Chimney sweep—it calls up visions of Dick Van Dyke singing and dancing with a bad British accent.
Having your chimney and flues inspected and cleaned regularly is a serious issue, though. A build-up of soot and creosote in your chimney can start a fire in your house!
Having a wood-burning fireplace in your house can be very pleasant, but it does need regular inspection and cleaning to stay safe. 4 Seasons Home Comfort offers inspection and cleaning of fireplaces, chimneys, and flues, to keep any warranties you might have valid as well as keeping your home safe.
As noted in Wikipedia, “Today, chimney sweeps are still operating, as venting systems for coal, heating oil, natural gas, wood, and pellet burning appliances need to be maintained. There is a greater understanding of the dangers of flue deposits and carbon monoxide and gases from combustion.”
An annual inspection of your fireplace and chimney (or the time period specified by your insurer or warranty) is recommended; how often you need your chimney cleaned depends more on how often you use your fireplace, and what your fireplace-cleaning professional recommends based on the inspection that has been done. 4 Seasons Home Comfort can also do repairs to your fireplace, chimney, and flue if required.
The cleaning itself is a detailed process, and will probably take a couple of hours. The technician will clean from the roof or from inside the house, depending on how your fireplace and chimney are situated.
The technician will lay out floor protectors to keep the soot and mess contained, then use specialized cleaning tools and a chimney brush to push down the soot and creosote. But there is not likely to be a lot of singing and dancing, and bad British accents are optional.
Contact 4 Seasons Home Comfort to discuss service options for chimney sweeping or visit our showroom at 3620 9th Ave North in Lethbridge.
