Auburn, Alabama

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Sootaway’s Expert Chimney and Fireplace Services

Chimney Sweep Auburn, Alabama

Sootaway chimney sweep Auburn knows that fireplaces and chimneys are very important to maintain. As one of the riskiest areas of the home, when not properly maintained, fireplaces can become very dangerous. With that being said, if you own a fireplace, you should consider getting your chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep team. Professional chimney sweeps can help minimize the risks of owning a fireplace and ensure your chimney is properly maintained. The Sootaway team consists of experienced chimney sweeps serving Auburn, Alabama. We help our clients feel secure with their fireplace so they can enjoy it anytime they want. Before discussing the benefits of our services, let’s cover what chimney sweeps do.

What is a Chimney Sweep?

A chimney sweep is a professional chimney technician who ensures homes are safe to use their fireplaces. Since the 1700s, fireplace owners have known cleaning their chimneys is a risky task. Homeowners would seek the help of young boys who would climb up their chimney to clean each brick and tile in the interior. Thankfully, commercial-grade equipment has taken that job away from children. Despite people knowing for over 300 years that chimney cleaning is very important, many people neglect to do this task, or they attempt to do it themselves.

Chimney sweeps are highly trained workers who have the proper equipment to clean chimneys thoroughly. Most homeowners do not have the necessary tools to get up and inside the chimney. To reach the entire chimney a pro needs the proper tools. A professional chimney sweep will use extendable brushes, specialized cleaning agents, and even cameras to ensure your chimney is completely clean. With that being said, hiring professional chimney sweep Auburn, such as those at Sootaway, has a multitude of benefits.

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Chimney Fire Prevention Tips

Use Proper Fuel

Make sure the wood is seasoned and when choosing a type of wood, go for a hardwood like oak, maple, or ash. A few logs of greenwood can build creosote thick enough to start a chimney fire.

Proper Installation

Your wood stove or furnace must be installed properly and by a professional. This is to ensure there is proper distance between the flammable parts and the non-combustible parts of the heating system. A wood stove’s chimney must be brick-made (masonry) and factory-built. A single bricked chimney with no liner must never be used for a wood stove.

Chimney Cleaning

Get a professional chimney sweep to inspect your chimney at least annually. This should be even more frequent if the fireplace is lit regularly.

Use Smoke Detectors

With the help of smoke detectors, troubleshoot and take action immediately any time smoke is detected indoors. The smoke is most likely a result of a dirty chimney full of debris like dead leaves, twigs, soot, or creosote buildup that have resulted in chimney flue blockage. Other causes include soft or wet wood that has not burned completely or a damper that is not fully opened.

Dangers of Creosote

Unfortunately, creosote is an unavoidable side effect of using your wood-burning fireplace. Creosote is a type of residue that results from burning wood. Creosote sticks to the walls of your chimney, and excessive buildup can lead to hazards such as odors in the home or chimney fires. Because creosote is the leading cause of chimney fires, the National Fire Protection Association recommends having your chimney annually. Your Sootaway chimney sweeps are experienced in cleaning chimneys and removing creosote and are happy to assist you.

Happy Customers

Years in Business

Satisfaction Guarantee

Happy Customers

“Sootaway came out and used some spray to waterproof my chimney. Even gave me a 10 yr warranty in case we did start seeing leaks but reassured me that it would not be a problem again. I really appreciate knowing I don’t have to worry about my chimney for a long time.”

“I liked that this business called me ahead of time to verify my appointment, I almost forgot about it. Additionally, they laid down a cloth so that my carpet would stay clean. I liked the extra care they took during the whole process.”

“The back wall of my fireplace was heavily cracked. I wasn’t sure if this would cause other problems or not but I called just in case. They said they could replace it with a new one for a very reasonable price. Everything went smoothly and my fireplace is no longer cracked!”

Read Our Blog

Levels of Chimney Inspections

by Patrick Buell | September 25, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

If you are a homeowner with a chimney, standard upkeep is a significant piece of keeping it in great condition just as keeping your family protected. Perhaps the best thing you can do to keep up your fireplace is to have a chimney inspection. Inspections are an extraordinary method to guarantee that your fireplace and chimney are in acceptable condition and have no likely security or basic issues. At the point when a chimney is normally inspected, deterioration such as masonry damage can often be spotted early before it significantly damages the chimney. In like manner, fireplace assessments are likewise a helpful device when diagnosing progressing chimney issues, for example, breaks or chimney odor. You may be surprised to discover that not all chimney inspections are the same. Depending on the circumstance, your chimney sweep may recommend one of three different chimney inspection levels to keep your home safe. Below, we will teach you about the distinct levels and what they mean...

An Unexpected Guest In Your Chimney?

by Patrick Buell | January 6, 2021 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Humane Animal Removal Did you just hear chirping, scuffles, the flapping of feathers, or any other sounds that critters make? If so, then you're in the right place. First of all, do not smoke them out! Instead, take the humane way and call SootAway. We provide a humane animal removal service. We will remove all animals and birds of all kinds out of your chimney for the safety of you and theirs. Well, by law, we cannot remove chimney swifts because they are federally protected. Those will need to be discussed with local wildlife officials. Why Do These Animals Nest in Chimneys? You might be wondering what other animals would willingly choose to nest in a chimney? Well, there are a few well-known others that do include: raccoons, bats, and squirrels. These animals use your chimney as a form of shelter from the elements and to nest their young. Unfortunately, baby birds and young animals will fall to their deaths or get trapped inside resulting in their death. Basically, this is not a...

How do you tell if bats are in your chimney?

by Patrick Buell | February 17, 2022 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Got Bats In your Chimney? Bats are the only flying mammals! This makes them one of the most common mammals to get into chimneys! Telling what type of animal is in your chimney can be very helpful when calling someone for an animal removal! So, how do you tell if bats are in your chimney? Like you, many homeowners with a chimney constantly worry about noises inside their chimney and a lot of them have bats inside the chimney. How do bats get in chimneys? Bats are fairly small animals. Usually they are around the size of the average bird. This makes it easier for them to gain access to the inside of your chimney. Chimneys can sometimes have their cap knocked loose, this makes the perfect pathway for animals like bats. Other animals can also knock the cap loose like raccoons. Bats can carry diseases like rabies. This makes it dangerous to leave them the ability to gain access to your home. Rabies has no cure and will kill somebody quickly. This makes removing bats from chimneys an...

Cleaning Your Fireplace: A Step-by-Step Guide

by Patrick Buell | March 19, 2021 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Many of us love the beautiful glow and soothing crackle of a fire. The fireplace is a warm, inviting feature in many homes. But just like any other part of the home, the fireplace should be regularly cleaned and maintained. Keeping your fireplace clean helps reduce buildup of ash and soot, and keeps it looking beautiful. Whether you have a gas, electric, or wood burning fireplace, this guide has everything you need to know about how to properly clean your fireplace. Cleaning a Gas Firepalce Gas fireplaces are used by many homeowners. They have many of the same perks as wood burning fireplaces, minus the hassle of soot and ash. But just like most appliances in the home, they do need to be cleaned from time to time. Gas fireplaces can accumulate dirt and dust. The fireplace doors can also become foggy due to the chemicals found in natural gas. Follow these steps to clean your gas fireplace: Before you start cleaning, turn off the gas valve and wait for the burners to cool...

The Menace of Leaks

by Patrick Buell | September 4, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Recently noticed water around your fireplace, chimney, or surrounding area? You probably have a leaking chimney on your hands, which can be a bump in the road for you and the comfort of your home and everyday life. However, A leaking chimney does not always manifest itself in obvious ways. Many homeowners falsely assume that all leaky chimneys present themselves as visible water in the fireplace or flue, but chimney leaks can originate from a few different places. If you have seen splits or cracks in your chimney, disintegrated mortar joints, and damaged stonework, it is likely that moisture is entering into the chimney. One of the most widely recognized causes for leaks is the flashing. Flashing is the area in which the metal sheets around the chimney and roof meet and is intended to be introduced in defensive layers. The spot in the rooftop where the fireplace leaves the house is one of the weakest zones with regards to water damage, and if the flashing is not carrying out its...

What is a smoke chamber?

by Patrick Buell | August 19, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

What does it do? A smoke chamber is located directly above the firebox, it's a part of the fireplace that the average person may never look at but it's one of the most important. This unsung hero of your chimney stops smoke from entering your home and harming your family. All the byproducts from the fire such as carbon monoxide and smoke are channeled into the flue pipe by the smoke chamber. Without it, invisible gasses will enter your home while burning in your chimney and do damage to you and your family. Parging This is the most common type of repair for a chimney. Parging is the coating of mortar applied to bricks to give the smoke chamber a smooth surface. It assists with structural integrity, how well it can remove the gas from the firebox while it's being produced, as well as overall improves your chimney safety. Parging benefits Improves the safety of the chimney A damaged smoke chamber can cause smoke to leave through the fireplace causing several health issues (from...

A Fireplace Chimney Clean-Out Keeps The House Safe

by Patrick Buell | December 17, 2021 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Any place with a fireplace needs to get its fireplace chimney cleaned out regularly, to enjoy optimal and safe heating. A clogged chimney not only leads to inefficient wood-burning but also carries fire risk. Besides, it causes harmful indoor pollution. Advantages of Hiring a Professional for Your Fireplace Chimney When you requisition the services of a professional fireplace chimney sweep like SootAway you are assured of the fact that they will do a thorough job of removing the accumulated soot and creosote deposits. Besides, they will also free the fireplace chimney of blockages if any. A professional chimney sweep will possess the wherewithal to comprehensively clean the chimney liner, firebox, damper as well as smoke chamber ensuring that there is no trace of creosote glazing to set off a chimney fire. Considering how a clogged chimney can have really serious consequences, it is way better to let trained and qualified people carry out the cleaning. Why You Need Professional...

pickup truck hauling firewood in an open field

5 Ways to Use Leftover Firewood from Winter

by Patrick Buell | March 26, 2021 | Blogs | 0 Comments

The last cold, dreary days of winter are finally making way for bright and warm spring days. As you’re getting ready to retire your fireplace for the season, you might notice you didn’t get around to using all of your winter firewood. If you’re wondering what to do with that leftover firewood, look no further than this post. Here are 5 super simple ways to make sure that firewood doesn’t go to waste. Bring Leftover Firewood for Campfires Camping is a fun family activity to enjoy during the beautiful weather. If you’ve got plans to go out and enjoy what nature has to offer, consider packing some of that leftover firewood. Bringing wood with you can help you save money since you won’t have to purchase it at the campsite. Also, it cuts out the need to gather kindling, giving you more time to spend with your friends and family around a cozy campfire. Keep in mind, though, that some campsites have policies against bringing in outside firewood. This is to protect the area from invasive...

Prefabricated vs Masonry Chimney

by Sean Foster | July 27, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

The biggest difference between masonry fireplaces and prefabricated is the price. Masonry almost always is more expensive than prefabricated. The inflated price in comparison is because masonry requires it to be built on-site, versus being assembled. Masonry will become a part of the home's design, so it is usually built while the home is still being constructed. An experienced mason who properly builds a fireplace can make it last much longer than a prefabricated fireplace. Bricks and mortar joints will deteriorate over time, but if annual inspections and regular maintenance are carried out, you should not have a problem in getting this fixed. Masonry is made from brick, which is a porous material. Prefabs are made from stainless steel and metal, so they are less susceptible to rain and water damage. Brick chimney systems are more prone to water damage, and leaks are common. It is important to have water-repellant solutions installed in your home to prevent this from happening. A...

How to Clean a Chimney Flue Simple?

by Patrick Buell | June 12, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

A flue is a pipe in a chimney for directing gases from a fireplace to outside the home. Fireplaces can be the biggest source of energy consumption when the flue is not used correctly. This usually happens when the flue is left open too wide after the fire has started. Therefore, chimney flue cleaning is very essential to keep your fireplace chimney in a tip-top condition. Chimney flue cleaning and maintenance is necessary. Over time, creosote and soot can accumulate in your flue. Creosote build-up is flammable and can lead to a fire hazard in your home. Routine chimney maintenance also includes eliminating any debris and birds’ nests that may have accumulated in your flue. This debris in your flue can block the release of smoke from your fireplace. This can lead to fire hazards, and increased smoke and carbon monoxide levels in your home. Preparations to Make before Chimney Flue Cleaning Before cleaning your chimney flue, wear protective clothing, goggles, gloves, and a mask....

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