Chimney sweeping in Chanhassen, MN for a flue that is clean before the first fire
A chimney sweep removes soot and creosote from the flue so smoke leaves your house the way it should. Our crew comes to your home in Chanhassen and the nearby towns, cleans the whole system and tells you plainly what we saw.
What does a chimney sweep actually do?
A sweep brushes the inside of your chimney clean. Burning wood leaves soot and a tar-like film called creosote on the flue walls. Creosote catches fire easily, and a thick layer narrows the passage and slows the draft.
The job covers the flue, the smoke chamber above the damper, the damper itself and the firebox. It applies to open fireplaces, wood stoves and fireplace inserts. Each one collects deposits in its own places, so each gets its own tools and its own attention.
If you light a fire a few times a winter or every weekend, the sweep keeps the pipe your smoke travels through open and clear.
How do I know my chimney needs sweeping?
Your nose and your fireplace usually tell you first. Any of these is a good reason to call.
- A smoky, tarry or campfire smell in the room, especially on humid days
- Smoke drifting into the room when you light a fire
- Black, glossy or flaky buildup on the firebox walls or damper
- Fires that are slow to catch or burn weakly
- A season or more of regular burning since the last sweep
- You just moved in and nobody can tell you when it was last cleaned
Creosote comes in stages. Early on it is a dusty soot that brushes away. Left alone, it hardens into a shiny, hard glaze that takes patient work to remove. Sweeping while it is still soft saves effort and keeps the fireplace safer.
What happens during a sweeping visit?
The crew arrives with drop cloths and a vacuum, so the cleaning stays in the fireplace and out of your living room.
Protect the room
We lay down cloths around the hearth, seal the opening and set up the vacuum that holds back dust.
Look first
We open the damper, check the firebox and look up the flue so we know what we are cleaning.
Brush the flue
Rods and brushes sized to the flue loosen soot and creosote from the top of the firebox up to the cap.
Clear the base
We vacuum out the smoke shelf, damper area and firebox, then test that the damper opens and closes freely.
Last, we tell you what we found. If we see a cracked liner tile, a missing cap or water damage, we say so and show you what it means for your fireplace. Whether to act on it is your call.
Sweeping looks at what you can see from the firebox and flue. A camera look inside the flue is part of a Level 2 chimney inspection.
How often should a chimney be swept?
Once a year is the common guidance for chimneys that get regular use. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends an annual inspection, and sweeping follows from what the inspection shows. Fall is the natural time, before the first cold week sends everyone to the hearth.
Heavy burners may want a visit mid-season. Burning dry, seasoned wood keeps buildup lighter, while damp or resinous wood builds creosote faster. A stove or insert that runs for hours a day collects deposits quicker than an open fireplace used on holidays.
A gas fireplace has no creosote, but it still needs its vent and burner area checked. See gas fireplace repair if yours has started acting up.
Sweeping chimneys in Chanhassen homes, old and new
Chanhassen grew in layers. Its older streets hold ramblers and split-levels whose masonry fireplaces may have changed hands several times. Newer homes often have factory-built fireplaces and metal flues that need the right brushes.
Leaves, twigs and the occasional nest end up in chimneys without caps, and we clear them while we sweep. If you would like to stop that from recurring, ask about chimney cap installation.
We work from Chanhassen out to Victoria, Chaska, Carver, Waconia, Excelsior, Shorewood, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and the towns around them.
What changes the cost of a sweep?
The price depends on the job in front of us, and we explain it when you call. A few things move it.
- The type of appliance: open fireplace, wood stove or insert
- How tall the chimney is and how hard the roofline is to reach
- How much creosote has built up, and whether it has glazed
- How many flues the house has
- Whether the visit turns up a cap, damper or liner problem to look at
Tell us the appliance and when it was last cleaned and we can describe what to expect.
Chimney sweeping questions, answered
Can I sweep my own chimney?
Some homeowners buy brushes and rods, but the work happens on a roof or in a dark flue, and it is easy to miss damage you cannot see. A trained sweep reads the buildup, spots cracks and cleans the smoke chamber, which a rod alone cannot reach.
Will sweeping make a mess in my house?
The crew works with drop cloths, a sealed fireplace opening and a vacuum. Most of the dust goes into the vacuum instead of the room.
Do chimney inserts and wood stoves get swept the same way?
The goal is the same, but the method differs. A stove or insert connects to a liner or stovepipe, so we clean through the appliance or the connection and check the gaskets and baffle where they apply.
What if you find something wrong during the sweep?
We stop, show you and explain what it affects. If the fireplace should rest until it is repaired, we tell you that directly. The repair options are on our chimney repair page.
Should I sweep before or after the burning season?
Fall is the usual choice, so the chimney is ready for the first fire. Sweeping at the end of the season also works, because creosote left in the flue over a humid summer can smell and harden.
How should I prepare for the visit?
Clear the area around the hearth, move rugs and small furniture back a few feet, and make sure the fireplace is cool. If you have pets, keep them in another room.
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below. Each page covers what is different about the homes and chimneys there.
Chanhassen and Carver County
South Lake Minnetonka
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below. Each page covers what is different about the homes and chimneys there.
Chanhassen and Carver County
South Lake Minnetonka
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
What you can count on
- 10 years in the chimney tradeSweeping, inspection and repair on brick and factory-built chimneys
- Licensed and insuredBrickstone Chimney Sweep is licensed and insured
- Open every day, 8 AM to 8 PMCall any day of the week to set a time