Understanding the Chimney Sweep Process: What to Expect in Aitkin

Whether you’re looking for a chimney sweep for yourself or to hire someone else, it’s important to understand what a professional chimney sweep will do when they arrive at your home. You should also make sure they’re properly certified by the CSIA and carry a liability insurance policy.

A proper chimney sweeping will take hours and involve working inside or up on the roof of your home. Here’s what to expect: Check here for chimney repair aitkin mn.

What to Expect

Aitkin (pronounced AY-kin) is the county seat of Aitkin County in Minnesota. The Mississippi River and Sissabagamah Creek run through the city, which is known for its small-town atmosphere, excellent schools, strong workforce and low crime rate.

Are you a retailer or business that needs to collect sales tax in Aitkin MN? Learn how AvaTax, our cloud-based sales tax software, can help you automate your compliance and keep up with changing state nexus laws.

Preparation

Chimney sweeps deal with soot, ash and other debris that can make a mess in your home. Therefore, before the chimney sweep arrives you can help protect your home by moving any furniture away from your fireplace and covering any rugs with a plastic or drop cloth. Additionally, you should also remove logs, grate and any other decorative items that might prevent access or become broken during the cleaning process.

It is important to choose a chimney sweep that has been around for at least 35 years, since experience has shown they are more reliable than those that are just starting out. Also, be sure they are CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certified to ensure their work is up to the industry’s highest standards.

The CSIA is a non-profit trade association that sets the industry’s technical and professional standards. It also provides training and education to members. Getting your chimney sweep business registered is essential and a simple process that will add authenticity to the brand.

The Sweep

After making sure there are no obstructions, your chimney sweep will start the cleaning process. They will use long extension poles with special brushes to clear the flue and fireplace masonry. They will also vacuum up any debris they discover during the process.

Chimney sweeping is more than just a clean-up job, though. Sweeps often find deteriorating masonry and other issues that could affect the safety of the fireplace and home. They can recommend pros for masonry repairs, as well.

Early sweeps had a very difficult and dangerous job, working from dawn to dusk. The soot and grime were difficult on their bodies, leading to serious lung problems and even death. Children also struggled with the job, falling out of chimneys or getting wedged inside. They wore the discarded uniform of funeral directors, which helped disguise the soot they encountered and gave them a sense of pride in their work. Today, sweeps are highly trained professionals held to high ethical standards by the CSIA.

Post-Sweep

The chimney sweep uses specialized rods and brushes to remove blockages in the fireplace, chimney liner, the chimney cap and other parts of the chimney. They will also use these tools to scrape all of the coating and debris that has accumulated on the chimney lining, which can be a dangerous material that clogs a chimney. They will also use a HEPA vacuum to suck any soot and creosote from the fireplace.

They will also check the chimney for damage to the chimney structure. If a chimney is damaged, the chimney sweep will make a list of recommended pros to handle the necessary repairs.

It’s important to hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect and clean your fireplace, chimney, flue and vents regularly. Chimney fires and carbon monoxide problems are almost always avoidable if your chimney is well-maintained. Schedule a cleaning and inspection today with Black Goose to protect your family from preventable dangers. You won’t regret it!