When was the last time you had your chimney cleaned? If you’re scratching your head trying to remember, or realizing you’ve never had it done, you’re not alone. Many homeowners forget that their chimneys need regular maintenance. Ignoring this chore can lead to serious problems, including chimney fires, carbon monoxide buildup, and structural damage.
Expert Chimney Sweeping & Cleaning in the Detroit Metro Area
When you burn wood in your fireplace or stove, it produces smoke filled with gases, water, vapor, tar, and unburned wood particles. As these travel up your chimney, they cool and condense, leaving behind a sticky black creosote residue. Creosote is highly flammable, and if it builds up enough, it only takes a single spark or high temperatures to create a disaster.
Besides the fire risk, a dirty chimney can block proper venting. This can lead to carbon monoxide entering your home. Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because it’s odorless and colorless, and many people are unaware there’s an issue until it’s too late. Another thing to consider is that blockages from debris, animal nests, or soot can cause poor airflow, making your fireplace less efficient.
How Often Should I Clean My Chimney?
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys, fireplaces, and vents be inspected at least once a year. This doesn’t always mean you’ll need a cleaning, but it ensures that if there is a problem, like creosote buildup, blockages, or structural damage, it’s caught early.
Here are some general guidelines:
Wood-burning fireplaces or stoves
If you use your fireplace regularly, you should get your chimney cleaned once a year, usually before the start of the heating season.
Gas fireplaces
These produce fewer byproducts than wood, but they can still develop issues like soot buildup, bird nests, or liner deterioration. An annual inspection is highly recommended.
Pellet stoves
These often need more frequent cleanings—sometimes every few months—depending on how often you use them.
What to Expect During a Chimney Cleaning
Our certified technicians are thorough. Here’s what you can expect.
Inspection
First, the technician will check the interior and exterior of your chimney with a specialized camera for signs of creosote buildup, cracks, blockages, or damage. We can perform three levels of inspections, depending on what’s warranted.
Setup and Protection
The technician lays down drop cloths and seals the fireplace area to protect your home from soot and dust.
Cleaning the Flue
Using long, flexible rods and specialized brushes, we’ll scrub the inside of the flue to remove soot, creosote, and any blockages that could cause safety or performance issues. In some cases, we’ll use a vacuum or rotary tool for stubborn material.
Smoke Chamber and Firebox Cleaning
The technician may also clean the smoke chamber, smoke shelf, and firebox (where the fire burns), removing ash and debris.
Final Check
Once the chimney is clean, we’ll check for cracks, gaps, or damage that could cause leaks or structural problems.
Don’t DIY Your Chimney Cleaning
We get it, everyone likes to save money. While you might be tempted to rent a few tools, watch some YouTube videos, and clean the chimney yourself, it’s not recommended, and that’s not just because we’re a professional chimney service company. Chimney cleaning requires precision, proper tools, training, and experience. It’s easy to miss creosote deposits or fail to spot potentially dangerous damage if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Our certified chimney sweeps will give you peace of mind that your chimney is clean and ready to help keep your home warm and cozy all winter long.
Schedule Your Chimney Cleaning Today
Motown Fire is your trusted partner for expert chimney and fireplace services in Detroit, MI, Grosse Pointe Shores, St. Clair Shores, Auburn Hills, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today.