Sootaway’s Expert Chimney and Fireplace Services

Chimney Sweep Gadsden, Alabama

Sootaway chimney sweep Gadsden 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 Gadsden, 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 sweeps in Gadsden, such as those at SootAway, has a multitude of benefits.

At Home Cleaning Tips for Your Chimney

Being a homeowner is a huge deal. One should have pride especially if their home has a working fireplace and chimney. Purchasing a home with a fireplace, it is important to maintain the functionality. It is important to not just enjoy it to the fullest in the cold months but also to be economical, efficient as well as health-conscious.

A well-cleaned out fireplace and chimney will burn less wood, produce less smoke, and ensure you and your family to breathe easier. Let’s look at some basic steps that you can perform D.I.Y chimney cleaning.

D.I.Y. Chimney Cleaning Guide

• Proper Cleaning Equipment
• Bare Essentials Eye protection
• Breathing masks
• Protective gloves
• Rugged clothes
• Set of chimney sweeping tools

**Make sure these are clean and dry before you begin or you just might end up making things worse**

1. Designated Cleaning Area
   Regardless if you’re cleaning the fireplace or chimney, you will have to deal with dust. To protect the living room, cover the fireplace with high-quality plastic sheeting, and seal it tight. Invest in good quality duct tape in the chimney cleaning process. Make sure the covering is airtight as possible because otherwise, you will need to sweep clean the living room as well.
2. Proceed With Caution
   When you start the process, you will need to start with cleaning the chimney first. This is because all of the dust and residue are going to decent into the fireplace. Now, you should prod from the outside in. This means to get on top of the roof and use the chimney sweep brushes from there.
3. Take Your Time
   When starting the chimney cleaning, it is best to allow some time after the initial sweep. Usually, a lot of dust becomes unsettled and descends downward. It can come up through a draft. Keep your face away from the outlet when this happens. Even when wearing a mask, settled dust can make it harder to breathe.
4. Do A Thorough Clean Sweep
   Make sure the brushes are reaching all four sides of the chimney and that you are reaching as far down as possible. Once that is done, you can back inside the house and collect all the dust that was shaken loose and dispose of it securely in the bin outside.