Confused after visit from sweep

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albertj03

albertj03

Minister of Fire
Oct 16, 2009
560
Southern Maine
For the last 4 years I've used a local chimney sweep who has always done a good job but last year I bought a new stove from a shop that also runs a chimney sweep company. I figured since they sell the stoves and are very knowledgable about them (the owners son who is a technician there has the same stove I bought) I would switch it up and have them clean the chimney and stove.

So yesterday the guy came and looked in my chimney (using a little flashlight up a very tall masonry chimney) and told me the chimney didn't need to be swept. All he saw in there was soot. I had the chimney swept last September and burned about 3 cords of red oak and sugar maple over the winter. There was a little build up in the stove pipe but not too much. He did repair the mortar around my flue collar and charged me for that but said I would be wasting my money by having him sweep the chimney. I asked him about the baffle in my stove since he didn't take it out and he said he looked at it and it didn't need to be taken out and cleaned.

I'm sure he we was being honest about it and tryig to help me save money but I'm thinking about calling my regular guy and having him come out anyway. I've never not had the chimney swept and would probably feel better if it was done even if there isn't much build up in there.

What would you guys do?
 
I would have the sweep come out and do it. It sounds like it will allow you to rest your mind and honestly most the build up will be at the top anyway. I"m not sure if he'd see the top with a small flash light from the ground. Regardless if it needs it or not I think it would go a long way towards relieving any worry's and that's important when you're burning a box full of wood in your house.
 
I have heard folks talk about dishonest sweeps, but it sounds like you trust the shop/sweep. Im not saying your regular guy sweeps you chimney just for the money, however it sounds as if you wanted it swept regardless. That being said i think it boils down to peace of mind. Not to mention your supporting the local economy.

But peace of mind doesnt really have a price tag.
 
rdust said:
I would have the sweep come out and do it. It sounds like it will allow you to rest your mind and honestly most the build up will be at the top anyway. I"m not sure if he'd see the top with a small flash light from the ground. Regardless if it needs it or not I think it would go a long way towards relieving any worry's and that's important when you're burning a box full of wood in your house.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with Rdust, peace of mind is a great thing when you have it. The sweep that came might be right, maybe it was 'ok', but he wasn't thinking like the customer was. I would have the other fellow over and have it done anyways. My last 2 years of sweeping has produced very little debris and has helped me with the way I burn. When he leaves, despite the pipe needing it or not, I feel better.
 
The guy is probably right and most people around here probably don't even get their chimney cleaned every year so he's used to seeing a lot worse. Doesn't mean there isn't anything in there that could lead to more build up this season. I called my regular guy and left a message to make an appointment. He only charges $135 so seeing that I was planning to spend more than that with the other guys I'm saving a little bit of money anyway. Small price to pay for peace of mind!
 
It is probably fine with the EPA stove if you have been burning dry wood. The main thing you want to check is the top of the flue where the flue gases are a lot cooler. If all they find up there is light powder I would pay for the service inspection and skip the cleaning until next year.
 
albertj03 said:
For the last 4 years I've used a local chimney sweep who has always done a good job but last year I bought a new stove from a shop that also runs a chimney sweep company. I figured since they sell the stoves and are very knowledgable about them (the owners son who is a technician there has the same stove I bought) I would switch it up and have them clean the chimney and stove.

So yesterday the guy came and looked in my chimney (using a little flashlight up a very tall masonry chimney) and told me the chimney didn't need to be swept. All he saw in there was soot. I had the chimney swept last September and burned about 3 cords of red oak and sugar maple over the winter. There was a little build up in the stove pipe but not too much. He did repair the mortar around my flue collar and charged me for that but said I would be wasting my money by having him sweep the chimney. I asked him about the baffle in my stove since he didn't take it out and he said he looked at it and it didn't need to be taken out and cleaned.

I'm sure he we was being honest about it and tryig to help me save money but I'm thinking about calling my regular guy and having him come out anyway. I've never not had the chimney swept and would probably feel better if it was done even if there isn't much build up in there.

What would you guys do?
Click to expand...

I clean ours at the beginning of the heating season and at the end of December, like rdust said for peace of mind.

zap
 
Last year was our first year burning with our indoor wood furnace. We have a masonry chimney that's 7" square, 36 feet tall, and has about 10 feet outside of the insulated envelope of the house.

I cleaned twice during the season from the bottom cleanout door using some flexible cleaning rods and a square wire brush, and used Rutland's creosote removal powder about once a week.

Our sweep came out last week to do a full inspection and cleaning, but ended up giving me the option to skip the cleaning after the inspection. He definitely gave me the choice, but said that he'd save the extra $50 if he were in my shoes. I did just that.

It was actually more valuable for me to know that my cleaning and burning habits had been more than sufficient and that my chimney was in excellent condition. That peace of mind is priceless. I'll save the $50 and spend 20 minutes cleaning my own chimney, thank you!
 
Two things would bother me. His small flashlight may not show what is at the top and that is where the chimney will be the worst. The other is the peace of mind of yourself. If you feel better, hire the other sweep. Then see what he gets out of the chimney then you can determine if it did or did not need cleaning.

Usually these decisions are made by the heart. You would feel better having it done, so do it.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Two things would bother me. His small flashlight may not show what is at the top and that is where the chimney will be the worst. The other is the peace of mind of yourself. If you feel better, hire the other sweep. Then see what he gets out of the chimney then you can determine if it did or did not need cleaning.

Usually these decisions are made by the heart. You would feel better having it done, so do it.
Click to expand...

That's why I pointed out the fact that he was using a small flashlight. I've tried looking up the chimney before with a small flashlight like that and I know you can't see very far up. Set an appointment with the other sweep and will see what he gets out of it.
 
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