Chimney Sweep | Chimney Cleaning | Creosote Removal

High’s Chimney Service of Gaithersburg, MD, is your first call for chimney sweep services in Glenwood, MD, Poolesville, MD, Darnestown, MD, Travilah, MD, and other communities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.

The majority of America’s 20,000-plus chimney fires each year are caused by built-up creosote that ignites inside the flue.  The Chimney Safety Institute of America, which certifies our chimney sweep technicians, recommends that all chimneys connected to wood-burning fireplaces be inspected and cleaned once a year.

A chimney in good working order does its job safely and efficiently.  A chimney packed with flammable creosote can be the source of a catastrophic house fire.  You’re much better off going with safe and efficient.

Remember the last time your chimney was professionally cleaned?  If not, maybe now is the time to schedule an appointment.  Chimney cleaning accomplishes important objectives:

1. Chimney Sweeps Remove Creosote

When smoke from a fire cools and condenses in a cold chimney, it creates a condensation that becomes creosote on the inner flue walls or liner.  Creosote is sticky, similar to tar, and not only does it stick to the chimney, other stuff can stick to it.

It doesn’t take a lot of creosote to fuel a chimney fire.  The tricky thing with a chimney fire is that it’s not always noticed by people in the home – many smaller chimney fires start and then go out on their own.  Still, damage is being done to the masonry or liner within the flue.  Eventually, without proper cleaning, a larger fire that could put human lives at risk is bound to happen.

Signs of a chimney fire include a deep rumbling and/or ticking sound coming from the firebox.  Excess smoke drafting down into the room is another sign.  If you notice any of these, extinguish the fire with water and call 911.

2. Chimney Sweeps Clean Out Obstructions

If you operate your chimney with a damaged or missing chimney cap, various obstructions can enter the flue.  These include twigs, leaves and small broken branches from trees as well as animal nests and small dead animals.  All of this can create a drafting issue.

Chimneys are constructed with the proper-sized flue to allow smoke from your fireplace to rise and exit the top of your chimney.  Any time there’s a narrowing of the flue opening, smoke and toxins can back up and exit the firebox into the room.

Smoke is a concern, but smoke contains carbon monoxide, which is a much greater concern.  This toxic gas is invisible and odorless, and it’s known to be deadly to humans and animals.  Professional, certified chimney sweeps remove all obstructions from your chimney, restoring it to full operational capacity.

Chimney Cleaning & Inspection

A thorough cleaning coupled with a top-to-bottom inspection performed once a year is the best way to ensure that your chimney and fireplace system is safe to use and performs optimally.  Basic chimney inspections cover the chimney cap, chimney crown, chimney flashing, the exterior surfaces of the chimney, the inside of the chimney, the chimney liner, the fireplace damper, the firebox and other areas and components.

When inspection is finished, your chimney service technician will write out for you what the inspection uncovered and suggest how to remedy any damage or deterioration that was                                                                                                                found.  Repair services can then be scheduled.

If you haven’t had your chimney professionally cleaned in the last 12 months, now is a good time to get it done.  High’s Chimney Service of Gaithersburg, MD, offers chimney sweep, chimney inspection, chimney repair and chimney rebuilding services in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  Make your chimney safe by calling us today.