Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

We Still Have Holiday Sales!

The holiday season may have ended, but there is still time to take advantage of deals for your fireplace and chimney! At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we offer a full range of fireplace and chimney services to help our customers care for their heating appliances and safely enjoy them for years to come!

Our Services

Clean Sweeps of Michigan has been caring for the fireplaces and chimneys of our neighbors in mid-Michigan, northern Ohio, and northern Indiana for almost 40 years. Our years in business have given us the knowledge and experience to care for all of your heating system needs. Our services include:

• regular annual maintenance,
• help troubleshoot an ongoing performance problem,
• restoration of an aging historic chimney.

While we may be best known as chimney sweeps, we can care for your dryer vents too! Dryer vent cleaning significantly reduces your risk of dryer fire as well as keeps your dryer operating efficiently. In fact, dryer vent cleaning can help eliminate some dryer performance problems such as long dry cycles or clothes with musty or damp smells!

How often should my chimney be swept?

Many homeowners believe their chimneys do not need to be swept every year, especially if they are used infrequently. However, according to National Fire Protection Association, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”

Annual maintenance, even with fireplaces that are rarely used, ensures:

• there are no changes to the chimney,
• that no unseen damage has occurred,
• and that are no other issues that could make the fireplace unsafe to use.

Likewise, the more you use your fireplace the more it may need to be cleaned; if your home has a fireplace or stove as a primary heating source, it may need to be swept more than once per year.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends fireplaces be swept anytime there is a buildup of 1/8th of an inch of more of soot or ash in the flue. This amount of buildup typically occurs after burning one full cord of wood in normal conditions. If you burn more than a cord of wood in a single fireplace during a burning season, a mid-season chimney sweeping can lower the risk of an accidental chimney fire. It can keep your fireplace or stove burning efficiently for the rest of the winter.

Start the new year off right – schedule your annual maintenance now!

Regular chimney sweepings and inspections are an important part of keeping your fireplace system in good working condition. One of the best ways to help your fireplace burn safely and efficiently is through yearly maintenance; this helps ensure your fireplace and chimney are free from buildup, damage, or deterioration.

The holidays may be over, but our deals are still here! Take advantage of our holiday sales by scheduling your next chimney or fireplace maintenance now. Contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to schedule your next chimney appointment!

Make Sure Your Masonry Repairs Are Made Before Winter Weather Hits

In mid-Michigan, northern Ohio, and northern Indiana, we are no strangers to wintry weather and cold temperatures. For many of us, our fireplaces are a way to add heat to our homes. In addition, create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere during the long months of fall and winter. Damage to a chimneys masonry, however, may prevent your family from enjoying the fireplace. This is especially true if it is not repaired before winter weather arrives!

How masonry damage affects your chimney.

Masonry is one of the strongest and most durable building materials available, making it perfect for fireplace and chimney construction where it is exposed to heat, smoke, and gas – as well as at-times punishing outdoor conditions. However, your chimney’s masonry may become damaged or deteriorate over time. When this happens, repairs are often necessary to get your fireplace back to burning safely and efficiently.

Chimney’s masonry is most often damaged by overexposure to the elements. Fluctuating temperatures, high winds, rain, snow, and ice can all cause damage to the masonry of the chimney. Moisture is particularly damaging due to the freeze thaw cycle.

Since bricks and mortar are naturally porous, small amounts of water from rain, snow, ice, and even hoses and sprinklers can be absorbed by the masonry. When temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands; this creates progressively larger and larger cracks and holes. This type of damage from the freeze thaw cycle can create significant masonry damage in as little as one season.

Why have your repairs done now?

While you may not have used your fireplace for the first time yet this season, it may be the perfect time to have your masonry repairs completed. The following are three reasons to have your chimney’s masonry repaired now instead of waiting for the busy burning season to begin.

1. Fewer delays.
   Many masonry repairs cannot be completed in poor weather conditions; if it is too cold or too wet – as is often the case during winter weather – the repairs will just have to wait. This negatively impacts your chimney as waiting on repairs can cause existing damage to continue to deteriorate and get worse.
2. Less wait time.
   Fall and winter are traditionally the busiest seasons for chimney sweeps. Since homeowners all over mid-Michigan are using their fireplaces, wait times for appointments can stretch or convenient times may be taken. Scheduling repairs early ensure you find a time that works for your schedule – and doesn’t impact the condition of your chimney further.
3. No impact on fireplace usage.
   Waiting for masonry damage to be repaired may prevent you from using your fireplace. While this is merely a minor inconvenience in late summer and early fall, it can literally leave you and your family out in the cold once winter weather hits. Having repairs done now ensures your fireplace is safe and ready to use when the first cold snap arrives.

Fall is almost here and winter weather is just around the corner. This year, make sure your chimney is prepared for the change in weather by having your masonry repairs done now! To schedule your masonry repair appointment, contact the experts at Clean Sweeps of Michigan today.