Do you remember the last time your chimney was swept and inspected? If it’s been longer than a year, now is the time to schedule these important services.
Hudson Valley Chimney provides certified chimney sweeping and licensed chimney inspections in LaFayette, NY, and communities across Onondaga County, NY. We have the tools, equipment, and know-how to help keep your chimney running more safely and much more reliably.
Two Reasons for Chimney Sweeping
Some people think of a “chimney sweep” as a guy with a black top hat and black coat carrying a long black brush. We think of a chimney sweep as a modern, trained professional who understands the dangers of a dirty chimney and has the expertise to neutralize those dangers.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and other fire safety agencies recommend that chimney sweeping be performed once a year to accomplish two critical things.
- Remove flammable creosote from the chimney flue
Smoke from a fireplace condenses in the flue and forms creosote, a volatile, flammable substance. It’s the reason for most of the reported chimney fires each year in LaFayette, NY, and it can also cause acidic damage to the chimney liner. - Remove draft-hindering debris
A chimney without a proper chimney cap is open to leaves, twigs, the nests of small animals, and the occasional dead animal. All this debris can narrow the flue, allowing smoke and life-threatening carbon monoxide to enter your home. We sweep chimneys to remove dangerous debris. We install chimney caps to keep the debris out in the first place.
What Happens During a Chimney Inspection in LaFayette, NY?
A basic Level 1 chimney inspection examines all readily accessible parts, components, and areas of your chimney and fireplace system. Our inspectors are expert technicians who know how chimneys are supposed to look and operate.
By spotting early signs of damage and malfunction, we can help to prevent some pretty serious problems, such as:
- Deteriorated masonry and an eventual chimney collapse
- A chimney that blows smoke into the room
- Cracks and gaps in the chimney liner that open an escape route for sparks, flames, and combustion gases
- Fires that are hard to start and keep burning
- Significant chimney damage below the roof line
- A faulty damper that sends conditioned air from your home up the chimney
- Chimney construction that violates state and local code regulations
We include a Level 1 chimney inspection with every chimney cleaning job.
Specialized Chimney Inspections
Along with the basic annual inspection, we offer specialized chimney inspections that are needed when:
- You’re adding a new appliance to vent through your chimney
- The flue is being relined
- Damage from a fire, weather event, or other occurrence is suspected but not confirmed
- You’re selling your home
- The chimney has suffered major damage and needs a full-scale assessment
Schedule Your Next Chimney Sweep and Inspection
Hudson Valley Chimney is ready to clean and inspect your chimney. Since 1976, we’ve offered these two services and many others to help our LaFayette, NY, customers keep their chimneys safer, cleaner, and less prone to serious problems.
Give us a call to speak with a local chimney professional. You can also reach out through our contact form.
