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How Often Does a Chimney Need Sweeping?
Our rule of thumb after thirty years in the trade: once a year or once a cord, whichever comes later. Buildup comes from the wood you burn, not the calendar. Burn three cords a winter? That’s a yearly sweep. Take four years to get through one cord? Then your sweep is every four years, and you’d rather hear that from us than pay to sweep a chimney that’s barely worked.
Dry wood holds the rule up
The rule depends on dry wood. Seasoned firewood burns hot and clean. That means a year or more split and under cover, and under 20% moisture if you own a meter. Wet wood burns cool and smoky, and cool smoke is what coats a chimney with creosote. Burn it all winter and you can need two sweeps a year. If your wood sizzles in the fire, that’s the sound of the problem. A moisture meter, about $25, is the cheapest chimney maintenance there is, and it costs less than a second sweep.
Gas or pellet?
Gas and pellet fireplaces don’t need a chimney sweep. Their yearly visit is a gas & pellet service.
Not sure where you land?
Tell us how much you burn and what you burn it with. Call or use the form, and you’ll get a straight answer about whether you need a sweep or an inspection.
