Chimney sweep and cleaning in Farmington

Old fireplaces near downtown

The Governor Warner Mansion on Grand River dates from 1867, and there are houses around downtown from the same decades. Fireplaces in houses that old were often built before anyone used a clay flue liner, and many were changed or closed off along the way. If one hasn't been used in a long time, we'd want to sweep it and look up the flue before you light it, and the camera add-on is the easiest way for you to see what we see.

Trees along the Rouge

Shiawassee Park follows about half a mile of the Upper Rouge River just north of downtown, and the woods along the river carry on past the park. Houses near the river and on the older tree-lined streets get a steady rain of leaves and seeds on the roof every fall. An uncapped flue collects them, and squirrels and raccoons climb in from overhanging branches.

Chimney swifts are a summer visitor. They nest in chimneys from about May to August and are federally protected, so if you hear chirping, the nest has to stay until they move on. Our guide to chimney swifts covers the details.

What builds up and when to book

Wood fires leave soot and creosote on the flue walls, more of it from damp wood and slow, smoky fires. Gas logs leave much less but still get checked for blockages. We don't service gas burners or gas controls, but we do sweep and check the flue above them, since a flue over gas logs can be blocked as easily as any other. Book before the first cold weekend, while the schedule is open. Our guide on how often to clean a chimney explains how often to come back.

What $349 covers

The cleaning is $349 for one flue, with an inspection on the same visit. We cover the floor around the fireplace, sweep the flue, check the chimney inside and out, and clean up before we leave. Add a camera through the flue for $75. If we find a cracked crown or loose flashing, you'll get photos, and the chimney repair page for Farmington lists our starting prices.