When it comes to cleaning your home's chimneys, the best time to do so is in the warmer months, between spring and late summer. This is before you need to light any fires in the fireplace when the weather turns cold. Doing this at the beginning of the year is beneficial for a few reasons. You can still clean your chimney in the fall or winter, but you may have to wait a month or so for the best chimney sweeps to be available.
Fall and winter are busy times of year for chimney sweeps, so it's best to clean your fireplace in spring or summer. This way, you can choose a time that is most convenient for you and you may even get a discount on cleaning your chimney. Chimneys should be cleaned no later than early fall, before the fire burning season begins. If you hire a chimney sweep, you can expect a quick response if you contact them sooner, ideally in summer.
For self-cleaning, late summer is the best time as you can count on a safe, dry roof and mild conditions for doing the job. If you're lucky enough to have a working chimney, it was probably used a lot last year due to the pandemic. Spring is also an ideal time to clean the chimney inside and out as part of a deep spring cleaning routine. This will also help you avoid autumn fever when everyone tries to book the best chimney sweeps. Have all of the tools needed for this DIY chimney cleaning project ready before you begin; it will save time and frustration.
Ask yourself how important it is to you to have a trained technician inspect and clean your chimney. Cleaning the chimney from inside is one of the most complicated jobs imaginable, so it's best left to professionals. Your chimney needs to be inspected and cleaned every year, so you will compete with many other responsible homeowners who do the same. If your brush gets stuck in a crack or if you haven't cleaned your chimney after a long period of disuse, call a professional. Look for certification: CSIA certification is key to ensuring that your chimney sweep understands and follows best practices for thorough inspections and cleaning.
There is no simple general rule of thumb for how often the chimney should be cleaned; it depends on how often it was used last year and other factors. When the chimney is blocked, the best way to ensure that it is completely clean is with a thorough inspection and cleaning. Pro-tech is one of the best chimney sweeps that can clean, repair and service your chimney and make sure it works properly. The industry tries to keep up with demand during fall but it's impossible to safely add additional workers. Spring is also an ideal time for inspections as it can be difficult to complete a full inspection in winter depending on weather conditions.
Only experienced companies will make these suggestions for your Long Island home. It's time to do some cleaning to make sure they haven't been installed inside the chimney. It can be difficult for established companies to keep up with this increase in demand and serve all customers during this period. Creosote is a flammable substance that accumulates in chimneys and needs regular cleaning to avoid the risk of fire.
