Chimney sweep and cleaning in South Lyon

How people burn here

In the older houses, most fireplaces are brick with a clay flue, built for wood. Some have had an insert or gas logs added since. In the subdivisions off 10 Mile and 11 Mile that went up from the 1990s on, a factory-built fireplace is more common, wood or gas.

Wood leaves soot and creosote on the flue walls every time you burn. Wet or green wood leaves more. The sweep takes it off with brushes on rods. An insert put into an older brick fireplace usually vents through a stainless liner, and we sweep that from the top. A gas fireplace doesn't build creosote, but its venting and cap still need a look every so often.

What ends up in the flue

A lot of the older South Lyon houses have a tall chimney with no cap on top. An open flue takes rain, leaves and whatever the wind brings, and in spring it's an easy place for birds and raccoons to move in. Once nesting material packs into the flue, smoke has nowhere to go.

Chimney swifts nest in open masonry flues from May to August, and they're federally protected during that time. Our chimney swifts guide explains what that means for scheduling. Once they've left in the fall, we can sweep, clear out the old nest and put a cap on. Before we leave, we check that the flue is open from the firebox to the top.

Price, and when to book

The sweep is $349, and it comes with an inspection on the same visit. Adding a camera through the flue is $75. The price is for one flue. A house with a fireplace and a wood stove has two, so set the quantity when you book. Book before the first cold weekend of the fall, when the phone starts ringing all at once. Our guide on how often to clean a chimney helps you decide if this is the year.

If the sweep turns up loose brick or a cracked crown on top, we'll show you photos and quote the chimney repair separately. Nothing gets added to the bill without your say.