Chimney Cleaning Advice

[TresK3]

My wife just called around to get quotes on cleaning our chimney, after our first winter with the insert. We were surprised to learn that, because we have a SS liner, it will cost more this year than in the past, when we just had an "ambiance" fireplace and unlined chimney. How come? Why more expensive with the liner? I'd think that would make cleaning easier (less surface area, more predictable shape etc). Or do they assume this means we burn more and hence a harder cleaning job?

ALSO... when the sweep comes out, what should I look for in terms of amount of creosote? What should I expect him to do (clean from top vs clean from bottom, etc)? What questions should I ask?

Quotes were around $135 (25 foot chimney). Does that sound about right?

Thanks,
Tres

 

[BrotherBart]

$135 isn't a bad price cleaned from the top. It shouldn't be more than the open fireplace was though. They can just brush the crap down into the firebox instead of having to set up the tent to keep ashes off the rug and furniture like they have to with an open fireplace.

It sounds like they think they will have to pull the insert out. No way.

 

[RedRanger]

Wow-- we are lucky here, my sweep is gonna increase from $65 to $75 this coming season,and he is WETT certified. Think I will abondon my new rods, and just get him in twice a year.

 

[kalevi]

my sweep just pulls the baffle plate out from the insert, brushes from the top, cleans the crap that falls down out of the insert, puts the baffle back, bills me $60.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

My chimney brush cost $17.95 and it takes about 10 minutes to do the job. The brush will last a long long time.

 

[TresK3]

DIY is fine, except that our SS liner has a lifetime warranty that requires an inspection once a year by a qualified sweep. Since we're paying for the inspection, might as well get them to do the cleaning.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Tresk, with that warranty, I agree with you.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Wow, the quote here is $175, and that is less with an insert, and I think the plan is to remove the baffle in the insert and run the brush up from the bottom...that's what makes buying the 6" brush and 30 feet of rod makes a lot of sense (cents) and dollars here.

I'm not sure about the warranty that requires an inspection each year. What are they inspecting for that has anything to do with the life of the stainless liner? Who is extending the warranty, the chimney sweep?

 

[Shane]

Wow, the quote here is $175, and that is less with an insert, and I think the plan is to remove the baffle in the insert and run the brush up from the bottom...that's what makes buying the 6" brush and 30 feet of rod makes a lot of sense (cents) and dollars here.

I'm not sure about the warranty that requires an inspection each year. What are they inspecting for that has anything to do with the life of the stainless liner? Who is extending the warranty, the chimney sweep?

It's probably a homesaver liner. Basically they want a professional to check it each year and ensure it's maintained in order to continue the warranty.

 

[TresK3]

It is a Homesaver liner. The warranty is from the liner people, not the sweep or original installer.

So do I assume that the Sweep should do the work from the bottom, with the baffle out?

 

[Jerry_NJ]

I think most sweeps clean from the bottom, not the top, regardless of the common picture of a guy in a top hat standing at the top of the chimney. Now, this makes me wonder how the inspection is done, that may be done from the top so that most of the chimney length can be seen. Most sweeps can "walk a roof" to get to the chimney, and if they do the hard push/pull work from the bottom, all they have to do from the top is inspect.

On the cost of chimney cleaning here were I live, I talked with a neighbor today and he said his last cleaning was in 2004 and it cost $110, looks like I've been paying more than necessary. I suppose the $110 has gone up to $125 or so, but still less than I've been paying.

 

[Shane]

I always cleaned from the top. I hated monkeying rods around from the bottom the top is much easier. It should also be noted that I always (or atleast tried to) have a two man crew. One sweeping and one to clean the bottom. Our method was not the norm as sweeps usually work alone.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

My chimney sweep is a two man team, maybe that's why it cost more. I'd guess two is not twice as fast as one, so there is some extra overhead/cost to having the second man on the job site.

 

[BrotherBart]

My sweep charges three eggs, two pieces of toast and a mess of bacon when he comes back down off of that roof covered in soot from those two chimneys.

 

[Redox]

My sweep charges three eggs, two pieces of toast and a mess of bacon when he comes back down off of that roof covered in soot from those two chimneys.

What's he charge for an afternoon appointment? Beer? :cheese:

Chris

 

[Jerry_NJ]

"My sweep" sounds a bit like he may be a member of the family. But I don't know why he gets "covered with soot", that sounds bad.

 

[BrotherBart]

"My sweep" sounds a bit like he may be a member of the family. But I don't know why he gets "covered with soot", that sounds bad.

No problem with the insert upstairs. Just dirty hands. Now the pipe for the one down in the basement is a whole nuther story. That one gets messy.