Chimney Cleaning & Inspections2024-01-18T13:03:15-05:00
Fireplace and Chimney Cleaning and Inspection Service

Chimneys should be inspected and cleaned every year, if a chimney goes unchecked for prolonged periods of time there may be some serious damage.

Fireplace and Chimney Authority is proud to field a team of only the most experienced chimney technicians. Any Chimney Sweep who enters your home from our company will be a certified chimney sweep by the National Chimney Sweep Guild of America.

  • Over 100 Years of Combined Industry Experience
  • The Go-To For Chicagoland Chimney Services Since 1998
  • Certified with the National Chimney Sweep Guild
  • Certified with Chimney Safety Institute of America
  • Coupons and Discounts Are Almost Always Available!

Ultimately, regular chimney cleanings and inspections are vital to the safety of your family. With this, it helps eliminate the buildup of creosote and other debris that accumulates with the chimney. Therefore, prevents deadly fires. Our Certified Chimney Sweeps will start our 14 point inspection of your fireplace with the right materials to ensure the integrity of the chimney itself.

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Fireplace & Chimney Authority was founded as a chimney sweep company more than 28 years ago. In addition, we are proud to field a team of only the most experienced chimney technicians. Equally important, our chimney sweeps who come into your home, are certified chimney professionals by the National Chimney Sweep Guild of America.

Chimney Cleaning & Inspections

Ultimately, regular chimney cleanings and inspections are vital to the safety of your family. With Chimney Cleanings, it helps eliminate the buildup of creosote and other debris that accumulates with regular usage of the appliances that utilize the chimney, thus preventing potentially deadly chimney fires. Furthermore, regular chimney cleaning cleanings and inspections ensure the integrity of the chimney itself. All cleanings and inspections ensure the integrity of the chimney itself. With the cleaning, it will include a 14 point inspection to make sure your chimney is safe from top to bottom. The National Chimney Sweep Guild recommends cleaning a chimney every year, every face cord of wood or every 50 fires.

Fireplace Cleaning

We clean the entire chimney from the firebox itself to the top of the chimney, we vacuum and brush out the entire flue, smoke chamber and firebox. We then offer a complete inspection from the top of the chimney, flashing liner, firebox, and smoke chamber to ensure your fireplace is in good working condition for the season. The fireplace should be swept or cleaned over 50 fires or face cord of wood which is 150 pieces of wood.

Our uniformed Certified Chimney sweep will first enter your home and first put boot covers and tarps down to ensure no dirt or debris will be brought into your home. We will start our 14 point inspection of your fireplace which includes the following:

  1. Termination/Height/Clearance of your chimney.
  2. Proper Raincap/Spark arrestor.
  3. Chimney Crown/Wash is free of cracks and proper over hang.
  4. Brick/Mortar joints are free of cracking and pitting.
  5. Flashing/Collar is properly sealed.
  6. Clay flue tiles are free of cracks, missing mortar or not shifted.
  7. Water or leaking from the crown, flashing, shoulders or brick.
  8. Smoke Chamber is properly parged.
  9. Damper opens and closes efficiently and is free of warping and corrosion.
  10. Firebox brick are solid without missing mortar or shifted bricks.
  11. Ash Container and Ash Dump Door are in proper working order.
  12. Proper Spark Screen and fireplace lintel is sealed properly.
  13. Gas log lighter and key valve are functioning properly.
  14. Proper clearance of vacuum your chimney and fireplace from the firebox itself to the top of the chimney.

In conclusion, we will then present a full written report and answer any questions you may have regarding your fireplace concerns.

Furnace Chimney Cleaning & Inspection

We provide furnace flue cleaning for your furnace, boiler or hot water heater. In fact, the venting system for your heating system needs annual cleaning and inspection as well. For example, our certified chimney experts will clean and inspect the entire chimney system from the connector pipe, which comes off you furnace and hot water heater to the top of the chimney. In addition, we also make sure the venting system is free of blockage and possible obstructions.

To begin with, every appliance in your home should be inspected and cleaned yearly to ensure efficient and safe operation. Our furnace flue cleaning and inspection includes:

  1. Height and termination of the chimney.
  2. Rain cap or termination cap to allow proper ventilation.
  3. Chimney crown/Wash for cracks and proper over hang.
  4. Bricks of chimney for shaling, discoloration and missing mortar joint.
  5. Flashing or collar of chimney for proper seal.
  6. Clay flue liner for shifting or missing tiles.
  7. Water and efflorence throughout entire chimney.
  8. Appliance thimble, connector pipe and clean out door.
  9. Clean entire chimney from connector pipe, chimney flue and clean out door area.

Gas Fireplace Cleaning and Safety Check

We offer gas fireplace clean and checks for all makes and models of Direct Vent and B-Vent fireplaces. Like any gas appliance in your home, your gas fireplace should be cleaned and inspected yearly for safety and efficiency of your fireplace.

When we clean and inspect Direct Vent Fireplaces, we first remove the glass and inspect and clean the glass, pilot system, gas valve, thermocouple, gas logs, burners, wiring and venting to ensure complete safety for the upcoming season.

Our certified technicians will first, come into your home and tarp the work area off and start the fireplace tune-up and inspection.

  • Glass: Remove glass and clean.
  • Pilot: Clean and Check.
  • Gas Valve: Test for proper operation.
  • Thermocouple/Thermopile: Clean and Check.
  • Gas Logs: Check for breakage and layout.
  • Burners: Clean and Check.
  • Wiring: Check for deterioration.
  • Thermostat/Remote: Check batteries and for proper operation.
  • Venting: Check for proper draft and configuration.
  • Also check blower wheel and Combustion Chamber on certain models.

Chimney Inspections

Fireplace and Chimney Authority offers three levels of chimney inspections based on the particular needs of our customers.

The three levels of inspections have been outlined by NFPA Standad NFPA211, this is the standard set for all chimney inspections performed in the United States today.

Our trained certified chimney sweeps have been performing chimney inspections in the Chicago land market for over 28 years. When purchasing a home or commercial property, let our chimney experts inspect your chimney for peace of mind and safety of your home or business.

Three Levels of Inspections

Below are the three levels of chimney inspections brought to you by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).

Level 1

If your appliance or your venting system has not changed and you plan to use your system as you have in the past, then a Level 1 inspection is a minimum requirement. A Level 1 inspection is recommended for a chimney under continued service, under the same conditions, and with the continued use of the same appliance.

​In a Level 1 inspection, your chimney service technician should examine the portions of the chimney exterior, interior and accessible* portions of the appliance and the chimney connection. Your technician will be looking for the basic soundness of the chimney structure and flue as well as the basic appliance installation and connections. The technician will also verify the chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits.

Level 2

A Level 2 inspection is required when any changes are made to the system. Changes can include a change in the fuel type, changes to the shape of, or material in, the flue (i.e. relining), or the replacement or addition of an appliance of a dissimilar type, input rating or efficiency. Additionally,a Level 2 inspection is required upon the sale or transfer of a property or after an operation malfunction or external event that is likely to have caused damage to the chimney. Building fires, chimney fires, seismic events as well as weather events are all indicators that this level of inspection is warranted.

There are no specialty tools (i.e. demolition equipment) required to open doors, panels or coverings in performing a Level 2 inspection. A Level 2 inspection shall also include a visual inspection by video scanning or other means in order to examine the internal surfaces and joints of all flue liners incorporated within the chimney. No removal or destruction of permanently attached portions of the chimney or building structure or finish shall be required by a Level 2 inspection.

When a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection suggests a hidden hazard and the evaluation cannot be performed without special tools to access concealed areas of the chimney or flue, a Level 3 inspection is recommended. A Level 3 inspection addresses the proper construction and the condition of concealed portions of the chimney structure and the flue. Removal or destruction, as necessary, of permanently attached portions of the chimney or building structure will be required for the completion of a Level 3 inspection. A Level 2 inspection includes everything in a Level 1 inspection, plus the accessible* portions of the chimney exterior and interior including attics, crawl spaces and basements. It will address proper clearances from combustibles in accessible locations.

Level 3

A Level 3 inspection includes all the areas and items checked in a Level 1 and a Level 2 inspection, as well as the removal of certain components of the building or chimney where necessary.

Removal of components (i.e., chimney crown, interior chimney wall) shall be required only when necessary to gain access to areas that are the subject of the inspection. When serious hazards are suspected, a Level 3 inspection may well be required to determine the condition of the chimney system.

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