Getting The Highest Levels Of Efficiency

So, how much more efficient is an insert, really? Does it actually make that big of a difference? Well, here’s the low-down on fireplace efficiency levels. If you own a traditional wood-burning fireplace, you can expect your efficiency levels to be around 20-25%. That means that about 70-80% of your heat is escaping up through your chimney, and there’s only so much you can do to stop this from happening.

Now, when you have an auxiliary appliance installed (such as a wood stove insert, a gas insert, or a pellet-fueled insert), your efficiency levels are flipped. This means that, instead of losing most of your heat, you get the majority of it back into your living space. In fact, you can expect efficiency levels to soar from anywhere between 70-90% – that’s a significant difference, and it will guarantee a lot more comfort for your home!

The most efficient gas models out there slide in easily, then bring in their own fresh air from the outside, so none is used from your home. This not only pours more heat into your living space… it saves you money on your monthly energy bills, too! They’ll also have a small exhaust pipe, ensuring the most heat possible goes back into your home.

Wood options aren’t quite as efficient as their gas counterparts, but they won’t disappoint either in terms of efficiency. If you are bummed about losing the ambiance of a wood-burning unit, but know the higher levels of heat will be worth the upgrade, then a wood-fueled insert is an excellent route to take.

And if you’re torn between the convenience of gas and the atmosphere that actual flames offer, then a pellet option provides a great middle ground! These will burn wood pellets, so you get that pleasant aesthetic of a real fire in your home, but they empty out of a hopper that you only load only once or twice a day. It’s a great alternative for those who really want the best of both worlds.

Not Ready To Let Go Of Your Traditional Set-Up?

Now, don’t get us wrong. If you have a traditional fireplace and you can’t bear to part with it, we get where you’re coming from! There’s a timeless ambiance these models offer, and replicating that atmosphere exactly simply cannot be done with alternative options.

If you only use your fireplace a few times per year to enjoy with friends and family or just to set the mood for a couple of festive holiday parties, then efficiency isn’t likely your priority. In these cases, there are some tips you can utilize to up your heat output a bit. Consider the following options:

First and foremost, make sure your fireplace is in great working order. This can be done by investing in annual inspections from a team of certified and experienced sweeps (like the crew here at Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County). This is the only way to really know you’re getting the most from your chimney, and it ensures your structure stays strong and your home and family stay as safe as possible.

Use dry, well-seasoned wood. Any logs you use should have been dried out for at least 6 months in order to get the water content as low as possible. If you’re buying wood, make sure you’re getting pieces that are hollow-sounding, have ends that are darker and split, and are lightweight. They should also smell older/mustier, and if they’re cut shorter, they’re likely to be more dry, as well.

Preheat your flue. Starting your fire out right ensures it burns longer and hotter, so heat up your flue beforehand to ensure no smoke or fumes go straight into your home. An easy way to do this is to tightly roll up a newspaper, light the top, then hold it at the base of your chimney for a bit. This warms up the air in your chimney, so all of your fireplace fumes go in the direction they’re supposed to.

Invest in a fireback. A cast-iron fireback is installed in the rear of your firebox, and it can help radiate heat back into your home. Another similar tool is a heat reclaimer. Both of these options can make an impact if you aren’t looking to purchase an insert.

Just keep in mind that the differences these tips make will be marginal, so if it’s a lot of heat you want, an insert is really the only thing that will make a noticeable difference. Eager to discuss your options? We’re here to help! Give our crew a call today to get this process started!

Learn more about the causes of chimney fires and how to avoid them by reading below. And if you have any further questions, please reach out! Customer safety is our priority, and we’d be happy to help.

Misuse & Neglect: The 2 Biggest Causes of Chimney Fires

Both the CSIA and the NFPA (along with countless other reputable organizations and companies in the industry) recommend annual chimney inspections. It’s easy to assume a fireplace that ran fine the year before will continue doing so, but there could be lots of stuff under the surface that just isn’t up to par.

Really, the only way to know for sure if you’re in need of repairs, maintenance, or a sweeping is to get a professional inspection completed. Failing to do this is one of the biggest reasons chimney fires end up occurring.

What happens when care is avoided? Well, putting off a professional sweeping gives creosote the chance to accumulate. Creosote is a dark substance that can vary in form, but is always flammable. There’s no way to avoid it altogether, but by getting a pro in to regularly remove it, you’ll reduce your chances of experiencing a chimney fire significantly.

Keep in mind, too, that not all flue liners are created equal. The flue size is based on the size of the firebox, so the size of your flue impacts the amount of creosote accumulation. The more it builds, the smaller that opening becomes, and soon the exhaust rate of your flue gases is cut down significantly.

Not only does this cause smoke to back up into your home, but it encourages that creosote to bubble and emit a vapor that will eventually ignite and send flames through the chimney. In the end, investing in annual care and any necessary preventive maintenance is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to avoid those big, expensive fire-related damages.

And What About Misuse?

So, we’ve covered neglect, but how does one misuse their fireplace? These are the cases that often leave homeowners scratching their heads, wondering how their fireplace that is regularly cleaned ended up getting damaged by a chimney fire anyway.

In these cases, we typically find that people were burning things in their fireplace that they shouldn’t have. Especially over the holidays, many find it all too easy to toss their wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, paper plates, styrofoam, and similar materials into the fireplace for quick clean-up. Unfortunately, this does a lot of harm to your system.

The problem with these materials is that they burn quicker, hotter fires that eventually turn into fireballs in your flue. Any creosote that’s in your flue will catch on fire and within a matter of seconds you’ll have some major damages throughout your liner. And if those flames aren’t controlled fast enough, they could spread throughout your home!

If I’ve Had a Chimney Fire, I’ll Know… Right?

Believe it or not, most chimney fires occur without the homeowners even realizing it. They typically burn slowly and quietly, which means you could be using a fireplace that has experienced extensive damage without even knowing it – that’s an unsettling thought!

Again, this is why those annual inspections are so vital to the safety of our customers. If you have yet to schedule yours, please get it booked with our team today.

What Should I Do if I’ve Had a Chimney Fire?

If you are experiencing a chimney fire, the first thing to do is get out of your home and call for help. The sooner you act, the quicker the fire trucks will arrive and the less damage you are likely to face.

After the flames are out and the situation is under control, it’s time to call in the chimney sweeps. Your chimney professional will need to perform a level 2 chimney inspection, which means they’ll snake camera equipment up the flue and determine what damages have occurred.

And remember – after an event like this, you need someone who really knows their stuff, so make sure the crew you are calling is certified chimney specialist with the CSIA, experienced in the field, and has a good reputation in your area.

Avoiding Chimney Fires

So, we covered two big reasons chimney fires occur – improper use and skipping that annual inspection. But how can they be avoided altogether? Here are some tips:

• Burn only dry wood that has been seasoned for at least 6 months. (Helpful tip: Purchase a moisture meter!)
• Schedule a chimney inspection every single year.
• If a sweeping is recommended, don’t put it off or use your fireplace until it’s completed
• Invest in a chimney cap. This ensures no nesting materials, leaves, twigs, and similar items get stuck where they can easily catch on fire.
• Encourage good airflow by opening the damper, warming up your flue, and burning hotter (faster-burning) fires.

We’re Dedicated to Keeping Our Customers Safer

On top of everything, make sure you have both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed throughout your home – on every level and definitely outside of bedrooms. Check the batteries regularly, too, and be sure to replace them as needed.

Finally, find a chimney sweep you can rely on for the long haul. We’re certified with the CSIA and, the NFI and we have decades of experience in the field, so you can bet you’re in safe hands with us. Give Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County a call today at 410-590-4800 or reach us online to book your appointment.

Learn about this process below, and be sure to count on Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel for all of your chimney repairs, sweepings, installation work, and more! And don’t forget to book that annual inspection before your next burning season – we’ve got your back.

First Things First – Wait Until the Ash Has Cooled

First things first, if your ash is still hot and glowing red, do not attempt to remove it. If possible, it’s best to wait a few days before starting the job to ensure no heat is hidden away in there. Believe it or not, embers can stay alive in your fireplace for days, so it’s always best not to take chances.

It’s also a good idea to use a metal tool to move the ash around, double-checking for embers before starting this process.

Use the Proper Equipment

Like we said, ash can stay hot for days on end, so always use a metal scoop to remove it. Along with this, be sure you are transferring the ash into a metal bucket with a tight-fitting metal lid. Ideally, the bottom of the bucket will be slightly raised off of the ground, and it should have a handle to ensure no one gets accidentally burned when moving it.

Why the lid? This is to avoid exposure to oxygen that could easily fuel a live ember. If your ashes get stirred up and that air hits it, it could ignite any surrounding materials (especially if it’s on dry grass or flammable woodwork).

Store Ash Away From Flammable Objects

To reduce any risk of flames starting up again and spreading, store your full ash bucket on a flat concrete or metal surface well away from your home. Make sure not to have any overhang from trees or shrubs.

Never store your ash bucket on your porch, in a dry/grassy area, inside your garage, or in or near your home. This could lead to severe property damage and threaten the safety of those inside of the home.

Finally, let your ash bucket sit for days before emptying it out – the longer you wait, the better! Like we’ve mentioned, embers can stay hot for a long time when they’re buried safely in your fireplace ash. It’s best not to take any chances. Let them sit for as long as possible to guarantee no flames have the opportunity to spread.

Should I Remove it All?

Not sure whether to clear out all of your fireplace ash or leave a small layer? Well, if it is officially the end of your burning season, then we’d recommended getting rid of all of it. If it sits in your firebox for months at a time, it can draw in moisture that will end up hurting your chimney system down the line.

That being said, if you still have fires to build this winter, then it’s fine (even beneficial) to leave a 1-inch layer. This coating can help fuel new fires and it will protect your firebox floor as well. Just make sure it’s not piling up too high, as this can eat away at your fireplace grate.

Uses for Fireplace Ash

Ok – so you’ve done everything right. Your ash has been safely sitting in a closed bucket for days, and it’s time to officially dispose of it. So, what now?

• Well, rather than just dump it in your trash can, there are actually lots of ways to get even more use out of your fireplace ash! Try some of the following options:
• Nourish Your Plants: One of the most popular ways people use wood ash is in their gardens. It can offer a boost to plants like tomatoes, lettuce, asparagus, garlic, and more. Just keep them away from plants that like acid (like blueberries, strawberries, potatoes, and azaleas)
• Ward Off Garden Pests: Another way ash benefits your garden is by keeping certain pests, like slugs and snails, away. They’ll want to keep their slimy selves as far away from that dry substance as possible!
• Clean Driveway Stains: Have a pesky oil stain in your driveway? Sprinkle some ash over it, let it sit for several hours, then sweep it all up. Easy peasy!
• Melt Ice Away: Some people keep ash in their car in case they get stuck in a particularly icy spot. It helps improve traction and melt ice. It can also be used on sidewalks and driveways to reduce the likelihood of slips and falls.
• Get to Cleaning: Ash can contribute a lot to your spring cleaning checklist. It helps to polish silver, you can use it to make soap, it gets your glass fireplace doors shining, and can even be turned into a bleaching agent!

Need Help? We’re Here for You

If you live in Anne Arundel, Howard or Prince Georges counties, count on the team at Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County to help with any of your end-of-the-season care. From inspections to installations and more, we’d love to assist with it all! Stay safer by relying on us – call 410-590-4800 today!

But what exactly can you expect once the sweep shows up? Here’s some insight into our process here at Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County (along with a few tips for you to ensure the process goes as smoothly and seamlessly as possible).

Appointment Tips for the Homeowner

Before we get into the inspection process, let’s go over a big question we commonly face – what do you, as a homeowner, need to do to prepare for our visit? First things first, we ask that you stop using your fireplace, wood stove or gas appliance a full 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time. Why is this? Basically, it ensures everything will be 100% cooled down, guaranteeing safety for our employees.

Then, sometime before the appointment, we ask that you clear any breakable or valuable items and furniture away from the fireplace. We need about 6 feet of clearance space to do our job effectively. We also protect the area where are working with clean drop cloths to protect your hard wood floors or carpet.

The 3 Levels of Inspections

Believe it or not, there are 3 different types of inspections that can be performed on your chimney. And as CSIA-Certified Chimney Specialists, we know the ins and outs of them all! Here’s the low-down on what to expect from each:

• Level 1: A level 1 inspection will be your more basic overview. This is done on systems that always receive an annual inspection and aren’t known for producing any issues for the homeowner. If your chimney is consistently in good health, and if you haven’t changed fuel types or done any reconstruction or renovation work in the recent past, then this is all you should need! The sweep will look at all readily accessible areas, ensure you don’t have dangerous levels of creosote or soot, and check if your structure is sound for the upcoming burning season.
• Level 2: Level 2 inspections are where the internal camera equipment comes in. Our chimney specialists use this technology to get a full, in-depth look at where your chimney stands. When are these inspections done? After remodels/renovations, after a chimney fire, when buying/selling property, after a natural disaster, or after any event that may have caused damage to the system.
• Level 3: Level 3 inspections are far less common, so in most cases you won’t ever need to worry about scheduling one. Basically, if your sweep does a level 2 inspection and it doesn’t reveal the cause of the issues you are experiencing, components of the system will need to be removed or demoed in order to figure out what’s going on.

Now, while level 1 inspections don’t typically call for the use of camera equipment, we hold ourselves to a different standard. We feel there’s simply no better way to get that in-depth analysis than by getting a full 360 degree picture of your flue interior, so we’ll always perform this step, regardless of the inspection type.

How long does an inspection from our team typically take? We ask homeowners to set aside around an hour to an hour and a half out of their day. This guarantees we have ample time to ensure your fireplace is operating as safely and as efficiently as possible.

Inspections Vary Based on Your System

Now, we inspect masonry fireplaces, factory built units, furnaces and boilers, wood stove inserts, free-standing stoves gas fireplaces and gas inserts so it’s important to note that your inspection will vary a bit based on the system we’re dealing with.

When it comes to masonry fireplaces, we’ll inspect the hearth extension, firebox, lintel, smoke chamber, damper, and the chimney flue liner. Like we’ve said before, the liner is viewed with a camera that can turn all the way around to get an up close look at it all. Then we’ll move to the exterior – that includes, brickwork, mortar joints, flashing, the crown, and the cap.

Is it a factory-built system we’re looking at? Again those high-tech cameras will be used! We’ll also check out the firebox, damper, flue liner exhaust, exterior venting system, chase cap, chimney cap, and flashing.

Wood stove inserts and the free-standing wood stoves include inspections of the appliance, firebox, heat exchanger, catalytic combustor, gaskets, hearth extensions, connector pipes, flue liner exhaust, exterior venting system, brickwork, mortar joints, chimney crown, cap, and flashing. And those cameras? We use those here, too!

For the masonry fireplaces, the prefabricated units, the wood stove inserts, and the free-standing wood stoves, we’ll brush out any normal residue  and vacuum with our specialized HEPA-Vacs for mess.Have a gas appliance system? No worries! Our NFI Gas Certified Chimney Specialist will conduct a thorough inspection such as combustible clearances, carbon monoxide, leak and pressure, burner, thermocouples, thermopiles, standing pilot light or ignition removal and cleaning of gas logs, and inspect vent system inside using the internal camera.

Finally, if you have a furnace or boiler, we inspect the connector pipe, thimble, and flue liner, as well as sweep out any normal residue and vacuum with our specialized Hepa-Vacs for no mess.

And the best part about work with our professional crew is that we won’t leave you confused or lost about the state of your system. We’ll review our report with you in detail, ensuring any questions or inquiries are answered throughout the process. You’ll see the pictures we took and hear our insight about the next appropriate steps to take. We can even e-mail the report when we’re through!

Still Have Questions? Reach Out to Our Team

When it comes to operating and maintaining a fireplace, stove, or insert, being knowledgeable and informed is imperative to customer safety. That’s why we always encourage customers to ask our CSIA-Certified Specialists their burning questions! (No pun intended.)

In the end, we want you to have good experiences with our industry and have the ability to enjoy your system as safely and as comfortably as possible. Reach out at 410-590-4800 to speak with an expert today!

Check out the benefits of giving us a call and getting your appointment on the books today. You won’t regret it.

Addressing Repairs Early

So, picture this. It’s the beginning of fall, and the weather is just starting to cool down after a long, hot summer. Leaves are on the ground, you’ve got your pumpkins out, and the only thing you need to set the mood for a perfect evening is a cozy fire in the fireplace.

Only there’s a problem. While you scheduled your inspection right on time, the sweep discovered damages that now need to be addressed, and you weren’t able to get in right away since this is a reputedly busy season for sweeps.

Now you’re stuck waiting weeks for costly, time-consuming repairs – not ideal.

Fortunately, this scenario isn’t real (yet) and there’s still time to avoid it. By scheduling an inspection now, you ensure repairs are addressed long before the start of your burning season. This way, you’ll be good to go on that first chilly evening!

Along with this, some repairs can take some time if the damage is bad enough. Ease your mind by ensuring it’s all taken care of now. Come fall, you’ll be glad you did.

Tackling Leaks & Waterproofing

Another great service to tackle early is waterproofing. In fact, if you have a leaky chimney, spring is the best time to invest in any repairs and leak prevention services. If you’re experiencing flashing issues, cracking in your crown, a missing or broken chimney cap, or crumbling brickwork or mortar, tackling them now will ensure they don’t get worse – and they’re usually prominent right after the cold season!

It’s also beneficial for the sweep to note how the freeze/thaw process may have affected your masonry over the winter. All in all, water damage contributes to rusted metal parts, rotting woodwork, stained walls/ceilings, clogs in the flue, decay, and more, all of which you definitely want to avoid.

Get these repairs and waterproofing done while the weather is nice, so you’re not left stressing about leaks and damage every time a bad storm strikes.

Prevent Animal Entry

During the spring and summer months, it’s not uncommon for birds, raccoons, squirrels, and other critters to find their way into your chimney and set up camp. This causes lots of problems down the line, such as smelly odors, blockages, fire hazards, and more.

Not to mention, some species of birds, like the chimney swift, are protected by federal law thanks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. That means once they’re in, there’s no removing them until they leave on their own!

If you call in one of our techs early, we’ll ensure your chimney cap is fitted well and securely installed. Don’t have a chimney cap? We can put one in. This way you won’t be left with any unwanted visitors throughout the weeks ahead.

Get Your Sweeping Done Early

Did you know that once temps rise outside and you crank up your A/C, the draft in your chimney reverses? This can lead to unpleasant creosote-related odors entering your living space, which is less than ideal. And if you have moisture or water damage, you can expect those odors to creep in, too.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have your sweeping done well before these issues arise? A thorough sweeping (along with an inspection and any necessary repair work) will keep those unpleasant smells at bay, ensuring you always come back to a fresh and welcoming home all summer long.

Guaranteeing More Convenience

One of the best parts about setting up your appointment now? There is simply a much bigger range of time slots available than there will be this fall. What tends to happen once fall weather starts to come back around is that everyone gets the same idea at once – schedule a fireplace inspection! This means we get calls coming in left and right.

If you contact us now, you’ll avoid the hassle of working around everyone else’s schedule. We strive to allow all of our customers appointments on the day and time that works best for them, but it’s harder to do later in the year.

Pick up the phone and get your spot on our books today, so we can help you out when it’s most convenient for you!

Here for Crofton & its Surrounding Areas

If you live in Crofton, Pasadena, Severna Park, or somewhere else nearby, please reach out to the Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County team today. We look forward to helping out with all of your chimney and fireplace-related needs!

The good news is that there are steps you can take to minimize the rate at which these things occur. Things like maintaining good airflow, burning hotter fires, and using seasoned wood, for instance, ensure creosote doesn’t form as fast. It’s also good to do things like close the damper after use, clear out ash regularly, and keep an eye on the state of your brickwork, chimney cap, and the like.

But the best thing you can do? Whether your chimney vents a furnace, boiler, gas fireplace, wood stove or wood burning fireplace there is one important thing you can do, invest in annual inspections.

Why Annual Chimney Inspections Are Essential

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) along with countless reputable organizations and chimney companies all recommend the same things in terms of chimney inspections – schedule them annually!

Now, we get that scheduling inspections before every heating season can feel like a lot… and many wonder why it’s necessary if their system looks and functions fine every year.

The facts are that there are lots of changes that can occur over a year and hidden dangers that could be potentially lurking in your flue (even it was fine the year before), and we’ll definitely want to check your creosote/soot levels to ensure you’re not at risk for clogs or experiencing a chimney fire.

Annual inspections also allow us the opportunity to check if any type of traumatic event has occurred, such as a lightning strike or damage from the freeze/thaw cycle. We’ll look for things like rust, signs of a collision, any missing parts, and interior damage, water entry points all of which could indicate bigger problems are amiss.

In the end, it will be a lot better on your budget, schedule, and stress levels if you invest in care annually, rather than wait for some big damaging event to occur. Affordable maintenance earlier on is always better than time-consuming expensive repairs, renovations, or rebuilds down the line!

Keep in mind that regular inspections also ensure you save on energy costs while protecting your investment and keeping your home value high. And we’ll be able to note and monitor any changes that occur over time.

Basically… If it’s been over a year since your last one (or if any concerns have recently come up) get your inspection on the books now.

The Minimal Three Levels of Inspections

Here’s a bit more information on each of these levels as per National Fire Protection Association.

A level one inspection covers the basics. Any parts that are easily accessible and that don’t require the use of tools to gain access to will be looked over to ensure your system is structurally sound. We’ll also make sure your chimney is free of clogs or creosote/soot buildup.

If you’ve always invested in annual inspections, haven’t had any major changes completed recently, and aren’t worried about big damages caused by a natural disaster or harmful event (think chimney fires, lightning strikes, floods, tornadoes, etc.), a level one inspection should be sufficient for you.

A level two inspection involves everything in a level one inspection, then takes it a bit further. If areas can be easily accessed with basic tools, we’ll utilize those to ensure we’re not missing any potential hidden damages. We’ll also get out our camera equipment, which is snaked up the chimney and gives us that up-close look we need to make an accurate analysis.

Level two inspections are required during the sale or purchase of property, after a natural disaster, after a change in fuel type or renovation, or after a chimney fire.

A level three inspection is far less common than a level one or two, but it’s still sometimes needed. If a level two inspection is completed and the cause of chimney problems is still unknown, parts of the chimney may need to be removed or torn down to check the condition of concealed areas. This could mean doing things like taking off the chimney cap or removing an interior wall.

That said, these are done only when totally necessary. It’s likely you won’t need one, but we want to be certain we’re equipped to perform them in those more extreme cases.

At Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County, we’re certified with the CSIA and NFI and offer three levels of chimney inspections. No matter where your system currently stands, we’ll be able to help you out

Give Us a Call Before Fall

Fall is just around the corner, and it won’t be long until our schedule books really start to fill up. Book your inspection with the qualified, experienced crew here at Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County now, so you’re all set when temperatures drop in a few months.

We look forward to working with you!

It’s a common misconception. Many with a gas fireplace assume that, because gas burns so much cleaner and more efficiently than wood, it doesn’t require yearly services and inspections.

The truth is that, no matter which type of fuel type you use to operate your fireplace, annual inspections are always a must! Based on recommendations by the International Residential Code (IRC), as well as nationally recognized organizations like the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), this is a vital step for ensuring optimum efficiency and safer functioning all year round.

Along with this, virtually all manufacturers require this step. So, if you’re questioning whether or not you need to get your inspection booked, the answer is… yes! Give us a call and get it on the books now, so you’re all set and ready to go when temps drop this fall.

What Does a Gas Appliance Inspection Consist Of?

So, what can you expect from our team during your gas fireplace inspection? Well, first we’ll dismantle your logs. We’ll then clean, inspect, and vacuum them, all the while ensuring everything is looking good and in working order.

Then, we’ll check out the burner. This means looking over the thermocouple, the thermopile, the standing pilot light, and the electronic ignition. These are all checked out with the appropriate meters and measuring tools. We’ll make sure everything is functioning appropriately and working in the right range per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Any electronic components associated with the appliance like a wall switch or remote control? We’ll check the continuity with those, too.

The venting system will also need a thorough overview. We’ll use a camera to get a 360 degree view of the entire interior. Whether your system runs through a wall and out the side of your home, through a pipe or chimney, or through an interior wall and out the roof, we’ll thoroughly examine the vent system and take photos as we go along.

What do we look for during your inspection? We’ll keep an eye out for clogs, poor connections, gaps, and any other separations that could lead to carbon monoxide leaks or inefficiency.

On top of all that, we’ll check the system for proper clearances, do a leak and pressure check, inspect and sweep the blower, brush and vacuum the firebox, and ensure the overall operation of the appliance is in tip top shape.

As for the parts that are exposed on the outside of the home, like your termination cap or any piping or chimney coming out the roof or side of the home, we’ll examine them and take pics during the inspection process, so you’ll be able to see everything for yourself when we’re done.

And once our inspection is done, we’ll set everything back up to factory standards. The logs will be stacked right, so that they burn correctly, and our licensed technicians will write a condition-of-findings report on one of our company iPads. We’ll then go over the report and pictures with you, so you have peace of mind knowing everything has been checked out and is in good working order. We’ll also e-mail you a copy, so you can review at your leisure anytime you’d like!

In the end, you never want to begin a new burning season without an examination from a qualified Gas Certified technician. Your household deserves the very best – be sure to turn to the pros at Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County for the care you need!

Always Use Certified Professional

Now, one thing is certain when investing in this type of chimney care – hiring someone experienced, dedicated, and educated is vital!

Carbon monoxide can be a real threat when things aren’t operating correctly with your gas fireplace, and there only needs to be a small gap or crack for this poisonous substance to leak into your household. Carbon monoxide can be extremely damaging to one’s health – even fatal – and it’s next to impossible to detect due it’s colorless, odorless nature.

Needless to say, you want someone on the job who knows their stuff to ensure nothing is missed and you’re not at risk!

The techs here at Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County are certified chimney specialists with the CSIA, and we’re National Fireplace Institute (NFI)-certified gas service technicians, too. Combine that with over 40 years of experience and a commitment to customer satisfaction, and you have a team you can feel confident in with every passing season!

Give Us a Call Today

The first day of fall is just around the corner, and we’d love to do everything we can to set you up right for the cooler months ahead. Give us a call at 410-590-4800 to set up your next appointment.

Don’t own a gas appliance? We’d still love to help! Reach out for your sweepings, inspections, flue liner or masonry repairs, chimney caps or chimney chase covers, and more!