Seeking Professional Chimney Sweep Services in San Diego?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s standard for chimneys and fireplaces calls for homeowners to have their system inspected and swept each year in order to keep things running as safely as possible. Why? Annual inspections and sweepings help ensure your house is protected from the high heat of fire, and that your family isn’t at risk of inhaling any of the toxic gases that result from combustion.
If you’re seeking chimney sweeps in San Diego or anywhere nearby, we’re the team to turn to. We’ll sweep your flue, then ensure any other chimney and fireplace services are taken care of, too, guaranteeing a burn season that runs as seamlessly as possible.
At Weststar Chimney Sweeps, we can make maintenance a breeze, and keep your system in top working order. Call or book online now to get started.
Our Chimney Sweeping Process Is Thorough & Detailed
When Weststar Chimney Sweeps’ technicians sweep your chimney, we’ll go through a step-by-step process that ensures that your entire system is properly cleaned – and that problems and potential hazards aren’t hiding.
This video from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) runs through the chimney sweeping steps that Weststar Chimney Sweeps’ technicians follow, as well as shares some simple things that you might want to know before having your San Diego chimney swept.
What’s the Chimney Sweeping Process Like?
Wondering how to sweep a chimney? Well, you start by calling in one of our certified chimney experts. Despite the market for DIY chimney sweep kits on the web, this approach is highly frowned upon and could leave you facing some serious risks.
What can you expect when our team comes out for a chimney sweep? During the process, our Weststar technicians will:
- lay dropcloths down around the work area to protect your home
- set up an array of tools and a specialized HEPA vacuum
- use special brushes to sweep the flue liner and smoke chamber
- scrub the smoke chamber, smoke shelf, and damper with hand tools
- sweep the firebox
- remove and brush the fire grate
- remove any ash that’s in the firebox with a hand brush and a shovel
- inspect the liner and other accessible portions of the chimney
- check for cracks, gaps, and other potential hazards
- perform a final vacuuming and hand brushing
- prepare a written document that shows all the work performed
- report all findings from the inspection
- talk with you about proper use and maintenance of your system
When we leave, you’ll have a clean chimney that offers the level of safety and performance you expect and deserve.
Don’t Worry: A Mess Is Not in Your Future
Are chimney sweepings messy? They can be…without the right tools or expertise!
Weststar Chimney technicians take great pains to make sure that soot, creosote and ash are contained and kept out of your living area. We use a state-of-the-art ROVAC HEPA filtered chimney vacuum system that contains the exhaust and soot inside the vacuum itself, so that no dust or debris escape.
We also thoroughly cover the work area and treat your home with as much care as we would our own.
Do I Need To Prepare My Home Before a Chimney Sweep?
There are a few steps you can take to ensure the process goes smoother!
- Stop using the fireplace. Avoid using the fireplace at least 24-48 hours before the scheduled sweep. This ensures the chimney is cool enough for the technician to work safely.
- Clear the area around the fireplace. Move any furniture, decorations, or items that are close to the fireplace or wood stove. This will give the technician enough space to work and prevent soot or debris from damaging your belongings.
- Secure pets, if needed. Keep pets in another room while the technician is working to ensure their safety and prevent distractions.
Taking these steps will help ensure the chimney sweep process is efficient and minimize the risk of any belongings becoming damaged.
What Is Creosote?
Creosote is a dark and typically tar-like substance (although, it can also be flaky or glazed/shiny) that forms inside your chimney when wood is burned. There are three stages of creosote, and each stage is flammable – although stage 3 is the one that’s most dangerous.
What are the stages of creosote?
- Stage 1 (Flaky & Dusty): In the early stage, creosote appears as light, flaky soot, and is relatively easy to remove with a standard chimney brush.
- Stage 2 (Tarry & Sticky): This is the most common type – as creosote builds up, it becomes thicker, sticky, and harder to remove.
- Stage 3 (Hardened and Glazed): If creosote is left too long, it becomes hardened into a shiny, glaze-like coating – this is the most dangerous and the hardest to remove.
How can glazed creosote be removed? Fortunately, the techs here at Weststar Chimney have a product to get the job done effectively – Poultice Creosote Removal (PCR). This chimney deglazing method is safe and effective, ensuring you get the results you need fast…and without harming your flue in the process.
Clean Fireplaces Don’t Catch Fire
The biggest concern with creosote is that it’s highly flammable – and the more creosote buildup you have, the higher your chances are of experiencing a chimney fire.
Now, you may be thinking that chimneys are designed to handle heat, so what’s the big deal about some fire in your flue? Well, they can handle heat, but flames cause a lot of damage – damage that’ll make your system unsafe for use. And because most chimney fires occur quietly, you could be use a fire-damaged chimney without knowing it.
Stay safer by booking regular sweeping services with us. We’ll keep creosote at bay.
What Are the Signs of Too Much Creosote?
What signs might be indicate that creosote is clogging things up – or causing other issues?
- Your fireplace keeps sending smoke back into your living space.
- Pungent, smoky odors are coming from your fireplace.
- You can see thick, black soot or tar-like substance in the chimney
- You’re having difficulty starting a fire
- Your fires burn weakly, aren’t giving off much heat, or are hard to maintain
If you notice any of these signs – or if anything else unusual is occurring with your system – don’t wait to reach out to our experts.
How Can I Prevent Creosote Buildup?
While creosote can’t be avoided altogether, there are things you can do to slow down the rate at which is accumulates.
- Burn only seasoned wood. Use dry, well-seasoned wood for your fires, and resist any temptation to throw in treated wood, trash, paper plates, cardboard, etc.
- Ensure proper airflow: Make draft and airflow concerns a priority and if you suspect any issues, have them addressed by a professional sweep.
- Book annual chimney inspections: A yearly chimney sweep and inspection will help prevent dangerous creosote buildup by catching any issues early on.
- Burn hotter, quicker fires: The slow, smoldering fires tend to be more condusive to creosote buildup, as the smoke is given more time to linger and condense.
Have more questions or need more advice? We are dedicated to continued education for our employees, so our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified technicians study hard to keep up on changing industry standards and codes. Reach out now – we’d be happy to help you out.
Our Experience Is Unmatched
Since our company’s establishment in 1999, we’ve made customer satisfaction our highest priority, which is why we’ve developed so many positive relationships with our happy customers over the years. We want our customers to have confidence and peace of mind when they use their chimneys and dryer vents – which is why we conduct such thorough inspections and cleanings.
When you’re ready to schedule your annual chimney sweeping, call Weststar Chimney Sweeps at 619-338-8116, or make an appointment online – we’re here for you!
Once your chimney is cleaned, it needs to be inspected to check for any hidden problems. Weststar is ready to help with this basic and important chimney service.