Chimney Sweeping & Inspection

Home Services · Chimney Sweep

Chimney sweeping removes the creosote and debris that build up inside a flue and turn a normal fire into a dangerous one. As with everything else we do, the inspection comes first and you see the condition of your own flue before anything is recommended.

• Annual inspection, per NFPA 211
• Sealed and vacuum-controlled — no mess indoors
• Wood-burning and gas appliance flues

Reviewed by the Prestige Protected Team · Updated August 2026

Why flues need attention

Burning wood produces smoke that cools as it rises and condenses on the flue walls as creosote — a tarry, highly flammable residue. It accumulates layer on layer over a season. When a hot fire raises the flue temperature enough, that lining can ignite, and a chimney fire burns at temperatures that crack masonry and spread into the structure.

Gas fireplaces do not produce meaningful creosote, but they are not maintenance-free. Flues get blocked by nests, leaves and fallen masonry, and liners corrode. A blocked flue on a gas appliance pushes combustion products back into the house instead of out of it, which is a carbon monoxide risk rather than a fire risk — and a quieter, more dangerous one for exactly that reason.

Signs your chimney needs looking at

• Smoke entering the room when the fire is lit
• A strong campfire or tarry smell from the fireplace, especially in humid weather
• Black, flaky or shiny tar-like deposits visible in the firebox
• Birds, nesting material or debris falling into the firebox
• A damper that no longer moves freely
• You have moved into the house and do not know when it was last inspected

FAQ

Chimney sweeping — FAQ

How often should a chimney be swept?

NFPA 211 calls for an inspection at least once a year. Whether it needs sweeping at that point depends on what the inspection finds — a fireplace burned most weekends through winter will need it annually, one lit twice a year often will not. The inspection is the part that belongs on a calendar.

We have a gas fireplace. Does that still need attention?

Yes, though for different reasons. Gas appliances produce almost no creosote, but the flue can still be blocked by birds’ nests, leaves, or debris, and the liner can corrode. A blocked gas flue is a carbon monoxide problem rather than a fire one, which makes it no less serious.

What is creosote and why does it matter?

Creosote is the tarry residue that condenses out of wood smoke onto the flue walls. It is flammable. Enough of it, at a high enough flue temperature, is what turns an ordinary fire into a chimney fire. Removing it is the entire point of sweeping.

Will it make a mess in my living room?

No. The fireplace opening is sealed and put under negative pressure before any brushing starts, so debris travels into the vacuum rather than into the room. Drop cloths go down regardless.

Do you inspect as well as sweep?

Yes — the inspection comes first, the same way it does on our duct work. You get to see the condition of the flue before deciding on anything, and if it does not need sweeping this year we will say so.

Source: NFPA 211, Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances; and the Chimney Safety Institute of America.