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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!

We Love Serving Our Neighbors in Northern Indiana

Winters in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana can be brutal; for many families, sitting in front of a roaring fire is a way to stay warm, spend time together, and creating lasting memories. Atservice map graphic Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we are proud to service the chimneys and fireplaces of our friends and neighbors, including Northern Indiana!

About us

Founded in Clarklake in 1980, Clean Sweeps of Michigan was started by a local fireman before being sold to long-time employee and current owner Cliff Slagle. We are proud to provide high quality chimney and dryer vent services to our friends, family, and neighbors throughout Mid-Michigan, Northern Indiana, and Northern Ohio. Along the way, we have built an award-winning chimney service company with top reviews on Google and Angie’s List.

As part of our commitment to quality, our team is dedicated to keeping chimneys and dryer vents as clean and safe as possible. Our team of chimney sweeps are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, or CSIA; our sweeps are also members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and members of a variety of other professional guilds and organizations.

Our services

Clean Sweeps of Michigan offers a full range of chimney and fireplace services. From regular maintenance to extensive repairs, our team of chimney technicians can care for every part of your fireplace system. Some of our chimney services include:

  • Chimney sweepings and inspections. Chimney sweeping is an important part of regular chimney maintenance. A chimney sweeping removes soot, ash, and creosote from the flue; this allows the fireplace to burn safely and efficiently. During a chimney inspection, accessible portions of the interior and exterior of the flue are checked for signs of damage or deterioration.
  • Chimney rebuilding and restoration. Whether your chimney is in need of minor repairs or a major rebuild, our master masons can restore your fireplace and chimney to its former glory.
  • New chimney construction. Want to add a chimney to your home or business? Our masons can help make your dreams a reality and create a chimney system that will last for years to come!

We service dryer vents, too!

We aren’t just a chimney company – we service dryer vents, too! Having dryer vents professionally cleaned can help dryers operate more efficiently while also significantly reducing the risk of dryer vent fire.

During regular use, the same lint that accumulates in the lint trap begins to accumulate in the dryer vent. Over time, this lint can create blockages that forces the dryer to work harder, eventually creating super-heated air that can ignite the highly flammable lint. Likewise, these blockages can cause clothes to not dry completely, be left with a musty odor, or take longer than one cycle to dry.

Why choose a local company

When looking for a chimney sweep, hiring locally matters. There are often a number of “drive-through” chimney sweeps that come in and out of an area during the fall and winter. However, these chimney sweeps are usually not familiar with the area, the weather, and the unique characteristics of fireplaces or chimneys in the region.

Likewise, when you support a local company you are directly supporting the community! We live and raise our families in the same areas we work; our team of trained chimney technicians are dedicated to providing our neighbors with high quality fireplace services year-round.

At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we are proud to be involved in the communities we serve. We are proud to partner with a variety of local organizations and associations including Jackson Christian School, Jackson Area Rec Baseball Sponsors, Jackson Area Chamber Of Commerce, Brooklyn – Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce, Washtenaw County BRAGG Ann Arbor.

Our name says Michigan, but we serve Northern Indiana, too!

While our company name may be Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we are proud to service customers in Northern Indiana as well! Several years ago, we noticed that our neighbors in Northern Indiana were severely underserved by fireplace and chimney professionals.

Because many homes in the area use wood stoves, we are happy to dedicate trucks and technicians specifically to this part of the state. We now offer daily appointments for chimney and dryer vent services throughout Northern Indiana which leaves us wondering – what took us so long?

The following is the list of counties and cities we currently serve in Northern Indiana.

  • Allen County: Anthony Wayne Village, Avalon, Cedarville, Eastland Gardens, Fairfax, Fort Wayne, Grabill, Harlan, Hillcrest, Hoagland, Huntertown, Indian Village, lake Shores, Leo, Leo-Cedarville, Lincolnshire, Monroeville, New Haven, North Highland, Northcrest, Tanglewood, Waynedale, Westchester, Woodburn
  • Dekalb County: Alton, Ashley, Auburn, Butler, Corunna, Garrett, Saint Joe, Waterloo
  • Elkhart County: Bristol, Dunlap, East Lake Estates, Elkhart, Goshen, Greenleaf Manor, Middlebury, Millersburg, Nappanee, New Paris, Simonton Lake, Wakarusa
  • Kosciusko County: Burket, Claypool, Etan Green, Leesburg, Mentone, Milford, North Webster, Pierceton, Sidney, Silver Lake, Syracuse, Warsaw, Winona Lake
  • Lagrange County: Howe, Lagrange, Shipshewana, Topeka
  • Noble County: Albion, Avilla, Cromwell, Kendallville, Kimmell, Ligonier, Rome City, Wolcottville
  • Steuben County: Angola, Clear Lake, Fremont, Hamilton, Hudson, Orland
  • Whitley County: Churubusco, Columbia City, Larwill, south Whitley, Tri-Lakes

Contact us today to schedule your next fireplace or chimney services!

We are proud to serve our friends and neighbors in Northern Indiana. For more information about our service area or to schedule your next fireplace or chimney services, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today!

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