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

Helpful Tips: Which Sealant is Best for You?

by Patrick Buell | September 10, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

The chimney is one noticeable aspect of the home that is continually helpless to the fluctuating climate. As the constantly changing climate moves through the seasons, the preparing sun, rising stickiness, driving precipitation, and profound freeze of the outside components can negatively affect the brickwork, and keeping in mind that although bricks are a normally strong structure material, they can in any case take on a lot of wear and tear. One preventative measure for damage of dampness and water is a block sealant. So, what type of sealant should you use? Sealants are a kind of substance used to impede liquids from entering the material it is on. As far as chimneys, these sealants are normally sorted out into one of two camps – that of polyurethane or silicone. Not all sealants are made the equivalent and to figure out which is the best for your chimney, we first need to go over the two substances in detail. Silicone is best at drying rapidly. Polyurethane stays wet for as long...

Histoplasmosis Horrors

by Patrick Buell | July 1, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

OK. You've heard the birds in your chimney. It's been a tight month, and so you've just avoided having your chimney swept. The birds are gone, and you no longer hear sounds. What's next? You assume the problem is gone because you don't hear any-more sounds, right? The problems are only beginning. Histoplasmosis is a lung infection caused by inhaling fungal spores. But why would that matter to you? Birds leave behind droppings which cause fungal spores. Breathing in fungal spores can lead to an infection of Histoplasmosis. According to HealthLine, Histoplasmosis can cause: fever dry cough chest pain joint pain red bumps on your lower legs And even in severe places: excessive sweating shortness of breath coughing up blood It is very important to have your chimney swept to prevent these health problems! Contact us today for your quote!

Keep a Clean Chimney for Santa – Chimney Cleaning

by Patrick Buell | January 16, 2019 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Santa’s annual visit is here and everyone is excited. If you have a fireplace, all the jollier for you. The family can spend time at the fireplace, exchanging gifts, and taking family photos. Did you know that apart from a warm hug, milk, and cookies, you can also ensure Santa comes home to a clean chimney! Do not spoil his cheerful mood by ushering him into a home that has a dirty chimney exposing him to sputter and cough. Schedule a chimney cleaning and inspection today and give Santa a clean chimney to slide down! https://sootaway.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Keep-a-Clean-Chimney-for-Santa.jpgOne of the ways to ensure Santa’s red suit is not ruined by soot is to ensure proper chimney cleaning and inspection by professional chimney sweeps. Be on the lookout for excessive creosote buildup. Creosote forms when smoke mixes with vapor in the cooler surface of your chimney. Creosote is highly flammable, and if its width gets to an eighth of an inch, then it can ignite a chimney fire....

Planning on selling or buying a home?

by Sean Foster | July 31, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Are you planning on selling or buying a home? There are a lot of responsibilities that come with ownership. Experienced homeowners know the struggles that are included when you own a home, and the latter will find out eventually! Whether you are selling your home or buying a home, it most likely has a fireplace. A fireplace can tie a room together, by adding an ambiance factor that you cannot buy at the store. Wood-crackling during the fall and winter, warming your home is a priceless commodity that only a fireplace can create. Fireplaces may seem simple, but the complexity of a chimney system works to keep you safe. A fireplace that is not properly maintained can be dangerous to your health. So, if you are just moving into your new home, or selling your old house, it is important to have an inspection done on your chimney to guarantee safety. Why You Need the Inspection There are three levels of inspection. When you sell a home or buy a home, a level two inspection is necessary. A...

Fire Wood Storage Tips From Chimney Service

by Patrick Buell | January 7, 2021 | Blogs | 0 Comments

With all the different aspects to keep your chimney clean and safe, using the correct type of wood is a big component. There are different types of wood to burn. Make sure it is correct with your chimney. Building a fire in your fireplace is very different than a campfire. Going out into the woods and chopping wood down does not mean you can dump it into your fireplace. There needs to be more consideration in what goes into the fireplace. The wood has to not let out too much smoke and fumes so the chimney can function without becoming too dirty or damaged. For these reasons, the right wood needs to be taken care of and properly handled to keep your chimney safe. Proper Storage Means Lower Chimney Cleaning Services Unseasoned or wet wood, that has not dried for six to twelve months, puts your home in danger. Also, makes your fireplace and chimney get dirty quicker. Wet wood produces too much moisture while burning, it will give you a smokier fire. These are less enjoyable. The...

Rebuilding a Chimney with the Help of a Chimney Sweep Company

by Patrick Buell | February 8, 2019 | Blogs | 0 Comments

When a chimney is damaged and deteriorated beyond repair, rebuilding is the next step. Sometimes rebuilding is cheaper than trying to fix various areas of an existing fireplace. Fixing crowns, flashing, tiles, and mortar as separate projects are not always the best option. Breaking down the chimney to where it is stable and building it back up with new materials is often the best choice. All chimneys require regular repairs and maintenance. A chimney sweep company would do its best to patch up any cracks or holes and fix up any issues as needed! With that being said, sometimes a repair job just won't cut it. In such cases, you need an expert to rebuild your system, and our certified staff can help you out! Common Reasons why Chimneys may Require Rebuilding by a Chimney Sweep Company The type of rebuilding work a chimney sweep company may do depends on what exactly caused your damage in the first place. A lot of things can cause wear and tear on your chimney. One of the most common...

Hurricane Season: Protect Your Home

by Sean Foster | July 22, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Water Entry on a leaking chimney. As the temperature rises, summer closes in. Brace yourself, this is also the same time that hurricanes frequent the lower eastern coast of America. Fortunately for you, our service areas cover a considerable area of the east coast. Hurricane season, which starts on July 1st and ends on November 30th, usually brings menacing storms that have the potential to cause major damage. We have some tips and advice for you this hurricane season to help you protect your home. Rain and water are some of the most corrosive materials, especially when unattended for long periods of time. Chimney leaks are one of the most common issues we find when performing a chimney inspection. Chimney leaks can cause mold inside the chimney, which causes a foul odor and is harmful to breathe. A water leak can also mix with the sooty build-up, or creosote, causing acidic cracks. A chimney cap is an easy, low-cost, install to stop these problems at the source. Do I Need a Chimney...

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Water, Smoke & Animal Problems Solved, Cleaning & All Repairs

by Patrick Buell | July 31, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Soot Away Chimney Sweeps Water, Smoke & Animal Problems Solved, Cleaning & All Repairs Spring has arrived and everything is coming to life. Everyone seems to go to work on their house, yard, gardens, etc. At SootAway we know the chimney area is the dirtiest, the least attended to and potentially the most Dangerous in your home. The average person will let it go until they have a chimney fire that scares them enough to call a specialist to check for damage and clean up the mess the fire made. Compared to the replacement cost of your home the cost of keeping your fireplace people who put off doing the essential inspection &cleanings. Call us today! SootAway has been locally owned and operated since 1986. We are licensed and insured. We personally work with all fireplace technicians at SootAway to ensure you always get a professional to service and inspect your fireplace and chimney system. We will provide service promptly and courteously and take special care to...

How To Prepare for a Major Storm

by Patrick Buell | September 3, 2020 | Blogs | 0 Comments

When a major storm hits your area, you may encounter some structural damage in your home, including to your chimney. While chimneys are normally able to withstand the elements, they are not indestructible. The fierce winds, heavy rain, and flying debris associated with hurricanes can cause both surface and structural damage to chimneys, and the full degree of the wreck can be hard to observe with an undeveloped eye or without exceptional hardware. Chimney damage is not always simple to identify. In the event that we don't know what precisely to pay attention to, in any case, basic issues may appear straightforward corrective deformities. Indications of tempest harm to a workmanship smokestack may incorporate block pieces or full blocks lying on the ground or on the rooftop, new breaks in the fireplace, or smothered areas of the stack. Harm to mortar joints among stonework and fireplace, broken or debilitated liners, tops, crowns, or potentially brickwork are normal issues. Rooftop...

The Signs That It’s Time for a Replacement or Chimney Repair

by Patrick Buell | March 1, 2019 | Blogs | 0 Comments

Your chimney is more than just a part of your home. It plays a very significant role in ensuring your safety and that of your family and property. A chimney directs noxious gases, heat and fumes safely out of your home. That is why the chimney must be in proper working condition if it is to continue being effective. A faulty or damaged chimney puts you and your family in danger of a house fire or a carbon monoxide poisoning. That’s why it’s very important to schedule regular chimney inspection and cleaning. Not only will this keep your chimney performing as it should, but it will also help to catch problems early on. So, you should have a chimney inspection maintenance and repair done before it gets into more extensive and costly problems. Chimneys look robust and durable. But it is wrong to assume they don’t need proper maintenance. Like all things that are put to good use, your chimney needs proper cleaning before and after every winter season. All the work and exposure to harsh...

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