Chimney Cleaning in New Jersey

Have the chimney inspected once a year and cleaned whenever buildup is found. Fireplaces and wood stoves used often, or ones that burn damp wood, usually need cleaning more often than those lit only on holidays.

Creosote is a tar-like residue left when wood smoke cools in the flue. It builds up in layers and burns easily. Enough of it can ignite and cause a chimney fire, which can crack the liner and spread to the house.

It depends on how much buildup there is, the number of flues, the type of fireplace or stove and how easy the chimney is to reach. We tell you the cost before we start, and any repair we find gets a free written estimate.

It shouldn’t be. We cover the hearth and floor, seal the fireplace opening and contain the soot as we work. When we finish, we clean up so the room looks the way it did when we arrived.

Late spring and summer are easiest to schedule, and a spring cleaning also cuts down the smoky smell in humid weather. If you use the fireplace a lot, a mid-winter check can be worthwhile too.

Gas burns cleaner than wood, but the flue can still collect debris, nests and corrosion. A yearly inspection is still recommended, and we clean the flue when we find something blocking or narrowing it.

A sweep removes soot and creosote from the flue. An inspection checks the condition of the chimney itself: liner, crown, mortar, cap and flashing. We look for problems while we clean and recommend an inspection when something needs a closer look.

Yes. Heavy buildup narrows the flue and weakens the draft, so smoke can roll back into the room. Creosote also gives off a sharp, smoky smell, especially in warm, humid weather when the fireplace isn’t in use.