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The Sterling Chimney Sweep teamCan I clean my chimney myself?
You can do the safe checks yourself, from the hearth and the ground, but brushing the flue from the roof, a camera look and any repair are jobs for a sweep. Cleaning a flue means a ladder, a roof and a flue you cannot see into, and a brush can catch on a cracked tile. The checks you can do, and the ones to leave alone, follow.
What you can check safely
- Look into the firebox with a flashlight, from the hearth, once the fireplace is cold.
- Check the glass doors and the front of the hearth for soot and smoke stains.
- Notice whether the fire is slow to catch or smoke drifts into the room.
- Look at the chimney from the ground for missing mortar, leaning or a cap that looks wrong.
- Empty cold ashes into a metal container kept outside, away from the house.
When to stop and call
Do not try these at home: a damper that is stuck, an animal or sounds from inside the chimney, a suspected chimney fire, a leaning stack, or any brick that has come loose.
If you see flames in the flue or hear a roar from the chimney, get everyone out of the house and call 911. The NFPA heating safety page has more on heating safety.
Why is chimney cleaning harder than it looks?
The brush only cleans what it touches. A chimney can bend, narrow or have a cracked tile that a rod catches on, and you cannot see any of that from the roof. Pushing a brush through a damaged flue can make a crack worse.
What is the real danger of creosote?
Creosote is the tar-like film wood smoke leaves behind. It is fuel. A thick layer in the flue can ignite, and a chimney fire can crack the lining and spread to the house. Soft soot sweeps out easily, but hardened creosote needs the right tools and an eye for how much is there.
What does a pro add?
Besides the brush, a sweep brings a trained look. We lay drop cloths, work the flue clean and note what we see on the way. When a flue needs a closer check, a camera shows the inside, and a Level 2 inspection always includes one. Then we walk you through what we found.
| What you notice | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Soot on the glass doors | Normal burning | Wipe the glass, plan a yearly sweep |
| Smoke smell in the room | Buildup or a draw problem | Book a sweep |
| Scratching or flapping inside | An animal in the flue | Call us, do not open the damper |
| Damper will not move | Rust, debris or a bent plate | Stop, do not force it, call |
If you want the flue cleaned, our chimney sweep page shows what we do from set-up to cleanup. We sweep chimneys in Oakdale, Lake Elmo and across the east metro.
Cleaning questions
Short answers first.
Are chimney cleaning logs a substitute for a sweep?
No. They may help with some buildup but cannot replace a brush and a trained look. Follow the package directions if you use one, and still schedule a sweep.
How will I know when my chimney is dirty?
Signs include a smoke smell, a fire that is slow to catch, and black flaky buildup on the damper. But a flue can be dirty without showing any of them, so a yearly sweep is the safer plan.
Is it safe to go on the roof to look?
We advise staying on the ground. Roofs are slippery and falls are serious. Look from below, and let a crew do the climbing.
How does a professional sweep protect the room?
Drop cloths and an industrial vacuum keep the soot contained, and we leave the work area tidy when we finish.
Rather leave the roof to someone else?
Call and tell us what you have noticed. We will bring the brushes, the drop cloths and the industrial vacuum.