Services
Our approach to chimney sweeping in Black Hammock
What decides the method and the price of a chimney cleaning in Black Hammock.
Brushes sized to the flue
Flues come in different shapes and sizes. Clay tile is often square or rectangular, while metal liners and factory-built chimneys are round. A brush that is too small skims the middle and leaves deposits in the corners, and one that is too stiff or the wrong material can scratch a metal liner.
Brush head and rods are chosen to match the flue once it has been measured. For factory-built and stainless systems, the maker's instructions say which brush types are allowed, and we follow them. Getting the fit right is what separates a flue that looks swept from one that is actually clean along its whole length. Where a flue changes size or shape partway up, we switch brushes at that point so the whole run is cleaned from top to bottom.
Soot, flaky creosote and glaze
Chimney deposits come in different forms. Dry, powdery soot and flaky, crusty creosote come away with brushing. A hard, shiny glaze that looks like tar or dripped candle wax does not, however long the brush works on it.
When we find glaze, we tell you where it is and how much there is, and we explain the specialized treatment it needs. That work is a separate creosote removal service with its own steps; the label directions for the treatments we use call for applying the product and removing the residue on a later visit. A sweep that ends with glazed deposits still in the flue is reported to you as exactly that. Knowing where the glaze sits and how far it runs helps us plan the treatment and quote it accurately.
Handling ashes between cleanings
Ashes can hold live embers long after a fire looks dead. The National Fire Protection Association's heating safety tips put it simply: wait for ashes to cool, carry them out in a metal container, and set that container well away from the house.
A metal can with a lid, set outside on bare ground away from walls, decks and the woodpile, is a simple habit that prevents a lot of trouble. A thin bed of ash can stay in the firebox, but clear the rest regularly so it does not crowd the grate or the air feeding the fire. Our sweeps can show you what to keep and what to remove. If you are unsure whether the ash is cold, leave it another day before moving it.
