Chimney sweep and cleaning in Southfield

Fireplaces that sat for years

Southfield has a lot of rental houses, and a fireplace in a rental often goes unused for a long time. The same is true in houses that had one owner for decades and are now on their second. A flue that hasn't been swept in years can hold old creosote from the last wood fires, plus leaves and nests that came in from the top.

Most of the brick ranches here have an open masonry fireplace. Some have had gas logs put in, which burn cleaner, but the flue still gets checked.

If you own a condo, check with your association before you book, since some associations take care of chimneys themselves. If the association or a property manager wants several units swept, call (248) 266-9991 and we'll plan the visits together.

The river and the trees

The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield, with trees along much of its banks. Houses near the river, and on the older streets where the trees have had seventy years to grow, get leaves and seeds on the roof every fall. Squirrels and raccoons use overhanging branches to reach the chimney top. A missing cap makes all of that worse.

Chimney swifts nest in chimneys from about May to August and are federally protected. If you hear chirping in summer, the nest stays until they leave, and the sweep waits until fall. See our guide to chimney swifts.

When to book

Book before the first cold weekend, before the schedule fills up. If you burn wood often, our guide on how often to clean a chimney will tell you when to come back.

What $349 covers

The cleaning is $349 for one flue, and it includes an inspection on the same visit. We lay drop cloths, sweep the flue, inspect the chimney inside and out, and clean up before we leave. The camera add-on is $75. If the inspection turns up a cracked crown or tar-patched flashing, you'll get photos, and the chimney repair page for Southfield has our starting prices.