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Chimney sweeping

The annual sweep that keeps a season of creosote from turning into a fire — done without leaving a trace of soot in your living room.

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Technician sweeping a flue with the fireplace opening sealed and the floor covered

What a sweep actually includes

  • Drop cloths down and the fireplace opening sealed before anything starts
  • Flue swept top to bottom with rod and brush sized to your liner
  • Firebox, smoke shelf and smoke chamber cleaned out
  • Damper cleared and checked that it still opens and closes
  • Ash and debris vacuumed, not swept into the room
  • Cap and crown checked from the top, not guessed at from the hearth
  • Draft and airflow checked, because a clean flue that will not draw is still a problem
  • A Level 1 inspection in the same visit, and the findings in writing

A straightforward sweep runs about an hour to an hour and a half. Heavy buildup, a second flue, or a roof that is steep or slick takes longer — and we tell you that before we start, not after.

The three degrees of creosote

Creosote is not one thing, and the difference decides both the method and the price. Anyone quoting a number before seeing which degree you have is guessing.

Degree 1Light soot. Brushes off. This is what an on-schedule chimney looks like.
Degree 2Flaky and crunchy, like burnt cornflakes. Still brushes off, takes longer.
Degree 3Glazed and tar-hard. A brush slides straight over it. Needs a different process entirely.
Why it mattersDegree 3 is the one that starts chimney fires, and it is the one nobody can price over the phone.

What we will not do

This industry has a reputation, and it was earned. So, plainly: we do not quote repairs before inspecting. We do not use photos of someone else’s chimney to explain yours. We do not offer a discount that expires when we leave the driveway. And if your chimney does not need sweeping yet, we will say so and put that in writing too.

See what you get in writing

Questions about sweeping

How often does a wood-burning fireplace need sweeping?
Most systems used through a Washington winter need it once a year. The standard is an annual inspection for every chimney, with sweeping as needed — so the honest answer is that the inspection decides, not the calendar.
Does a gas fireplace need this?
It needs the annual look. Gas produces almost no creosote, but most gas appliance problems are venting problems — blocked flues, failed liners, birds in the vent — and those are exactly what an inspection finds.
Will there be soot in my house?
There should not be. We seal the opening and vacuum as we work. If we leave soot in your living room, we have not finished the job.
Can you sweep a chimney that has not been used in years?
Yes, and idle chimneys are worth checking before you light the first fire. What we usually find is not creosote — it is nests, moisture damage and a missing cap.

If you would rather not have to remember

This is the visit that most people mean to book and then do not, for four years running. A maintenance plan puts it on a schedule at a locked price, and stacks the written findings into something you can actually compare year on year.

See the maintenance plans

A safer chimney starts with an honest look at it.

Booking takes a minute. Peak season here runs September through November.

Book your service Call or text