Chimney sweep and cleaning in Superior Township

Wood heat out here

Dixboro has been around since the 1820s. The red brick schoolhouse on the village square went up in 1888 and still stands. Fleming Creek, which John Dix dammed for his mills, runs past the village, and a subdivision named for it went in later. Out past the subdivisions, the township is woods and farm fields.

When wood is burned out here, it often goes into an insert like the one in the photo, set into an old fireplace with a stainless liner up the chimney, or into a freestanding stove. Inserts and stoves burn longer and lower than an open fire, and a low, slow fire leaves more creosote on the flue walls. Wet or green wood makes it worse.

On an old farmhouse, a stove may vent into a brick chimney that was there long before the stove was. That flue collects the same creosote, and the joint where the stovepipe enters the chimney can work loose over the years, so we check it on every visit.

Nests, leaves and animals

Trees near the house drop leaves and twigs into an open flue, and squirrels, raccoons and birds move in when there's no cap. A blocked flue sends smoke back into the room, and you often don't find out until the first fire of the year.

Chimney swifts nest in open masonry flues from May to August and are federally protected. If you hear them, we sweep after they've gone. Our guide to chimney swifts explains more.

When to book

Book before the first cold weekend of fall, and earlier if you burn every day once it's cold. If you're not sure how often your chimney needs it, our guide on how often to clean a chimney goes through the signs.

What it costs

A sweep is $349. That includes the inspection on the same visit, so you learn what shape the chimney is in while we're there. A camera through the flue is $75 extra. We cover the hearth and floor before we start and clean up before we leave. If we find damage, you get photos and a written price for the repair.