Frequently Asked Questions

We start by protecting the floor around your fireplace, then brush the flue from the roof or the firebox, depending on your setup. After the sweep we run a camera up the flue to check for cracks, gaps, and creosote we couldn't see by eye. We inspect the damper, smoke chamber, chimney cap, crown, and masonry. You get a written report with photos showing what we found and what, if anything, needs attention. Most sweeps in Arden-Arcade take 45 to 90 minutes.

Both methods work, and the right one depends on your chimney. Many single-story Arden-Arcade homes can be swept from inside using a rotary system that contains the dust, so we don't always need to walk your roof. Steeper roofs, taller flues, or chimneys with multiple offsets may call for roof access. Either way we arrive with full drop cloths and a HEPA filter on our vacuum. Your floors and furniture stay clean.

The National Fire Protection Association says to sweep at least once a year if you burn regularly, and more often if you burn unseasoned wood or use the fireplace several nights a week all winter. Arden-Arcade's wet winters and cool spring mornings mean some of us are burning from November into March. If you're burning two or three cords a season, once a year is the floor, not the ceiling. A mid-season check is smart if you're seeing smoke roll back into the room or a strong campfire smell between fires.

A Level 1 inspection is what you get during a routine sweep: a visual check of the accessible parts of the chimney inside and out. A Level 2 goes further with a camera scan of the interior flue walls, and it's required when you buy or sell a home, after a chimney fire, or after any event like an earthquake or lightning strike. Every sweep we do in Arden-Arcade includes a camera scan, which is a big part of why our reports catch things visual-only inspections miss.

Yes, but the process and the reason are different. Gas fireplaces don't create creosote, but they can build up soot, dust, and sometimes small debris from the vent or cap. More importantly, gas logs can block a flue if the damper isn't properly clamped open, and a blocked gas vent is a carbon monoxide risk. We check the venting path, clean what needs cleaning, and make sure your gas logs are burning clean. Gas systems in Arden-Arcade homes deserve the same annual attention as wood burners.

It should not be messy at all. We seal the fireplace opening, run a high-powered HEPA vacuum the whole time, and lay drop cloths before anything else happens. If a sweep leaves soot on your carpet or furniture, that's a sign the company cut corners. Our goal is that the only difference you notice when we leave is a clean flue and a written report on your mantel.

Yes, but we'll approach it differently than a routine yearly cleaning. Long-neglected chimneys often have hard glazed creosote on the flue walls, and that type of buildup does not respond to a standard brush. We may need to use a rotary cleaning head or a chemical treatment first to break down the glaze. We'll also check carefully for hidden damage, because a flue that's gone two decades without attention can hide cracks or gaps that only a camera will reveal. Call (833) 589-9906 and tell us what you know about your chimney's history.

We work with several proven liner systems, including Olympia Chimney, Copperfield, and DuraFlex. Each has different strengths depending on your fuel type, flue size, and whether you're venting a wood stove, fireplace, or furnace. We don't push one brand for every job. We match the liner to your chimney and your heating appliance, and we show you the options before ordering anything. The brand matters less than whether it's sized and installed correctly, which is where we focus.

Both, depending on what we find. A loose or rusted cap is often a simple repair, but a cap that's been missing for years usually means water has been getting into the flue and the crown below it may need attention too. We stock and install replacements from brands like Famco and Copperfield, and we'll always show you the actual damage on camera before we quote the fix. If your damper is warped or seized, we'll talk through repair versus replacement so you know what you're paying for and why.

We install liners for wood stoves, fireplace inserts, and open fireplaces. Arden-Arcade has plenty of older homes where a wood stove was added decades ago, and many of those stoves are running with outdated or uninsulated liners that don't meet current clearances. When we install a new liner, it's sized to the appliance, insulated where the manufacturer calls for it, and connected to the cap and flashing so the whole system drafts correctly. We'll camera-scan the completed install so you can see the work yourself.

Every professional working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. We carry general liability coverage and we treat your home like we'd want our own treated: floors covered, furniture protected, and everything cleaned up before we leave. If you'd like to see proof of insurance before scheduling, just ask when you call. It's a reasonable question, and we're glad to answer it.

Every pro who comes to your Arden-Arcade home works under our name and our standards. We're one team, not a referral network that hands your address to whoever picks up the phone. The person who shows up is trained on our equipment, follows our sweep and inspection checklist, and reports through our system. You'll get the same process, the same camera report, and the same flat pricing whether it's your first visit or your fifth.

Three things matter most. First, check that they're licensed and insured. Second, ask whether the price includes a camera inspection or whether that's an upcharge, because visible evidence is the only honest basis for repair recommendations. Third, ask how they document findings. A professional sweep should give you a written report with photos. If a company won't show you what they found, walk away. We've been serving Arden-Arcade since 2017 and we've built our reputation on being able to prove our work.

A chimney fire, strong smoke pouring into the house, or a carbon monoxide detector sounding near the fireplace are emergencies. If you see flames from the chimney top, hear a loud roar like a freight train, or your CO alarm is going off, evacuate first and call 911, then call us once the immediate danger is handled. We'll inspect the chimney for fire damage and tell you whether it's safe to use. Less urgent issues like damp smells, minor leaks, or crumbly mortar are important, but they can wait for a scheduled visit.

We handle same-week scheduling for most Arden-Arcade appointments, and we work hard to get urgent cases in quickly during burning season. We're open Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Call (833) 589-9906 and let us know what's happening. If it's an active fire or gas leak, evacuate and call 911 before you call us. We'll help you with the chimney after the immediate danger is handled.

Place a bucket or towels under the leak, keep the area clear, and don't use the fireplace until we've inspected it. Water entry usually means a damaged crown, cracked flashing, or a missing cap, and it tends to get worse with each Sacramento winter rain. Once the storm passes, call us to schedule an inspection. We'll find where the water is getting in, show you the damage on camera, and give you a flat quote for the fix before any work starts.

We stand behind every sweep and inspection we do. If something isn't right, call us and we'll make it right. That applies to the cleaning itself and to the accuracy of our inspection report. If we miss something we should have caught, you'll know about it because we'll tell you. Our goal is a chimney you can burn in safely the night we leave, and we're not satisfied until that's true.

Most liner manufacturers we work with, including Olympia Chimney and DuraFlex, back their liners with a limited manufacturer's warranty that covers defects in the liner material itself. The coverage period varies by product line, so we'll walk you through the specific warranty for the liner we recommend for your home. What a warranty doesn't cover is improper installation, which is why we install carefully, camera-scan the finished work, and document everything for you and for the manufacturer.

Most appointments run 45 to 90 minutes from door to door. A standard open fireplace with minor creosote is usually on the shorter end. Chimneys with heavy glaze, animal debris, or multiple flues can take longer. If we find something during the sweep that changes the scope of the job, we'll stop and talk to you before doing anything beyond the agreed work. You'll never get a surprise bill for work you didn't approve.

Written by the team at Chimney Sweep Arden-Arcade, serving Arden-Arcade and the greater Sacramento area since 2017.