Franklin, Oakland County
Chimney sweep and cleaning in Franklin
Franklin lots are big and full of trees, and plenty of people here still burn wood. Between the soot from the fire and what falls or climbs in from above, a Franklin flue fills up faster than you'd guess.
What builds up
Every wood fire leaves soot and creosote on the inside of the flue. Fires that smolder, or wood that wasn't dry, leave more. We brush it off the flue walls with brushes on rods, with drop cloths down around the fireplace.
Firewood stacked under the trees all summer is often still wet in November. Wet wood burns cooler and leaves more creosote, so split and stack it off the ground and under cover well before you need it.
Gas fireplaces leave much less behind. They still get checked, because the flue can get blocked even when the fire burns clean.
Trees, leaves and animals
Most Franklin houses sit on lots of an acre or more, and a lot of them are wooded. The Rouge River runs along the east edge of the historic district, with trees along its banks. Branches that hang over a roof drop leaves and seeds onto the chimney and give squirrels and raccoons an easy way to the top. An uncapped flue under a big tree can fill with leaves and sticks in one fall.
Birds are the other common find. Chimney swifts nest in chimneys from about May to August and are federally protected, so we can't take a nest out while they're using it. See our guide to chimney swifts. If your chimney has no cap, ask us about one at the visit.
When to book
Book before the first cold weekend. Once the weather turns, everyone wants a sweep the same week. If you burn wood every winter, our guide on how often to clean a chimney will tell you when to book the next one.
What the visit includes
The cleaning is $349 for one flue, and it includes an inspection on the same visit. We cover the floor around the fireplace, sweep the flue, look over the chimney inside and out, and tell you what we saw. Add a camera through the flue for $75 if you want to see the inside yourself. If we spot damage at the top of the chimney, we'll show you photos, and our chimney repair page for Franklin has the starting prices.
Questions
There's chirping in my chimney in June. Can you clean it out?
Probably not until fall. Chirping in summer is often chimney swifts, which nest in Michigan chimneys from about May to August and are federally protected. The nest can't be removed while they're using it. Keep the damper shut, and book the sweep after the birds leave. Our guide to chimney swifts explains what to expect.
We only burn a few fires a year. Do we still need a sweep?
A few fires a year won't build up much creosote. On a wooded Franklin lot, the bigger risk is often what got into the flue while it sat unused, like leaves and sticks or a nest. We'd rather look and find a clean flue than have you light a fire under a blocked one. The $349 visit includes the inspection.
Chimney sweep in Franklin
Pick a day and a 3-hour arrival window online. If you'd rather talk it through, call (248) 266-9991.