Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Don’t Forget Chimney Inspection When Buying A Home

Fireplaces are consistently the most requested features for new home buyers. Homeowners are willing to pay the price to have one inside their home. While most buyers want a fireplace in their home, they lack the proper skills to evaluate it. Many home inspectors also lack the knowledge to spot problems associated with fireplace when buying a house. It is extremely important to have a chimney inspection performed by a certified professional before buying the new home. If you are looking for or if you have found your dream home, make sure to include a chimney inspection in addition to the home inspection. This will give you a peace of mind that your home’s fireplace is clean, safe, and ready to use.

The importance of chimney inspections for home buyers

Buying a home is an enormous investment. That is why we think it’s really important to ensure your entire home is in good condition before closing. Most buyers trust their home inspector to spot any potential problems. Only a few inspector have training regarding fireplaces and chimneys. Even thorough home inspections can fail to uncover serious safety or structural problems of a chimney system. When buying your new home, it is your right to request an inspection by an independent chimney sweep after under contract. While it is your responsibility to pay for this expense, an additional chimney inspection can help uncover any hidden fireplace or chimney problems. It can also help to identify repairs that need to be addressed before closing.

What if they already have the chimney inspected?

Many sellers include documentation from a chimney sweep as part of their disclosures about the home. If this is the case, buyers can still request a second independent chimney inspection. While a second inspection seem like an overkill, it serves as a confirmation of your findings in the original report or uncover potential hidden problems. If you have recently purchased a home, but you did not receive a report from a chimney sweep as part of the disclosures. It is extremely important to have the chimney system inspected before using your fireplace. In addition, to ensure there are no safety or structural problems with your chimney system, a preliminary inspection will help to give you a baseline to compare your chimney’s condition from year to year.

Sellers need inspections, too!

When preparing to sell your home, a chimney sweeping and inspection need be included on your to-do list before it goes on the market. Having a professional inspection before listing your home gives you a chance to identify repairs. It also reduce the risk of unpleasant surprises during home inspection. It is recommended to include a report from a licensed chimney sweep. This not only gives potential buyers a peace of mind about the fireplace system and reassure them their new home is safe.

Let us help!

Don’t be surprised or discouraged by a damaged chimney after closing your dream home. Instead, request a independent chimney inspection to ensure your new fireplace is safe, sound, and ready to use. For more information about chimney inspections for real estate, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today at 517-529-4453!

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!