Gaithersburg, MD, Chimney Sweep | CSIA-Certified Chimney Cleaning in the DC Area
Gaithersburg MD, Chimney Sweep | CSIA-Certified Chimney Cleaning in the DC Area
Chimney sweep service performed once a year at your Gaithersburg, MD, home is one of the best ways to keep your chimney safe and clean. High’s Chimney Service has the experienced technicians and specialized tools required to thoroughly clean flammable creosote from your chimney and keep it safe all year long.
The 2 Most Important Benefits of Annual Chimney Sweep Service
Certified chimney sweeps clean creosote, soot and various obstructions from chimneys. This brings you two very important benefits:
Less creosote means less chance of a chimney fire. Creosote is responsible for the majority of chimney fires each year in Gaithersburg and across the United States.
When your flue is free of obstructions such as small-animal nests, dead small animals, leaves, twigs and other debris, drafting works as it should. Obstructed flues can send smoke and deadly carbon monoxide back into the home.
Specialized Chimney Cleaning Tools
It would be great if we could clean our chimneys the way we clean our ovens: just spray some cleaner in there and wipe it down. Unfortunately, because of the depth of chimney flues and the stubbornness of creosote, special tools have to be used to clean chimneys. These include:
- Stainless steel and flat wire chimney cleaning brushes
- Chimney sweeping whips
- Industrial vacuums
- Chain whips
- Cleaning chemicals and solvents
- Cable deglazer whips
- Chimney sweep rods
- Hand scrubbers
These and other tools are necessary when cleaning chimneys because creosote isn’t easy to remove. It can appear as a sticky, puffy or solid substance and cling to the walls of the chimney liner. Removing creosote safely and thoroughly requires specialized knowledge on the part of the chimney sweep and the correct equipment.
What Gaithersburg Homeowners Need to Know About Chimney Fires
Everybody knows what a big, blazing chimney fire is. What many homeowners in and around Gaithersburg may not realize is that often a chimney fire will start and go out on its own without being noticed.
These smaller chimney fires won’t burn down your house, but they will cause incremental damage to the flue liner and chimney structure. A chimney can have many fires over the years that eventually lead to significant and dangerous damage.
Here are a few signs of a chimney fire for you to keep in mind:
- An odd ticking or clicking sound
- A larger-than-normal amount of dense smoke, which can come from either end of the chimney
- The sound of rumbling, like from a distant train
If you know you’ve had a chimney fire at your Gaithersburg home – or even suspect you have – the first step is to schedule a chimney inspection so that any damage that may have been caused can be assessed.
If the fire is active, call 911 immediately and extinguish the fire in the firebox, if safe to do so.
Annual chimney sweeping is a great way to keep your chimney, your home and your family safe. Chimney cleaning also can save you big money on repairs and rebuilding in the event a fire destroys part or all of your chimney or areas of your home.
Call High’s Chimney Service today at (301) 519-3500 to schedule a chimney sweep appointment. We work in many Maryland and Virginia communities including Gaithersburg, MD, Olney, MD, Poolesville, MD, Potomac, MD, Rockville, MD, Tysons, VA, Travilah, MD, Leesburg, VA, and Fairfax, VA.
