application. If the creosote is crusty or fractures when hit (as opposed to gummy) a rotary cleaning can be helpful. Read our position statement on chemical chimney cleaning products here.

---

Q: How do I know if he really cleaned my chimney? In the past, sweeps we’ve hired have always gone on the roof, checked the flashing, the mortar and all the workings of the chimney and then cleaned the chimney from the top of the house. Today, this sweep came in, looked into my fireplace from the bottom and said we don’t need it cleaned because he can still see the bricks. I asked to have it cleaned anyway. He then grabbed a wire brush and simply rubbed away any buildup from the main opening to the fireplace without even going up into the chimney to clean anything. Am I way off base, or did the sweep charge me without cleaning my chimney?
Your past experiences with chimney sweeps sound as though the sweep did the job he was hired to do. However, your most recent experience sounds a bit odd. If the sweep agreed to do a complete sweeping and only cleaned the brick in the fireplace firebox, you did not get the service that you paid for. A complete chimney sweeping includes the chimney flue and smoke chamber.
In the future you could ask for a Level 1 chimney inspection and a chimney sweeping. If the sweep doesn’t know what a Level 1 inspection is, find one that does. A Level 1 inspection is detailed in the National Fire Protection Association 211: Standard on Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances.

---

Q: How common is it that chimney liners cannot be seen from inside the fireplace using only a flashlight? Is there some standard building requirement for the flue and the fireplace that you can't just look up from the fireplace and see the sky or chimney cap at the top of the chimney?
Flues are allowed to have up to 30 degree offsets. In most cases this will make a direct visual observation of the flue impossible. A video scan would be required to evaluate the flue condition.
The height of the chimney flue is not a factor. There is a big difference in what is observed between a visual inspection and a video inspection, even in short flues.

---

Q: What stainless steel liners require insulation?
A: Liners for gas and oil-fired appliances do not require insulation to meet the manufacturers’ installation and warranty requirements. Because of the lower flue gas temperatures and lesser heat transfer they are less likely to catch surrounding combustible material on fire. Those that are used with solid fuel-burning appliances do, however. If combustible materials are in contact with the chimney there are provisions that allow the liner to be installed in what is defined as a zero/zero install. That means there may be zero clearance to the interior of the chimney and zero clearance to the exterior of the chimney . The insulation may be of the blanket type or an expanded mica or masonry insulation. There are some manufacturers that will list a liner for use without insulation if it conforms to the NFPA 211 construction requirements. The problem is that it is almost impossible to determine that without destroying the chimney. It makes much more sense to insulate every liner serving a wood burning appliance. Even gas and oil-fired appliances that are vented into an exterior chimney will benefit from insulating the liner.

---

- See more at: http://www.csia.org/about-csia/faq.aspx#5

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 Cleaning | Clean Sweep Chimney Service

 West Allis Chimney Cleaning Service is done right the first time.   

We clean commercial and residential fireplace chimneys, wood stove chimneys and gas and oil furnace chimneys. Our company has served Milwaukee and Waukesha counties for more than 15 years, and is licensed and insured.

Anyone with a fireplace, wood stove, or furnace should consider having their chimney professionally inspected and cleaned on a yearly basis. A dirty chimney not only reduces heating efficiency, but it also poses a dangerous fire hazard for your home and family. Having Clean Sweep Chimney Service clean your chimney thoroughly, professionally and regularly can help prevent these problems.

Without regular cleaning, highly flammable residue called creosote can build up over time. Even as little as a ¼” of build up could pose issues. You and your family could also be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Protect your home by calling Clean Sweep Chimney Service  for an estimate. 

 

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

Chimney Cleaning, Repair and Rebuilding in Milwaukee

Clean Sweep Chimney Services specializes in chimney inspection, chimney cleaning, chimney repair and chimney rebuilding in Milwaukee, WI. 

    We also provide related repair services including chimney relining, chimney flashing repair, chimney cap and damper service and replacement in Waukesha, WI.

Residential and commercial chimney inspection, chimney cleaning, chimney repair and chimney rebuilding in Milwaukee and Waukesha, WI.
Our Certified Chimney Technicians are trained in the most advanced chimney inspection and detection techniques to identify chimney repairs needed to maintain the safety of your home or business. Chimney repairs in Waukesha, WI are needed because of regular use, the elements, age, and animals. Clean Sweep cleans chimneys and repairs chimneys that have damage and helps protect them.
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

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning | Clean Sweep Chimney Service

 Anyone with a fireplace, wood stove, or furnace should consider having their chimney professionally inspected and cleaned on a yearly basis.  In Milwaukee and Waukesha, we can use our chimneys year round so having a chimney cleaning by a certified chimney sweep is important.

 A dirty chimney not only reduces heating efficiency, but it also poses a dangerous fire hazard for your home and family. Having Clean Sweep Chimney Service clean your chimney thoroughly, professionally and regularly can help prevent these problems.

Without regular cleaning, highly flammable residue called creosote can build up over time. Even as little as a ¼” of build up could pose issues. You and your family could also be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Protect your home by calling Clean Sweep Chimney Service  for an estimate.

Tips on keeping your Chimney Clean

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.

Types of Chimney Cleaning Services we offer are:

Chimney Sweep Services, Chimney safety inspection, Chimney creosote removal, Fireplace chimney cleaning, Furnace chimney cleaning, Woodstove chimney cleaning, Smoke and odor elimination, and Animal removal.

Serving Milwaukee, Slinger, Waukesha and Southeastern Wi

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

Greenfield Chimney Cleaning | Clean Sweep Chimney

Looking for a Chimney Sweep in Greenfield Wi?

Clean Sweep Chimney Service is  focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction - we will do everything we can to meet your expectations.

We have a variety of offerings to choose from including Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Relining, Chimney Repair and Fireplace Services. 

Feel free to contact us at

414-483-9996

We clean commercial and residential chimneys, fireplaces, wood stove chimneys and gas and oil furnace chimneys. Our company has served Milwaukee and Waukesha counties for more than 15 years, and is licensed and insured.

Clean Sweep Chimney Service also does Chimney Replacement, Chimney Relining, Tuck Pointing, Chimney Cap Replacement, Flue Repair or Replacement and More!

Chimney Cleaning and Repairs in Greenfield, Milwaukee and Waukesha Wi

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

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning Services

 It may be hot outside but your going to be using that fireplace and chimney soon.  Call now for a chimney cleaning in Milwaukee.  Chimney Sweeps in Milwaukee come and go, Phil has been serving the Milwaukee area for over 15 years.

Over 40,000 chimney fires occur every year.

1. More than $23,000,000 in damage occurs  every year from chimney fires.
2. CREOSOTE is a black or dark brown substance with a strong acrid odor that forms in a wood burning chimney. It has a consistency from tar like to runny. It is essentially pure carbon, with a gooey covering.
3. Carbon has a very high flaming point.
4. Creosote continues to build up on chimney surfaces as more wood is burnt.
5. If CREOSOTE builds up to a point where it clogs or greatly restricts a chimney, the outer coating of the CREOSOTE could catch fire which would ignite the carbon in the creosote. THIS IS ACHINMEY FIRE.
6. Normal flue temperatures for wood burning is between 200° - 700°F. Carbon burns in excess of 3000°F.
7. Stovepipes have literally torn apart by the combination of heat and the force of the increased oxygen demand of burning CREOSOTE.
8. Burning wood can be and is very safe and economical if done properly.
9. Insurance statistics show that a vast majority of wood stove related accidents are a result of either improper installation or a lack of proper maintenance.
10. CREOSOTE cannot be entirely prevented but you can prevent dangerous buildups.
11. Never burn trash and bundles of paper such as Christmas wrapping paper in a stove or fireplace.
12. If you have a wood stove or fireplace insert, NFPA 211 states that you shall have it cleaned and inspected every year.
13. You can pray to St. Florian. He is the patron saint of Chimney Sweeps.
14. In German Chimney Sweep is “Schontinfeger”.
15. Clean Sweep Chimney Service has been in business since 1979.
16. Both Bud and Brian Hinchman are certified by CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) and are members of NCSG (National Chimney Sweep Guild).

Folklore and Superstition

1. An English King was once saved from death by a Chimney Sweep when the sweep was able to jump out and stop the King’s runaway carriage. The King announced that this was his lucky day and that the sweep made it so. From that day on, many lucky things were associated with a Chimney Sweep.
2. If you see a Chimney Sweep atop a house, that house will be blessed.
3. If you shake the hand of a Chimney Sweep or touch his coat, good luck will rub off on you.
4. If a Chimney Sweep kisses the bride and shakes the hand of the groom it will bring a happy marriage and a fertile union.
5. Wearing a top hat brings good luck.
6. Children used to steal a few bristles from a Sweep’s brush and carry them for luck.
7. It’s good luck to kiss a sweep.
8. It is an old wives tale that once a chimney fire has occurred, the chimney is cleaned or burned clean. NOT TRUE.
9. Another NOT TRUE, is that burlap bags with rocks in them or chains will clear a chimney of CREOSOTE. They just can’t do the job.
10. One theory of the top hat and tails, is that sweeps were so poor, that they had to beg for clothing. When wealthy undertakers gave the Sweeps their cast offs, the black coat and hat suited the Sweeps fine in their sooty job.
11. Another theory of the top hat and tails is that poor sweeps were at the bottom of the European society so they began wearing the top hat and tails to try to upgrade and dignify their profession.
12. In Germany, if a black cat crosses your path, hold your coat button until you see a Chimney Sweep. Lots of buttons were pulled off waiting for the sight of a Chimney Sweep.
13. Chimney Sweeps used to “BUY”  thin boys to be a “chimney climbers”. The Sweep would tie a rope around the boy and lower him into the chimney with a brush to clean the chimney.
14. A  goose was tied by it’s feet with a rope and lowered into a chimney to clean it.

Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Milwaukee Wi,  If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.com

Milwaukee Chimney Repairs

Many Milwaukee homeowners are under the impression a simple chimney sweep is all they need to get their fireplace up and running.  Yes, your certified chimney sweep should be performing a detailed inspection of all the vital components of the fireplace interior and make chimney repair recommendations to the exterior.  What if you are the homeowner who doesn’t use their fireplace? Or maybe you have switched to a gas insert so you no longer require and annual chimney sweep, how do you know if you need chimney repair.   Here are 5 things you can check on your own to determine the state of your masonry chimney condition and structure.

1. Check for a Chimney Cap

You don’t even need a ladder for this one, step outside and take a look. The chimney cap’s #1 purpose is keeping rain out of the chimney flue. Yes, it is not a masonry portion of your chimney, but its presence is vital to the survival of your chimney’s interior and exterior.  In 95% of cases needing chimney repair that I find in the Seattle and Bellevue
area, a chimney cap is not present.  Why is this a problem?  Water.  We all know water is the #1 source of deterioration of all home components, rot, mold, mildew, moss, freeze-thaw, etc, etc. Water in your chimney, or in your masonry is always bad news.  If your chimney does not have a chimney cap, its time for a chimney inspection, possibly some repair, and most definitely time to install a chimney cap.

2. Is your Chimney Crown in Good Condition?

The chimney crown is the chimney’s second line of defense against… you guessed it, water.  The crown is the 2″-3″ concrete or mortar slab that has been poured on the very top of the chimney. This covers the top course of bricks of your chimney and surrounds the top flue tiles of each appliance.  Why is this needed? Besides for the aesthetic appeal, chimneys are constructed with a hollow interior surrounding the flue tiles.  This hollow space around your fireplace, and flue liners is very important (but will be left for another blog post). Other than covering the hollow opening of the chimney the brick also much be covered. Most bricks have a somewhat water resistant facing on their front and sides, however, on the top and bottom they are extremely porous. This is vital during brick construction so the mortar can achieve the best bond to the brick top and bottom as possible.  However, when left exposed to the weather the brick becomes saturated with moisture and is exposed to freeze-thaw, moss and mildew.  Wet bricks and mortar joints =  deterioration.  Check your chimney crown for proper construction, proper thickness, cracks or receding edges or corners.  Just like chimney caps, when a chimney has an improper or damaged crown 95% of the time there is deterioration to the chimney structure, and you will need a chimney repair.

3. Do you need Chimney Tuckpointing?

Chimney tuckpointing is commonly misused to describe “mortar joints”. “Tuckpointing” is actually a verb and describes the process of repairing mortar joints, this is a common chimney repair service and usually needs to be done on all chimney masonry every 30-50 years.  So how do we know when we need our mortar repaired?  Well, since chimneys are half above the roof and half below the roof, they always deteriorate at different rates. Above the roof the chimney is exposed to harsher weather conditions, colder temperatures, wind, rain, ice, snow.  Below the roof the chimney is much more protected. Not to mention if the chimney is missing a cap or has a damaged crown, the damage will start at the top and slowly progress downward.  Check your mortar joints above the roofline first.  Check for cracks, separations between the mortar and the brick, and finally take a screwdriver and scrape the mortar to see if it is soft or begins to flake a fall away.  Good mortar will barely leave a mark when running your screwdriver across it. Bad mortar will fall away and leave a gouge.  Make your way down the chimney below the roofline and check the mortar there as well.  Any areas where the mortar is soft should be repaired. Chimney tuckpointing can only be done to partially damaged mortar however.  If the mortar joint is left unchecked for long enough it will fail completely through the joint and the bricks will be loose.  Once your bricks are loose, they have to be rebuilt.  Take a hammer or the palm of your hand and tap on some bricks near the top, moving down.  If any of the bricks are loose, those will need to be torn down and re-mortared.

4. Do you have Efflorescence or White Staining?

White discoloration on a chimney is a sure sign of a moisture problem and a good indicator of some possible chimney repair.  This is called efflorescence, it is the natural salts in the brick and mortar that are brought to the surface by moisture and then left behind when the moisture evaporates.  This can be removed easily with warm soapy water, however, this w0n’t solve the problem.  The most common causes of this is a missing chimney cap, a damaged or missing crown, and/or damaged mortar joints.  Let your chimney repair technician know where you are noticing the white staining on your chimney for a more accurate diagnosis.

5. Is There Firebox Damage?

Are there missing mortar joints in your fireplace bricks? Are the bricks loose? or covered in white efflorescence?  These are very common signs of once again, water leaks into the chimney. Your fireplace firebox is constructed of a very fragile type of brick called firebrick. This type of bricks is designed to be porous to provide adequate insulation to prevent heat transfer.  It also is not constructed with just plain old mortar. It requires a special refractory cement to hold the bricks together throughout the high temperatures of your open fire.  This refractory cement however, is water soluble. When these firebox mortar joints get wet, they turn to powder and fall apart.  Loose bricks, missing mortar joints and crumbling firebrick are all sure signs that chimney repair is in your near future.

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

Milwaukee Chimney Repairs | Clean Sweep Chimney Service

 Summer is here and now is the time to take care of your chimney repairs.  Winter can cause problems with your chimney.  Get it cleaned and inspected before winter comes back.
 Because so many people wait until the weather starts to turn to even think about getting their chimney cleaned, when you call and make that appointment, you will be one of the first people of the season. There’s no waiting for someone to get out to you and most time slots are available so the sweeps come out at your convenience and not when they have an opening in their schedule.

When the heat of summer mixes with creosote, soot and ash it can cause a terrible odor in your home. Add that to down drafts that can come down the chimney appliance and you have a mix for some very uncomfortable, smelly days that sprays and other arousals won’t cover up or eliminate. The short and right answer is to eliminate the creosote, soot and ash as soon as the freeze/thaw cycle is over.
If you add a chimney leak or water of any kind the odor becomes even worse. If this damp mix is left for long periods of time, mold can develop, which can potentially lead to upper respiratory issues.

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

Chimney Cleaning Milwaukee

 Chimney Cleaning Milwaukee done the right way!  Call Clean Sweep Chimney Service.

Focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction - we will do everything we can to meet your expectations.

We have a variety of offerings to choose from including Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Relining, Chimney Repair and Fireplace Services. Look around our website and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us at 414-483-9996

Chimney Cleaning

Chimney Sweep Services, Chimney safety inspection, Chimney creosote removal, Fireplace chimney cleaning, Furnace chimney cleaning, Wood stove chimney cleaning, Smoke and odor elimination, and Animal removal.

Chimney Repair

Residential and commercial service
Chimney safety inspections
Chimney brick replacement
Chimney tuckpointing
Chimney rebuilding
Chimney waterproofing
New chimney flashing
Flue replacement
Flue tile replacement
Chimney cap installation
Fireplace firebox repair
Fireplace removal
Fireplace installation
Fireplace insert installation
Top-mount chimney damper installation
Elimination of smoke and odor problems

 

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

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning | Clean Sweep Chimney

 Wouldn't it be nice to sit next to a nice warm fireplace with the cold weather outside in Milwaukee?  Call us for any of your chimney cleaning and repair needs.  

Nothing says romance quite like cuddling up in front of a roaring fire. Champagne being sipped by firelight, while holding the one you love is probably one of the most romantic images of all time. Funny how that image never makes mention of the extensive maintenance and upkeep that goes with owning a fireplace. While offering plenty of benefits, fireplaces also require extensive attention to ensure complete enjoyment by the homeowner.

One area that many consumers routinely overlook before purchasing a home with a fireplace or adding one to an existing home is the maintenance required. It's mandatory that fireplaces be cleaned and well maintained in order to reduce the likelihood of a fire in or around the house.

However, cleaning the fireplace itself will not completely solve the problem. Instead, fireplace owners with chimneys are advised to clean the stacks or chimney at least once a year.

We recommend that you have it inspected and cleaned annually, A lot of times your inspection will show that it does not need to be cleaned, but that is your best bet. And if you are burning wood in it for more than three quarters of the year, you should do it at the end of every third quarter.

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

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning | Chimney Sweeping

Chimney Sweeps have been around for 100's of years, here are some interesting facts and tales about chimney cleaning for my Milwaukee chimney cleaning customers to share.

Facts and Fiction
                          

Facts

1. Over 40,000 chimney fires occur every year.
2. More than $23,000,000 in damage occurs  every year from chimney fires.
3. CREOSOTE is a black or dark brown substance with a strong acrid odor that forms in a wood burning chimney. It has a consistency from tar like to runny. It is essentially pure carbon, with a gooey covering.
4. Carbon has a very high flaming point.
5. Creosote continues to build up on chimney surfaces as more wood is burnt.
6. If CREOSOTE builds up to a point where it clogs or greatly restricts a chimney, the outer coating of the CREOSOTE could catch fire which would ignite the carbon in the creosote. THIS IS ACHINMEY FIRE.
7. Normal flue temperatures for wood burning is between 200° - 700°F. Carbon burns in excess of 3000°F.
8. Stovepipes have literally torn apart by the combination of heat and the force of the increased oxygen demand of burning CREOSOTE.
9. Burning wood can be and is very safe and economical if done properly.
10. Insurance statistics show that a vast majority of wood stove related accidents are a result of either improper installation or a lack of proper maintenance.
11. CREOSOTE cannot be entirely prevented but you can prevent dangerous buildups.
12. Never burn trash and bundles of paper such as Christmas wrapping paper in a stove or fireplace.
13. If you have a wood stove or fireplace insert, NFPA 211 states that you shall have it cleaned and inspected every year.
14. You can pray to St. Florian. He is the patron saint of Chimney Sweeps.
15. In German Chimney Sweep is “Schontinfeger”.
16. Clean Sweep Chimney Service has been in business since 1979.
17. Both Bud and Brian Hinchman are certified by CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) and are members of NCSG (National Chimney Sweep Guild).

Folklore and Superstition

1. An English King was once saved from death by a Chimney Sweep when the sweep was able to jump out and stop the King’s runaway carriage. The King announced that this was his lucky day and that the sweep made it so. From that day on, many lucky things were associated with a Chimney Sweep.
2. If you see a Chimney Sweep atop a house, that house will be blessed.
3. If you shake the hand of a Chimney Sweep or touch his coat, good luck will rub off on you.
4. If a Chimney Sweep kisses the bride and shakes the hand of the groom it will bring a happy marriage and a fertile union.
5. Wearing a top hat brings good luck.
6. Children used to steal a few bristles from a Sweep’s brush and carry them for luck.
7. It’s good luck to kiss a sweep.
8. It is an old wives tale that once a chimney fire has occurred, the chimney is cleaned or burned clean. NOT TRUE.
9. Another NOT TRUE, is that burlap bags with rocks in them or chains will clear a chimney of CREOSOTE. They just can’t do the job.
10. One theory of the top hat and tails, is that sweeps were so poor, that they had to beg for clothing. When wealthy undertakers gave the Sweeps their cast offs, the black coat and hat suited the Sweeps fine in their sooty job.
11. Another theory of the top hat and tails is that poor sweeps were at the bottom of the European society so they began wearing the top hat and tails to try to upgrade and dignify their profession.
12. In Germany, if a black cat crosses your path, hold your coat button until you see a Chimney Sweep. Lots of buttons were pulled off waiting for the sight of a Chimney Sweep.
13. Chimney Sweeps used to “BUY”  thin boys to be a “chimney climbers”. The Sweep would tie a rope around the boy and lower him into the chimney with a brush to clean the chimney.
14. A  goose was tied by it’s feet with a rope and lowered into a chimney to clean it.

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

Milwaukee Chimney Repair | Smoke from basement fireplace

 When I build a fire in my upstairs fireplace, I get smoke from the basement fireplace.

This is a common problem in modern air tight houses where weather-proofing has sealed up the usual air infiltration routes. The fireplace in use exhausts household air until a negative pressure situation exists. If the house is fairly tight, the simplest route for makeup air to enter the structure is often the unused fireplace chimney. As air is drawn down this unused flue, it picks up smoke that is exiting nearby from the fireplace in use and delivers the smoke to the living area. The best solution is to provide makeup air to the house so the negative pressure problem no longer exists, thus eliminating not only the smoke problem, but also the potential for carbon monoxide to be drawn back down the furnace chimney. A secondary solution is to install a top mount damper on the fireplace that is used the least.

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

Milwaukee Chimney Repair

How to Determine if Chimney Work is Necessary

    As with a vehicle, chimneys require regular maintenance for safety and proper function. Therefore, choosing a skilled and reliable Milwaukee chimney sweep is imperative. These professionals can improve the safety of a home as well as inform residents about both minor and urgent repair needs. This expert advice is especially useful considering chimney problems can often pose undetected safety concerns.

Chimney Fire

"Chimney sweeps are trained experts that perform a valuable service to help protect residents and property," noted Sooty Bob. "Their advice should be taken seriously. But it should also be challenged so that the end result is a positive experience."

Chimney service remains an important consideration for all fireplace owners. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 30,000 residential fires in 1996 were related to solid fuel appliances and equipment, chimneys or chimney connectors. These fires led to 130 deaths and over $184.4 million in property losses.
However, like other home repairs, some chimney services are recommended to improve performance but are not essential for the safety of the home or chimney. In order to feel confident about choosing a reliable sweep as well as moving ahead with any prescribed chimney repairs, Sooty Bob advises residents to:

• Ask for References. Find a chimney sweep through references. Ask friends and neighbors.
• Check Credentials. Verify the credibility of the sweep through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) [www.csia.org] or the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) [www.ncsg.org]. All offer resources on sweeps in areas throughout North America. Check for local business credibility through the local Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau.
• Verify Recommendations. If a sweep recommends service, ask him for a way to verify that the service is necessary. Many sweeps offer a video scan of a chimney for a nominal charge, which can be money well spent. Or, have them describe the problem with a detailed report.
• Determine Level of Urgency. Ask the sweep to indicate the level of urgency associated with the repair. Look for technical feedback about any safety risks, long-term repercussions or health hazards.
• Be Smart. Investigate possible repairs via the Internet. CSIA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA} [www.nfpa.org], as well as the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) [www.hpba.org] offer great tips to help educate fireplace owners. The CSIA also offers brochures that explain various chimney services, such as: chimney lining, care and maintenance of a fireplace, carbon monoxide hazards and much more.
• Double Check. Before discounting a diagnosis, consider a second opinion.

"Chimney service should not be looked upon as a trivial," added Sooty Bob. "This is about saving lives and making sure that people enjoy a fire without interruption or catastrophe."
Chimney sweeping is a technical industry. Sweeps can go to school at the CSIA Technology Center in Indianapolis and learn professional inspection techniques according to the standards set by the NFPA

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

Chimney Sweep Milwaukee | How to tell its time to clean your chimney

 Cleaning your Milwaukee Chimney is important to your safety and health.  Milwaukee Chimney and Fireplace owners ask me how to tell its time to clean their chimney.  So here is a little info to help.

How to tell when it's time to clean your chimney

There isn’t a simple rule of thumb on how often to clean your chimney, such as cleaning after 50 uses or one year. The problem is, creosote can form when wood is burned incompletely. A smoky fire without enough oxygen emits lots of unburned tar vapors that can condense inside the flue and stick to it, possibly leading to a chimney fire. You can reduce creosote buildup in your fireplace by providing adequate combustion air, which will encourage a hot, clean-burning fire.
To check for creosote yourself, first make sure there’s no downdraft from the chimney. If you feel an airflow, open a door or window on the same floor as the fireplace until the downdraft stops or reverses and air flows up (tape tissue to the fireplace opening and watch its movement). Then, while wearing goggles and a basic disposable dust mask, take a strong flashlight and your fireplace poker and scratch the black surface above the damper (smoke chamber). If the groove you scratch in the creosote is paper thin, no cleaning is needed. If it’s 1/8 in. thick, schedule a cleaning soon. If you have 1/4 in. of creosote, do not use the fireplace again until it is cleaned—a chimney fire could occur at any time.
To check for creosote, shine the light near the top of the firebox, in the smoke chamber and around the damper. And check the flue, too, especially on exterior chimneys, where creosote builds faster than on interior chimneys because of lower outside temperatures.

Milwaukee Chimney and Fireplace Cleaning And Repair

The easiest creosote to remove is the feather-light dull gray, brown or black soot. The next form is a black granular accumulation, removed fairly easily with a stiff chimney brush. The third type of creosote is a road tar–like coating that is much harder to remove even with stiff chimney brushes, scrapers or power rotary whips. The final (and most deadly) is a shiny, glaze-like coating on the flue that is virtually impossible to remove.
  Call a certified chimney sweep like Clean Sweep Chimney Service.  We are knowledgeable about building codes, trained to recognize deterioration or venting problems and able to advise you regarding the chimney’s condition. And the National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys, fireplaces and vents be inspected at least once per year.

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.

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning | Call now before Christmas

 Milwaukee homes looking to use their fireplaces over Christmas need to be sure that their Chimney is clean and ready.  Roast those chestnuts with peace of mind.  Clean Sweep Chimney Service can have your Chimney and Fireplace ready before for all your Christmas Festivities!
We still have openings through December so Call NOW.
Here are some signs that you need a Chimney Cleaning

• Burned wood odors coming from the fireplace when it's not being used.
• Fires that seem to burn poorly or that dump a bunch of smoke into the room.
• A black damper. Since it sits right above the firebox, the damper is often the easiest thing to see and reach. And it gets caked with creosote. Look or reach inside, and see what you can find. If you see black gunk or you can pull out chunks of the stuff, there's a good amount of creosote built up inside.

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

Chimney Cleaning Milwaukee | Waukesha Chimney Repair

While many Milwaukee homeowners are struggling to keep up with regular home maintenance expenses this home heating season, the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) shares the reminder that saving money in the short term by delaying routine maintenance may mean additional expense in the long run. Preventative maintenance is one way to keep down the cost of keeping your home safe and warm this season. 

The National Chimney Sweep Guild and the National Fire Protection Association both recommend that homeowners call a professional chimney sweep for an annual chimney inspection. Only a qualified professional will be able to identify and resolve maintenance issues before potential carbon monoxide intrusion and chimney fire hazards risk your time, health or money. 
NCSG encourages homeowners to hire professional chimney sweeps with verifiable memberships, credentials and insurance
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/

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning | Keep your Chimney and Firplace Maintained

A fireplace and chimney that has not been properly maintained can lead to several problems for Milwaukee homeowners, with the most frequent being smoke that fills your home rather than being vented through your chimney.

Chimney cleaning and Chimney maintenance should be checked and performed at least once a year to ensure safe fireplace conditions. Much of the regular maintenance involved with cleaning a chimney can be performed by yourself, but more intensive repairs and cleaning may require a professional chimney sweep.

Over time, soot can buildup within the chimney, and if a protective rain cap or other guard is not installed at the top of a chimney, then leaves and additional debris can also serve to hamper the flow of air from your fireplace to the outside. This can result in occasional or continuous smoking entering your home. Other factors that need to be addressed if smoking occurs is construction of the chimney itself, proper air flow and temperature, and environmental factors, such as wind and surrounding terrain which can cause the airflow within your chimney to be suddenly reversed. A professional chimney sweep can address these problems if you find that regular chimney maintenance has not solved your smoking problems.

If you have a rain cap or damper installed on top of your chimney, you should examine it thoroughly to ensure it is still in good working order. Additionally, you may need to clean the wire mesh screen that covers your chimney, as it has likely been covered with an accumulation of soot. If you do not have a chimney cap, it is highly recommend that you purchase and install one, as a chimney cap will prevent many problems from occurring, while the absence of one can lead to quicker deterioration of your chimney, often as the result of rain and inclement weather. Also be sure to check the structure of the chimney itself, searching for cracks or crumbling bricks.

A chimney cap is also necessary to keep birds, squirrels, and other animals out of chimney. Birds nests can often be found in chimneys without a protective cap, and can cause chimney fires. A chimney cap also prevents downdrafting and other debris getting into the chimney, an important factor for safety.

Within the chimney itself, a substance called creosote has probably formed and adhered to the walls of the chimney. Creosote is formed from the smoke that travels up your chimney. Too much accumulation of creosote can cause a blockage or reduce airflow. You can use a professional service to have your chimney cleaned or you can use maintenance products such as Duraflame Flue-Renew logs. Burning Flue-Renew logs releases a soot removal ingredient into your chimney that helps loosen and break up the creosote. Flue-Renew logs are recommended for wood-burning fireplaces only.

Intensive cleaning of a chimney and fireplace can be a messy job, and there are many things to consider that a professional chimney sweep will have experience in that you may not think of. During chimney maintenance, cracks, deterioration, airflow and draft control, creosote buildup, and many other things must be checked, cleaned, and considered to ensure a safely working fireplace.

Oil and gas burning fireplaces also require periodic maintenance, but may require different methods of cleaning.

Contact Clean Sweep Chimney Service today at 414-483-9996 to schedule an appointment, or browse our website for more information about Chimney Relining or Chimney Cleaning.
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

Chimney Cleaning Milwaukee | How often should I clean my chimney?

 When and how often should I have my Chimney Cleaned?  Milwaukee chimneys that are used year round or seasonal will have a number of factors to determine this.

Cleaning wood-burning appliance chimneys by arbitrary rule of thumb such as "once every 60 fires in the fireplace" is better than never cleaning your chimney, but in fact what actually determines the need for cleaning is how clean or dirty the chimney flue is. Cleaning chimneys based on actual usage: If your building includes a wood burning fireplace or woodstove, especially if you burn a lot of fires, but in particular, if you are burning fires using green wood, or slow cool fires, or worst, slow cool small fires with green wood, you can clog up the chimney with creosote which, later when it catches on fire, can burn the whole house down.

Even a chimney that has not been used for a wood burning appliance can become blocked by rodents or insects such as our hornets nest shown at above left. And a chimney inspection may reveal that the flue has been damaged.
If you don't already know the condition of your chimney, you should certainly take the following steps:

Pay for a thorough chimney cleaning, I would ask the cleaner how clean or dirty the flue actually was, especially in a building whose chimney conditions and safety are unknown Pay for a thorough chimney safety and condition inspection using a chimney scanning camera or similar device which is basically a fisheye camera on a string. Using the this can tell you more than just how clean the flue is, it'll tell you if it has been damaged in some way that could make it unsafe, such as cracked or missing flue tile liners or leaks into the interior of the building. Use a professional chimney sweep

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

Chimney Cleaning Milwaukee | Fireplace Cleaning Tips

Your fireplace needs regular care and cleaning to assure a safe and efficient fire. Creo­sote, a flammable tar like substance that accumulates in the chimney and flue, should be removed by a professional, eliminating the worry of at least one potential fire hazard.  If you live in the Milwaukee area, temps are dropping and you also may want to have a Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning Expert like Clean Sweep Chimney Service to clean and inspect your chimney.
­Give your fireplace and its accessories routine cleaning throughout the wood-burning season to eliminate an accumulation of soot, ashes, and creosote tars.
­Here are several cleaning suggestions:

• Vacuum or dust the hearth area weekly to prevent dust and soot buildup. Do not sweep or vacuum until all the embers have been extinguished for at least 12 hours.
• Burn only seasoned, well-dried wood to minimize dangerous creosote buildup.
• Inspect the firebox, flue, and chimney annually for creosote accumulation.
• Do not use water to drown a fire unless there is an emergency. It will make a paste of the ashes, which is difficult to remove.
• Never use an abrasive cleanser inside the fireplace. Many leave a flammable residue.
• When cleaning your fireplace, sprinkle damp coffee grounds over the cooled ashes to keep down the dust.

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