Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning | Chimney Fire Prevention

1. Get all people and pets out of the house.
   • Even if the fire seems small or contained, make sure everyone is safely out of the house.
2. Call the fire department.
   • You might be able to extinguish chimney fires or contain them, but you should still call the professionals to ensure there isn't any residual danger.
3. Throw a glass or bucket of water on the fire.
   • The water immediately turns to steam, traveling up the chimney and inhibiting any additional oxygen from feeding the fire. Be cautious of this approach when you put out chimney fires in airtight stoves as the sudden change in temperature can cause cracking or shattering of glass.
4. Repeat, throwing more water as necessary.
5. Remove hot logs and ashes with metal tongs.
6. Place hot logs and ashes in a metal bucket or other noncombustible receptacle.
7. Place noncombustible receptacle outside.
   • The contents will still be extremely hot. Ensure that the bucket isn't in contact with anything flammable.
8. Keep bags of dry chemical extinguishers on hand.
   • These should be stored in re-sealable plastic bags.
9. Climb to the rooftop or the site of the chimney top.
   • Use proper ladder safety including having somebody hold the bottom of the ladder while you climb.
10. Remove the chimney cap or any other impediment.
11. Drop a bag of dry chemical extinguishers down the chimney.
    • The bag will drop and land on the draft stop. Once there, the bag will melt and the chemical extinguishers will travel upwards, dispersing throughout the flue. This should successfully extinguish any remaining fire.
12. Drop additional bags of chemical extinguishers as necessary.
13. Wait for the firefighters to arrive.

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 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 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

Warning Signs of Chimney Fire from Clean Sweep Chimney Service Milwaukee

The combustion process when wood is burned is never complete. The smoke from a wood fire usually contains a dark brown or black substance which has an unpleasant odor. This tar-like substance is called creosote and is found almost anywhere in a wood heating system.

At temperatures below 250 degrees F creosote will condense on the surfaces of stove pipes or chimney flues. When the temperature gets below 150 degrees F the creosote deposit will be thick, sticky and similar to tar. This tends to trap carbon from smoke which dries and bakes inside pipes and flues. This flaky substance is very flammable.

Creosote is more of a problem with wood stoves than fireplaces since the exhaust gases from stoves are cooler than those from the fireplaces.

The amount of creosote condensing on the surfaces of the system varies according to the density of the smoke and vapor from the fire (less smoke means less creosote),the temperature of the surface on which it is condensing (higher temperatures reduce chance of creosote condensation) and the type and dryness of wood being burned.

Creosote may build up to a considerable thickness on the interior surface of the chimney and the draft opening may subsequently be reduced. A serious fire may be ignited if creosote is allowed to build up. Most problems with creosote are due to poor chimneys with a low draft and cold walls.

You can reduce the creosote problem several ways. Smoke density can be lowered somewhat in an airtight stove by using small amounts of wood and stoking more often or by using larger pieces of wood. Creosote formation can be limited by leaving the air inlet or stove door slightly open after adding wood to promote more rapid burning until the wood is mostly reduced to charcoal. Then close the inlet as desired.

Allowing this extra air causes more complete combustion lowers the potential creosote-forming gases and generates additional heat to the surrounding area. Vapor in the flue gases may be controlled by using the driest wood possible and using only small pieces of wood during mild weather when combustion is relatively slow. The stack  temperature can be raised by insulating the stove pipe connection so that it cools as little as possible before reaching the chimney. Using an insulated pipe also aids in increasing the stack temperature.

Draft can be increased by having as few bends as possible between the appliance and the chimney, having the proper height and diameter, keeping the chimney in good repair and by having a separate flue for each appliance. Also use proper sized stove pipe. In a large chimney, draft can be increased by decreasing the flue size. This can be done by installing a new smaller flue or a stainless steel stove pipe liner.

In many airtight stoves, a sealed overnight fire will deposit creosote even with dry hardwood. To dry the creosote always open the draft caps and let the fire burn hot for at least 5 minutes every morning and again before bedtime.

Opening the direct draft damper 20 to 30 minutes to dry the creosote in chimneys is a questionable practice. This should only be done in a new or clean chimney and should be done daily or every time you use the wood stove.Allowing hot flame in the chimney at intermittent times can result in a small chimney fire. The heat generated from these hot flames also may cause deterioration of the metal or crack mortar in the chimneys.

Be Prepared for A Chimney Fire

No wood burning system is 100% safe and fire-proof. A safe installation and extra care help prevent fire, but accept the idea that there could be a fire, and be prepared to handle it. Chimney fires are most likely to occur during a very hot fire, as when cardboard or Christmas tree branches are burned or even when a stove burns normal wood but at a higher than normal rate.

Make certain everyone in the house is familiar with the warning signs of a chimney fire --- sucking sounds, a loud roar and shaking pipes. Instruct everyone on what to do in case of fire. Practice fire drills and instruct all adults on how and when to use a fire extinguisher. Put the fire department phone number in an obvious place near the phone.

If you have a chimney fire:

a) Call the fire department immediately.

b) If all the stove pipe joints are tight and no other appliance is connected to the same flue, close all openings and draft controls if you have an air-tight stove. Close the stove pipe damper in a non-air-tight stove.

c) You can attempt to cut off the air supply to a fireplace by using a wet blanket or sheet metal to seal off the fireplace opening. Be careful since a strong draft can make this difficult and dangerous. Use only non combustible materials.

d) If you have a leaky stove or fireplace you may have to wait for the fire to burn out.

e) Get everyone out of the house, and put them to work watching for sparks or signs of fire on the roof or nearby. One adult should stay in the house to check the attic and upper floors for signs of fire.

f) Discharge a class ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher or throw baking soda into the stove or fireplace if the chimney is not sound or there is a danger of the house or surroundings catching on fire. The chemical travels up the chimney and often extinguishes the flame.

g) Throwing water in a stove will cause the metal to warp, but if it's a choice between the house or the stove, use water.

h) Check the chimney after a fire. A chimney fire can range from 2000 to 3000 degrees F which is hot enough to cause deterioration of metal or cause masonry to weaken. Metal chimneys can deteriorate after 2 or 3 fires.

i) If a chimney fire occurs once, chances are that it will occur again. Find the cause.

A problem with frequent chimney fires is the possibility of the framing catching on fire. The ignition temperature of new house framing is about 500 degrees F Over a period of years, as this wood is repeatedly heated by chimney fires, the wood will ignite at a much lower temperature.

Chimney Cleaning

Chimneys need to be cleaned to remove creosote and soot deposits. This will prevent chimney fires and improve the draft as well. How often the chimney is cleaned depends on how frequently the wood burning appliance is used, how it is operated and the type of installation. Some authorities recommend cleaning the chimney after every third cord of wood is burned and most recommend at least once a year. Any time you observe excessive soot and creosote, the chimney should be cleaned. After you once have cleaned the chimney, you may want to check it after 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, etc., to determine how often your chimney needs to be cleaned.
ln addition to cleaning your chimney, a good chimney sweep can act as a inspector for your installation.

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.comhttp://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.com

Milwaukee Chimney Repair and Cleaning | Clean Sweep Chimney Service

 Clean Sweep Chimney Service services Milwaukee, Waukesha and Slinger WI and 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. Look around our website and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us. 

 

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 or our old site is

Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning

 Clean Sweep Chimney Service of Milwaukee,
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. 
Our Chimney Cleaning Services Include:

• Chimney safety inspection
• Chimney creosote removal
• Fireplace chimney cleaning
• Furnace chimney cleaning
• Wood stove chimney cleaning
• Chimney sweep services
• Smoke and odor elimination
• 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 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.

Greenfield Chimney Cleaning

Greenfield Wi homeowners Call Phil at Clean Sweep Chimney Service for all their Chimney Service needs.  Phil has been doing Chimney Cleaning and Repair for over 15 years and can be at your home today to Repair, Clean, or Reline your chimney the right way and at the best cost available. Call now!

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