Chimney Sweep In Richmond VA
Chimney Saver Solutions helps our Richmond, Virginia, customers keep safe and warm every winter with a certified chimney sweep and chimney cleaning services. Here’s how we can help you.
Why Chimneys Need Regular Cleaning
When wood burns, some of its smoke condenses inside the chimney flue and forms a substance known as creosote. This is a highly flammable substance that can easily ignite and start a chimney fire.
In fact, research shows that the majority of chimney fires in and around the Richmond area each year are started by excess creosote inside chimney flues.
If you don’t have a chimney cap or flue cover at the top of your chimney, things from the outside can get into the flue. Debris such as tree leaves and twigs, the nesting material of small animals and the animals themselves when they die inside the flue all can create a serious drafting obstruction.
Blockages can cause smoke and dangerous carbon monoxide to back up into your home due to improper venting. This is another reason our Richmond, VA, customers rely on us for expert chimney sweep services.
What Does a Chimney Sweep Do?
Our chimney sweeps are certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and have the tools and extensive training to safely and efficiently clean the chimney at your Richmond home.
We use specialized equipment including rotating rods, scrubbers, chimney sweep brushes, cleaning solvents and industrial vacuums to remove creosote, soot and debris. When performing chimney cleaning, we take extra care to safeguard the work area to prevent damage and mess. We leave your home looking as it did when we arrived.
Chimney Cleaning Logs - Same Thing as a Richmond Chimney Sweep?
A lot of Virginia homeowners wonder about the value of chimney cleaning logs, which are treated with a chemical that, when burned, is said to remove creosote from your chimney. These logs do remove some creosote, but they’re no substitute for a professional cleaning.
Creosote can be puffy, sticky or solid, depending on various factors. Cleaning logs are best used to remove early forms of puffy creosote. They are not shown to be effective in removing large amounts of sticky or solid creosote – the kind we find in many of our Richmond customers’ chimney flues.
While chimney cleaning logs have been named an “accepted product” by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, the organization’s Executive Director Frances Kelly states, “We uphold the position that chemical cleaners should not replace any service provided by a qualified professional, including annual inspections and cleaning.”
What You Need to Know About Chimney Fires
Chimney fires are not always big and obvious. It’s very common for smaller fires to start and then go out on their own. You may not know there’s a fire in your Richmond chimney, but fire is fire, and damage can be done to the chimney liner, the chimney masonry and nearby parts of your home.
Professional chimney sweep services will reduce the risk of chimney fires and keep your flue clean, clear and safe all winter long.
Chimney Saver Solutions serves the entire Richmond, VA, region year-round with the very best in chimney cleaning, chimney repairs and chimney inspections.
If it’s been more than a year since your chimney was properly cleaned, give us a call at (804) 440-5000.