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Need to schedule? Here’s some important appointment tips!

There is nothing more enjoyable than relaxing in front of a fire! However, whether they burn gas, wood, or pellets, our fireplaces need regular care and maintenance in order to work their best.Model person holding plan ahead sign

One of the best ways to keep your fireplace burning safely and efficiently is by having an annual chimney sweeping. Chimney sweeping can help remove soot, ash, and creosote, as well as any blockages or buildup in the flue. Once you schedule your chimney sweeping appointment, the following tips can help ensure your home and fireplace are ready.

Appointment tips during Covid-19

At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we are aware of the current coronavirus (Covid-19) health concerns. Because we live in the same communities we serve, the health and safety of our employees and customers remain our top priority. We are still accepting and scheduling appointments, but have put extra precautions both internally and externally into place to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Safety precautions such as sanitizing equipment in between appointments, wearing additional protective equipment such as gloves, regularly washing hands and using hand sanitizer, and avoiding handshakes have been put into place. As of right now, we are open for business as usual! We will update our customers to any changes in services as they arrive.

When should I schedule my chimney sweeping?

Anytime is the right time for a chimney sweeping! October through January are the peak season for chimney sweeps; during this season, appointments can book as much as a month in advance. For this reason, we recommend that customers book non-emergency services in the offseason. Spring and summer months are our low season; booking appointments during this time of year can help ensure you get an appointment time that is quick and convenient with your schedule!

How can I prepare for my appointment?

Booking the appointment is just the first step; there are a number of things homeowners can do to ensure their house to have the chimney swept! The following are 5 things you can do to prepare for your chimney sweeping appointment.

  1. Move furniture or valuables: As chimney sweeps, our priority is always to leave your home in the same condition we found it! To prevent ash and soot from staining any furnishings, we ask that homeowners move and furniture or valuables within six feet of the fireplace. This includes rolling up rugs or pushing sofas and couches away from the fireplace. If there are furnishings that cannot be moved, consider covering them with an old sheet as a safeguard against any stray soot. While modern chimney sweeping is done with industrial tools that prevent most dust from escaping into the room, we want to safeguard your home as much as possible!
  2. Clear off the mantle: If you have framed photos, candlesticks, knick-knacks, or other décor on your mantle, we ask that you remove it before your chimney technician arrives. In addition to preventing your items from being damaged, removing mantle décor allows the chimney technician to work faster.
  3. Stop using the fireplace 24 hours in advance: Please refrain from using your fireplace for at least 24 hours before your appointment. Doing so ensures that all of the fireplace components are cool and safe to touch; this allows technicians to safely clean and inspect all accessible portions of the chimney. Likewise, please remove any remaining ash or wood from the firebox; this allows our technicians to work quickly and helps prevents furnishings or carpets from being stained as well!
  4. Crate pets: We love pets! Meeting new four-legged friends is one of the favorite parts of our job. However, we ask homeowners to crate pets or put them in a secure room while the chimney is being swept. During a sweeping and inspection, our technicians frequently go in and out of the house. Likewise, our equipment and tools make strange noises and can be a little scary to many pets! Having them securely crated prevents your fur baby from accidentally escaping while we are servicing your chimney.
  5. Forward schedule your next appointment: We schedule appointments with our doctors and dentists in advance – why not schedule with your chimney sweep in advance as well? Forward scheduling, or scheduling your next appointment at the end of your current appointment, is the best way to ensure your fireplace is receiving regular maintenance. Not only does this help you get the appointment date and time that is most convenient for you and your schedule, but it also means you have one less thing to worry about! Worried you won’t remember when you schedule your appointment? Don’t worry – we send out reminders! As a courtesy to our customers, we mail reminders for annual appointments, as well as confirm all appointments by phone 24 hours in advance.
  6. Don’t forget your other appliances!: At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we can clean more than just your fireplace flue – we also clean dryer vents! Dryer vent cleaning is an important, but often forgotten, part of home maintenance. The same lint that accumulates in the lint trap can accumulate in dryer vents over time; removing this highly flammable lint during dryer vent cleaning can help reduce the risk of dryer fire. Likewise, dryer vent cleaning can help dryers operate more efficiently. If your dryer performance is decreasing, try cleaning the dryer vent before purchasing a new appliance!
  7. Be ready to ask questions: Our chimney technicians are highly trained, certified professionals. In addition to our commitment to chimney safety, we also love educating our customers about the ins and outs of their fireplace system. Want to know what firewood burns more efficiently? Don’t know how to adjust the temperature on your gas fireplace? Have questions about fireplace performance issues? Our chimney technicians are here to help!

At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we are committed to providing our customers with the best chimney sweeping experience possible. If you have questions about how to prepare your home for your next chimney sweeping or inspection, contact us today!

Did You Know We Serve Northern Ohio?

Our name might be Clean Sweeps of Michigan, but did you know we serve Northern Ohio, too? We are proud to provide quality fireplace and chimney services to our friendsservice map graphic and neighbors throughout Mid-Michigan, Northern Indiana, and Northern Ohio.

About us

Founded in Clarklake, Michigan in 1980, Clean Sweeps of Michigan was founded by a local fireman before being sold to longtime employee Cliff Slagle. Since the beginning, Clean Sweeps of Michigan has provided quality chimney services and dryer vent care to our customers.

No matter what service we are performing in your home, you can rely on our technicians to be friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. Our dedication to customer satisfaction has helped us create our award-winning company with plenty of great reviews from our customers; we are proud to have won Super Service Awards from Angie’s List in 2012, 2015, and 2017!

In addition to providing high-quality services and excerpt chimney and dryer vent care, it is our mission to give our customers the information they need to make informed decisions. Because of this, we have created an informative and educational website that covers a variety of topics. Likewise, our technicians are happy to answer any questions you may have about the workings of your fireplace, stove, chimney, or dryer vents.

Community involvement

Our staff lives in the same communities we provide services for, often maintaining the chimney systems for our friends and neighbors. Because of this, we are dedicated to community involvement and are proud to serve alongside our neighbors in a variety of organizations throughout Mid-Michigan, Northern Indiana, and Northern Ohio. Some of the organizations we have sponsored or work with throughout our more than 30 years in business include:

Our services

Whether it is regular chimney maintenance, a minor repair, or major refurbishment, our chimney sweeps can handle it all! We provide our customers with a full range of professional chimney and fireplace services; with extensive training and years of experience, our chimney sweeps can take care of your fireplace system with the highest level of expertise.

When you hire Clean Sweeps of Michigan, you can expect an honest, accurate evaluation of the condition of your chimney, as well as a cost-effective course of action. In fact, we are so dedicated to customer satisfaction that we will match the price of any competitor that offers the same high-quality level of service. Our technicians also take steps to ensure that your home is kept neat and soot-free throughout the visit.

Our chimney services include:

  • Chimney sweepings: Yearly chimney sweepings are an important part of keeping your fireplace burning safely and efficiently. Sweepings by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep helps remove buildup in the flue including soot, ash, and harmful and flammable creosote.
  • Chimney inspections: A chimney inspection can help spot minor damage before it turns into major deterioration. During an inspection, our chimney sweeps will inspect all accessible portions of both the interior and exterior chimney system for weak points or areas of deterioration.
  • Masonry repair, restoration, or rebuilds: Masonry is one of the strongest building materials, which makes it ideal for chimneys and fireplaces. Despite this, bricks and mortar may need to be repairs, restored, or rebuilt. Our chimney technicians can work with you to restore or rebuild your home’s fireplace system after damage.
  • New chimney construction: Want to add a new fireplace to your home? Our masons can help you design the fireplace of your dreams! Building a new chimney system gives homeowners the chance to create a custom heating appliance that is perfect for their home and heating needs.
  • Dryer vent services: We care for more than just your chimney! Dryer vent cleaning is the best way to keep your dryer operating safely and efficiently, as well as significantly reduce the risk of a dryer fire.
  • We serve Northern Ohio, too!

While our name includes Michigan, we are proud to serve Northern Ohio, too! Our service area for Northern Ohio covers Defiance County, including Defiance, Hicksville, Ney, and Sherwood; Fulton County, including Archbold, Delta, Fayette, Lyons, Metamora, Pettisville, Swanton, Tedrow, and Wauseon; and Williams County, including Alvordton, Blakeslee, Bryan, Edgerton, Edon, Holiday City, Kunkle, Lake Seneca, Montpelier, Pioneer, Pulaski, Stryker, and West Unity.

In addition to our service area in Northern Ohio, we are proud to serve the Mid-Michigan counties of Branch, Jackson, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Lenawee, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Wayne. In Northern Indiana, we serve Whitley, Steuben, Noble, LaGrange, Kosciusko, Allen, De Kalb, and Elkhart counties.

Have questions? Contact us today!

If you aren’t sure if your town is covered in our service area, have questions about our chimney and fireplace services, or need to schedule your next appointment, contact us today! Our team of dedicated, highly educated professionals are ready to assist you with all of your chimney or dryer vent cleaning needs.

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