Chimney sweep and cleaning in Salem Township

Heating with wood

In some Salem houses, a wood stove or insert is part of how the house stays warm. A stove burning from November to March puts a lot more wood through the flue than a fireplace on weekends. Every load leaves soot and creosote on the flue walls. When the wood is wet, or the stove is turned down low overnight, the creosote gets thicker and stickier, like the flue in the photo.

That's why a stove used for heat usually needs a sweep every year, sometimes more. Our guide on how often to clean a chimney goes through how to judge it. Call before you book if you have a stove or insert, so we can tell you what to expect. Where a stove pipe runs into an old masonry chimney, we also look at the connection where the pipe enters the brick.

Woodlots and wildlife

Houses along Napier Road, Gotfredson Road and the other back roads often sit among trees. Leaves and seeds land on the cap screen, and a screen that's packed shut slows the draft. We clear it when we're up there. A chimney with no cap is an open door for birds, squirrels and raccoons.

Chimney swifts nest in masonry chimneys from May to August and are federally protected, so an active swift nest stays until the birds leave in the fall. Our chimney swifts guide explains what that means for scheduling.

What the sweep includes

The sweep is $349. We cover the area around the stove or fireplace, sweep the flue with brushes on rods, inspect the chimney inside and out on the same visit, and clean up before we leave. A camera through the flue adds $75. The price is per flue, so if you have a stove in the house and another in a shop or barn, set the quantity when you book.

Book before the first cold weekend, and earlier if you heat with wood. If the inspection turns up something that needs fixing, you'll get photos and a written quote for the chimney repair, and nothing is done until you approve it.