Chimney Sweeping vs. Inspections

If you’re new to being responsible for taking care of a chimney that drafts a wood-burning fireplace, you may not be clear on the difference between chimney sweeping and chimney inspection. While both tasks are sometimes performed together, the work involved is very different.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to clear up any confusion about these two important chimney services.

What is chimney sweeping?

Chimney sweeping is the process of cleaning out the inside of a chimney flue. The two primary targets are:

1. Built-up creosote
2. Debris

Creosote forms when smoke condenses in the flue. Whether it’s puffy, sticky or solid, creosote is very flammable. In fact, it causes most of the chimney fires reported each year in the United States.

In addition to being flammable, creosote is also acidic and can gradually eat away at the surfaces of a chimney liner. A broken liner can allow high heat, smoke and flames to escape.

Leaves, twigs and the nesting material of birds, squirrels, rodents and other small animals are examples of debris that can get into a chimney flue and cause a drafting obstruction.

When a fireplace can’t draft efficiently, smoke and deadly carbon monoxide may begin to back up into the home. Making matters worse, the slow-moving smoke will sit in portions of the flue for longer periods, adding to the accumulation of creosote.

What is a chimney inspection?

Most chimney companies provide basic inspections in conjunction with chimney sweeping. These inspections cover all readily accessible areas of the chimney and look for signs of damage, wear and malfunction.

Chimney inspections can also be scheduled separate from cleaning work. A chimney should be inspected when:

• The home is being sold
• A new appliance is being connected to the chimney, or other alterations are being made
• A chimney fire or other event is believed to have caused damage
• Major damage is known to exist

Typically, inspections beyond the basic inspection involve video scanning, which lets the technician see into “hidden” areas within the chimney, particularly the inside of the flue. Full-scale inspections for serious damage often require parts of the chimney or nearby materials of the home to be dismantled.

Fireplaces and gas venting pipes

Professional inspections shouldn’t be limited to chimneys that draft wood-burning fireplaces. The venting pipes that draft gas fireplaces also should be looked at once a year and checked for buildups of particulate matter and debris. This material needs to be cleaned out.

Additionally, all fireplaces – regardless of their fuel type – should be inspected. Here, the focus is on firebox soundness, safety and operational efficiency.

Put simply, everything involved in making a fire in your home should be inspected by a qualified technician, and the vent systems for these appliances should be properly cleaned. 

Expert chimney sweeping and chimney inspections

Most fire safety agencies, including the National Fire Protection Association, recommend that homeowners schedule annual chimney sweeping for their wood-burning fireplaces. A basic safety inspection should be performed at that time.

Doodlebuggers is here to help with chimney cleaning and inspections in the greater Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, regions. Speak with a chimney expert by phone, or get in touch by using our contact form.