Frequently Asked Questions

A sweep clears soot, ash, and creosote from the flue and firebox, and the technician checks the cap, damper, and accessible parts of the chimney structure. Drop cloths go down first so the room stays clean, and a vacuum runs the whole time. A standard sweep usually takes about an hour. The technician finishes with a photo report of what was found, so you have a record of the flue's condition and any issues worth watching.

Once a year is the standard recommendation, and it matters more here because Minneapolis winters run long and heating appliances work hard from fall into spring. Wood burners should also get a sweep whenever creosote builds to roughly an eighth of an inch. Gas and oil flues still need annual cleaning and inspection even though they produce less soot. Skipping seasons lets deposits build quietly until they become a real problem.

Creosote builds up inside the flue and eventually ignites, and a chimney fire can crack the liner and spread into the structure. Carbon monoxide is the quieter risk: a blocked or damaged flue can push exhaust back into the living space. Neither hazard announces itself, which is exactly why an annual sweep and inspection matter. A camera check shows you the state of your flue before anything goes wrong. Call (844) 834-2087 to book yours.

Cleaning removes what's in the flue; inspection tells you what condition it's in. A sweep without an inspection misses cracked tiles, gaps, and blockages you can't see from below. A level-two inspection uses a camera to run the full length of the flue and records what it finds. Most Minneapolis homeowners are best served by booking both together. The photo report from the inspection is yours to keep.

Late summer and early fall is the ideal window in Minneapolis, before the first cold snap and before the long heating season starts. Sweeping in fall means the flue is clear heading into months of heavy use. If you burned all last winter without a sweep, book one now rather than waiting, because another season of deposits on top of what's already there is the setup for trouble. Call (844) 834-2087 to get on the schedule.

You can buy a brush and rods, but a DIY sweep usually misses what matters. Creosote glazed onto the flue walls doesn't come off with a homeowner brush, and a self-sweep can't tell you whether the liner is cracked or the flue is blocked. The dangerous part is going onto the roof to check the cap and crown. A trained technician with a camera sees what you can't from the firebox. The inspection is the real value.

Very little when it's done right. Drop cloths cover the hearth and floor around the fireplace, and a vacuum with a sealed hose runs throughout the job so soot goes into the machine instead of onto your furniture. Sealing the firebox opening before brushing keeps dust contained. When the technician leaves, the work area should look the way it did before. If it doesn't, that's worth telling us about.

We connect homeowners with professionals who work with well-known liner brands including Copperfield, DuraFlex, and HeatShield. HeatShield is used for resurfacing a damaged flue where the structure is still sound and a full reline isn't needed. DuraFlex and Copperfield are flexible stainless systems for relining. Which one suits your chimney depends on the flue's shape, the appliance, and what the camera shows. The technician explains the options and the reasoning before you decide.

The right liner comes down to the flue's measurements, the appliance feeding it, and the condition of the existing clay tiles. A camera inspection gives the technician the dimensions and the damage picture. From there, brands like Copperfield, DuraFlex, or HeatShield each fit different situations, and the recommendation should match what's actually in your flue, not what's easiest to install. Ask why a specific product is being suggested, and expect a clear answer tied to the footage.

Not always. HeatShield is a resurfacing product that restores a flue with gaps or cracks when the surrounding structure is still solid, so it can avoid the cost of a full reline. A reline with a flexible stainless system like DuraFlex replaces the flue path entirely, which is the right call when the original clay is badly broken or the wrong size for the appliance. The camera report usually makes the choice obvious.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and we check that before connecting you. What that looks like on paper varies, so ask to see credentials on the day of the visit. You're entitled to know who's working in your home, what training they have, and what coverage protects the job. A reputable technician answers those questions without hesitation.

Our technicians have up to 12 years of experience, and that experience shows up in how each flue is handled. Chimneys behave differently depending on the appliance, the fuel, and the masonry, and a technician who's seen a range of them knows where to look first. Our technicians have up to 12 years of experience, which is what lets us tell you plainly when something can wait and when it can't. Call (844) 834-2087 to book.

Look for a technician who uses a camera, provides a written report, and can explain what each photo shows. Ask whether the sweep includes an inspection level-two scan, how they handle creosote, and whether they'll put the price in writing before starting. Those answers tell you more than any credential on a wall ever could. If a technician can't explain what's in your flue, that's the signal to find another one.

Often yes, when there's an opening on the schedule. Same-day service depends on how the day is running and how far out the technician has to travel. Call (844) 834-2087 and we'll tell you the soonest available slot. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday. Book early in the day for the best shot at a same-day visit.

We answer 24/7, and technicians are dispatched Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. We're closed on Saturday; if Saturday is the only day that works, call and we'll get you booked for Sunday. A call outside dispatch hours is booked into the next opening, Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. Call (844) 834-2087 to schedule.

We answer 24/7, and a call outside dispatch hours is booked into the next opening, Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. You'll still get a live person on the phone to take the details and set up the visit. Nothing sits in a queue overnight. If your question can wait for a technician, we'll tell you that too, so you know you're not being pushed into a visit you don't need. Call (844) 834-2087.

Yes, the work carries a satisfaction guarantee. If something about the sweep or installation isn't right, you can call us back and we'll make it right. The written estimate sets the scope and the price, and the guarantee covers the work as described in it. Ask what's covered before the job starts so there's no gray area later. Call (844) 834-2087 with any questions about coverage.

Ask to see the camera footage before you approve anything, and make sure the recommendation matches what's on the recording. A cracked tile should be visible, a blockage should be visible, a worn liner should be visible. When you can see it for yourself, you can decide whether the work is necessary and whether it can safely wait. That transparency is the whole point. Call (844) 834-2087 to book an inspection.

Yes, and we'll tell you plainly when something can safely wait. A sweep and a camera inspection tell us what's urgent and what isn't, and a flue that's sound but lightly used doesn't need a reline just because the technician is there. If a repair is truly needed, the photo report shows why. If it isn't, we say so. That's the honest answer, and it's the one worth hearing.