Chimney sweeping in Pittsburgh
A professional sweep removes the creosote, soot and debris that cause chimney fires and poor draft. Every sweep includes a Level 1 inspection and a photo report, and we leave your living room as clean as we found it.
What a sweep actually removes
Every fire leaves soot and creosote, a tarry residue, on the flue walls as the smoke cools. Left alone, it causes three problems.
Creosote is fuel
It's combustible. Enough buildup plus a hot fire is how most chimney fires start.
Buildup chokes the draft
A narrower flue drafts poorly. Smoke lingers or rolls into the room, and cooler fires make even more creosote.
Blocked flues push back carbon monoxide
Many older Pittsburgh chimneys also vent a furnace or water heater. We check every flue, not just the one you burn in.
Every sweep, every time
- Home protection first. Drop cloths from your door to the hearth, shoe covers, and a HEPA vacuum that keeps the firebox under negative pressure.
- Full-length flue cleaning. Brushes or rotary tools sized to your flue. Wire for clay tile, poly heads for stainless liners so we don't scratch them.
- Smoke chamber and smoke shelf. The area right above the damper collects the heaviest debris and is easy to miss.
- Firebox, damper and ash. Cleaned, and the damper checked for a full open and close.
- Level 1 inspection. Firebox, damper, visible flue, crown, cap and exterior brick, plus clearances to anything combustible.
- Photo report. Before-and-after photos and anything we noticed, texted to you the same day.
When to call a sweep
- It's been more than a year, or you don't know when it was last swept
- Smoke drifts into the room, or fires are hard to start and keep going
- A strong campfire smell from the fireplace, especially on humid days
- Black, flaky or shiny deposits on the damper or the flue walls
- Debris, twigs or soot falling into the firebox
- You burned a lot of softwood, wet wood or long, smouldering fires
- You just bought the house and have no service history
Three stages, three different jobs
Chimney sweeps group creosote into three stages. The stage tells us how to remove it and tells you something about how your fireplace is burning.
Soot and dry flakes
Fine, powdery or flaky deposits. Normal for a fireplace that burns hot with dry wood. A standard brush removes it completely.
Crunchy, tar-like flakes
Shiny black granules that stick harder. Often a sign of restricted air or cooler fires. Usually removed with rotary tools.
Glazed creosote
A hard, shiny coating that looks like poured tar. It's highly flammable and brushing alone won't remove it. It needs chemical treatment or specialised rotary work, sometimes over several visits.
CSIA guidance is to sweep a wood-burning flue once about 1/8 inch of sooty buildup has formed, and sooner if any glazed creosote is present. More on creosote stages
It depends on what you burn
The national standard, NFPA 211, calls for an inspection every year and cleaning whenever the inspection shows it's needed. In practice that looks like this.
How often should a chimney be swept?| Appliance | Inspect | Sweep |
|---|---|---|
| Wood fireplace, used most weekends | Yearly | Usually yearly |
| Wood fireplace, a few fires a year | Yearly | When buildup or debris shows |
| Wood stove or insert, main heat | Yearly | Yearly, plus a mid-season check with heavy use |
| Pellet stove | Yearly | Vent and stove yearly |
| Oil furnace flue | Yearly | Usually yearly |
| Gas fireplace, furnace or water heater | Yearly | As needed for nests, debris or liner flakes |
How your sweep works
Arrive and set up
You get an on-the-way text inside your 2-hour window. Drop cloths and the HEPA vacuum go down before anything else.
Sweep the flue
We clean from the firebox or from the roof, depending on your chimney, with the opening sealed so soot stays inside.
Inspect
Level 1 check inside and out. If something needs a closer look, we'll explain why a camera scan would help before doing one.
Report and tidy
We vacuum, pack up and text you the photo report. Any repairs come with a free written estimate and no pressure.
Does your chimney need attention?
Tick anything that sounds familiar. We'll suggest a sensible next step, which may well be nothing at all.
Often booked together
Chimney Inspections
Buying a home or had a chimney fire? A Level 2 camera inspection sees the whole flue.
Caps & Crowns
A good cap keeps rain, leaves and animals out of the flue you just had cleaned.
Fireplace & Stove Service
Stuck damper, wood stove or gas logs that won't behave. We service the appliance too.
Chimney sweeping across Greater Pittsburgh
From city rowhouses to the North Hills and South Hills suburbs.
Chimney sweeping questions
Something else on your mind? Call or text and talk to a sweep.
(412) 555-0142Will sweeping my chimney make a mess in the house?
How much does a chimney sweep cost?
Do you have to go on the roof?
I only have a gas fireplace. Does it need sweeping?
Can a sweep remove glazed (stage 3) creosote?
What if you find a problem during the sweep?
Pick a time. We'll handle the rest.
Send the form and we'll text you within one business hour to confirm your service, your price and a 2-hour arrival window.
- Price in writing first. Nothing starts until you've seen it and said yes.
- 2-hour arrival window, with an on-the-way text and your technician's name.
- No mess. Drop cloths, shoe covers and a HEPA vacuum.
- Photo report texted to you the same day.
- Licensed & insured. Saturday appointments available.
You're on the list
Thanks! We'll text you within one business hour to lock in your arrival window. Need us sooner? Call (412) 555-0142.