Know your chimney
Straight answers to the questions Pittsburgh homeowners ask us most: how often to sweep, what creosote is, why chimneys leak, and what to check before you buy a house. Based on NFPA 211 and CSIA guidance, written in plain English.
How often should you sweep your chimney?
Inspect it every year and sweep it when there's about 1/8 inch of buildup. Here's how that works out for wood, gas, oil and pellet appliances, what speeds buildup up, and the signs it can't wait.
- Sweep schedules by fuel type, in one table
- The warning signs that mean book now, not next year
- When to book to beat the fall rush in Pittsburgh
Inspect every year. Sweep at 1/8 inch.
- Inspect
- Once a year, whatever the chimney vents (NFPA 211)
- Sweep
- At about 1/8 inch of buildup in the flue (CSIA rule of thumb)
- Call now
- A shiny, glazed coating, smoke in the room or a strong tar smell
Every sweep includes a Level 1 inspection and a photo report.
Chimney, fireplace & vent guides
Each guide is tagged by topic: everyday maintenance, safety, repairs or buying a home.
Maintenance
How often should you sweep your chimney?
Inspection and sweeping schedules for wood, gas, oil and pellet appliances, and the signs it can't wait.
6 min read Read the guide
Safety
The three stages of creosote
What builds up in your flue, how to tell the stages apart, and why glazed creosote needs a specialist.
6 min read Read the guide
Safety
Chimney fire warning signs
The sounds and smells of a chimney fire, the quiet clues a slow one leaves, and what to do.
5 min read Read the guide
Repairs
Signs your chimney is leaking
Stains, musty smells and rust, the five places water usually gets in, and what to do first.
6 min read Read the guide
Repairs
How freeze-thaw damages chimneys
Why Pittsburgh winters crack crowns and pop brick faces, and the repairs that stop it spreading.
6 min read Read the guide
Repairs
Do you need a chimney cap?
What a cap does, how it differs from the crown and flashing, and which type to choose.
5 min read Read the guide
Buying a home
Do buyers need a Level 2 inspection?
What NFPA 211 calls for at a sale, what a home inspection misses, and how to fit it before closing.
6 min read Read the guide
Maintenance
Gas fireplace maintenance
What a yearly service covers, what you can safely do yourself, and carbon monoxide basics.
5 min read Read the guide
Safety
Is your dryer vent a fire risk?
Warning signs of a clogged vent, what a safe vent run looks like, and how often to clean it.
6 min read Read the guideThe short versions
The questions we hear most, answered in a sentence or two. There are more on our FAQ page.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
Once a year, whatever it burns. That's the NFPA 211 standard. Sweep when there's about 1/8 inch of buildup.
Do gas fireplaces need service?
Yes. They make little soot, but blocked vents, misplaced logs and worn parts can cause carbon monoxide problems.
Is a home inspection enough when buying?
Usually not for the chimney. Most don't look inside the flue. A Level 2 inspection with a camera does.
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
Clean the lint screen every load and the full vent at least once a year, sooner for long or roof-top runs.
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