Chimney sweep and cleaning in Farmington Hills

Wooded subdivisions

Wood Creek Farms, south of 13 Mile between Middlebelt and Inkster, was laid out in 1937 and has winding roads and big lots under old trees. Glen Orchard, whose civic association dates to 1952, was an apple orchard before it became a subdivision of 84 houses. In neighborhoods like these, branches hang over roofs and drop leaves and seeds on the chimney all fall. They also give squirrels and raccoons a path to the top.

An open flue under those trees can collect a surprising amount over one season. A cap keeps most of it out, and if yours is missing or rusted, we'll tell you at the visit.

What we find inside

Wood fires leave soot and creosote on the flue walls. Burning green or wet wood leaves more of it, and so do long, low smoldering fires. Inserts and factory-built fireplaces collect it in their metal liners and pipes. Gas fireplaces leave very little, but a nest or a pile of leaves can still block the flue.

Birds come up every summer. Chimney swifts nest in chimneys from about May to August and are federally protected, so a nest stays until they leave. Our guide to chimney swifts explains what to do in the meantime.

Book before the cold

Try to get on the schedule before the first cold weekend of fall. That's when calls pile up. If you burn wood most winter evenings, our guide on how often to clean a chimney will help you set a schedule.

The visit

The sweep is $349 for one flue, and it includes an inspection on the same visit. Drop cloths go down around the fireplace, we sweep the flue, inspect the chimney inside and out, and clean up before we leave. A camera through the flue is $75 extra if you want to see it. Plan on about two hours for one flue. If you have an insert or a wood stove, call before you book so we can tell you what to expect. If we find a rusted chase cover or a cracked crown, we'll show you photos, and the chimney repair page for Farmington Hills lists the starting prices.