Is $140 too much for a chimney sweep?

[SandEagle]

ok, lived in this home for several years and haven't used the fireplace even once. don't know why i didn't do this earlier.

this one place here charges $140 to clean it. is this too much or just about right?

 

[IronWing]

The ATOT answer:

Save the $140 and do it yourself, how hard can it be. Also post before and after pics of yourself.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It depends on how much build up was left from the previous owners and if there are any "jogs" in the flue. How is it you bought this house without getting the fireplace inspected? It might be in such poor shape that it needs to be relined or worse.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Ask for a huge giant ball of fur for Christmas. Santa will do it for free on his way in next year.

 

[lxskllr]

On a sunny day, take a mirror on the roof and look down the chimney. You're actually not as concerned about the chunky stuff as you are the hard creosote that collects on the walls. If it looks bad, you can clean it yourself(what I do), or pay someone to do it. $140 doesn't sound unreasonable to me.

 

[SandEagle]

It depends on how much build up was left from the previous owners and if there are any "jogs" in the flue. How is it you bought this house without getting the fireplace inspected? It might be in such poor shape that it needs to be relined or worse.

sorry man, i didn't know **** about fireplaces and didn't know it had to be inspected. first time i ever heard of a 'flue' and never knew that these things get relined or whatever

 

[xanis]

A dirty chimney can be dangerous (and costly to repair if damaged). My parents use their fireplace quite a lot from December through February so they have a chimney sweep come once a year. I don't remember exactly how much they pay, but $140 doesn't seem too outrageous to me.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

sorry man, i didn't know **** about fireplaces and didn't know it had to be inspected. first time i ever heard of a 'flue' and never knew that these things get relined or whatever

OK, listen up. You need to get it inspected before you worry about getting it cleaned. Do Not light a fire until it's been inspected. Built up creosote could literally burn down your house if it caught fire. Failed brick work could release carbon monoxide back into the house. Hell, I've even seen older houses where some 'genius' tied in the exhaust from the hot water heater and furnace to the flue of the fireplace.

 

[zerocool84]

sorry man, i didn't know **** about fireplaces and didn't know it had to be inspected. first time i ever heard of a 'flue' and never knew that these things get relined or whatever

That's what is called research when you're buying a home. That's like not getting the electricity inspected or pipes.

 

[Sasiki]

I'd just pay the $140. They are going to be able to clean it without getting all sorts of residue every where. And yes, Creosote is nothing to play around with. It can combust if it gets too hot. BOOM! There goes the fireplace.

 

[marvdmartian]

OK, listen up. You need to get it inspected before you worry about getting it cleaned. Do Not light a fire until it's been inspected. Built up creosote could literally burn down your house if it caught fire. Failed brick work could release carbon monoxide back into the house. Hell, I've even seen older houses where some 'genius' tied in the exhaust from the hot water heater and furnace to the flue of the fireplace.

Um.....having lived with a chimney sweep as my roommate, I can tell you that it's highly likely they'll tell you you have to clean the flue before you inspect it. Sorta hard to see damages through the creosote, ya know?? :hmm:

$140 seems high to me. Have you called around at all, OP? Also, do you know if it's a metal or clay flue? If it's an clay "pipe" flue, I'd have a professional do the cleaning & inspection at least once, before you even think about doing it yourself. They will be able to tell you if you have any broken flue pieces, or missing mortar in the joints between the sections. They can also inspect the firebox and damper areas, and assess the condition of your chimney cap, if you have one (and can sell one to you if you need one, plus install it for a nominal fee). Make certain your chimney sweep is certified by the National Chimney Sweep Guild (they require a written exam to be passed, I believe by 80%, before they certify a sweep.....no small feat, as I've seen the study material my old roommate had to study in order to pass his test).

If you have a steel "pipe" flue (actually, a pipe within a pipe, with insulation in between the two), you might feel comfortable enough to sweep it and inspect it yourself. That's up to you. Personally, I'd still have a chimney sweep come out every few years, just for a professional job.

As far as sweeping the flue goes, there's different sizes of both varieties, so you'll have to figure out what size it is, then go buy the brush and rods (think they come in 8' sections, but don't quote me on that.....it's been almost 20 years now!). Close the damper, and put a HEAVY canvas tarp over the opening of the fireplace, with the suction hose of a heavy duty shop vacuum (with a clean HEPA filter) in the firebox area of the fireplace while you're sweeping everything down from the top of the chimney. This is going to keep you from having to clean the remainder of your house when you find out you had fine soot come out of your fireplace while you swept it down the flue pipe! Once you've got it all swept down, you can go into the fireplace, again with the vacuum running BEFORE you start doing this, and CAREFULLY open the damper, SLOWLY, so as to vacuum up the soot before it gets past you. Finally, take a long-handled wire brush and brush out the soot from the damper/firebox area, while holding the vacuum cleaner hose right beside where you're brushing, so as to catch the soot you're cleaning off the metal/brick areas. Oh yeah, and make sure your vacuum is a big honking one, not one of those little 2 or 3 gallon mini wet/dry vacs. Believe me, if your system is dirty, you'll be amazed by how much soot you'll sweep down!! Replace your HEPA filter once you're done (trust me, it'll be FILTHY).

Chimney sweeping is dirty, difficult work......and that's on a good day! Now you know why they charge so much! Oh yeah, and if you have a fireplace insert, be prepared to either have a couple friends help you with it, or be a damn weightlifter yourself, cuz them suckers can weigh a couple hundred pounds, easy, and they're usually fitted pretty tightly in the fireplace firebox. Better yet, pay the chimney sweep to deal with it........you'll be glad you did, once you see him having to pull it out and push it back in!!

 

[Capt Caveman]

Call around

 

[szechuanpork]

after he is done be sure to say "thank you guv'ner". they love that.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Um.....having lived with a chimney sweep as my roommate, I can tell you that it's highly likely they'll tell you you have to clean the flue before you inspect it. Sorta hard to see damages through the creosote, ya know?? :hmm:
All the masons I know would be surprised to hear that. They regularly check for failed mortar and broken brick on uncleaned chimney flues. Why would anyone pay extra money to clean a flue that needs to be relined?

$140 seems high to me. Have you called around at all, OP? Also, do you know if it's a metal or clay flue? If it's an clay "pipe" flue, I'd have a professional do the cleaning & inspection at least once, before you even think about doing it yourself. They will be able to tell you if you have any broken flue pieces, or missing mortar in the joints between the sections.
Chimney sweeps are not masons. They may be able to spot obvious problems but are unqualified to asses how much damage or repair is needed. Again why would you spend extra money to have an unqualified person inspect it?
They can also inspect the firebox and damper areas, and assess the condition of your chimney cap, if you have one (and can sell one to you if you need one, plus install it for a nominal fee). Make certain your chimney sweep is certified by the National Chimney Sweep Guild (they require a written exam to be passed, I believe by 80%, before they certify a sweep.....no small feat, as I've seen the study material my old roommate had to study in order to pass his test).

If you have a steel "pipe" flue (actually, a pipe within a pipe, with insulation in between the two), you might feel comfortable enough to sweep it and inspect it yourself. That's up to you. Personally, I'd still have a chimney sweep come out every few years, just for a professional job.

As far as sweeping the flue goes, there's different sizes of both varieties, so you'll have to figure out what size it is, then go buy the brush and rods (think they come in 8' sections, but don't quote me on that.....it's been almost 20 years now!). Close the damper, and put a HEAVY canvas tarp over the opening of the fireplace, with the suction hose of a heavy duty shop vacuum (with a clean HEPA filter) in the firebox area of the fireplace while you're sweeping everything down from the top of the chimney. This is going to keep you from having to clean the remainder of your house when you find out you had fine soot come out of your fireplace while you swept it down the flue pipe! Once you've got it all swept down, you can go into the fireplace, again with the vacuum running BEFORE you start doing this, and CAREFULLY open the damper, SLOWLY, so as to vacuum up the soot before it gets past you. Finally, take a long-handled wire brush and brush out the soot from the damper/firebox area, while holding the vacuum cleaner hose right beside where you're brushing, so as to catch the soot you're cleaning off the metal/brick areas. Oh yeah, and make sure your vacuum is a big honking one, not one of those little 2 or 3 gallon mini wet/dry vacs. Believe me, if your system is dirty, you'll be amazed by how much soot you'll sweep down!! Replace your HEPA filter once you're done (trust me, it'll be FILTHY).

Chimney sweeping is dirty, difficult work......and that's on a good day! Now you know why they charge so much! Oh yeah, and if you have a fireplace insert, be prepared to either have a couple friends help you with it, or be a damn weightlifter yourself, cuz them suckers can weigh a couple hundred pounds, easy, and they're usually fitted pretty tightly in the fireplace firebox. Better yet, pay the chimney sweep to deal with it........you'll be glad you did, once you see him having to pull it out and push it back in!!

I think chimney sweeps do a good job but, their job is not to inspect brick, stone or, mortar. Get an inspection by a qualified mason who is experienced with fireplaces.

 

[SunSamurai]

Hire the hot chick across the street. Take pix

 

[squirrel dog]

$140 sounds rite.Least around here .

 

[geno]

Chimney cleaning goes for about $75 around here. I guess $140 isn't insane if that's the going rate in your area.

 

[waggy]

around here its about $75. we have had it done twice. the first guy was a jerk. he tried tell us the area we have the wood burning stove we had was not safe and would burn down the house if we used it. he recommended a $4500 "repair" to the walls and drop down ceiling.

When i refused it he said OK and got a camera and took a bunch of pictures (without asking me) then on the bill it said "NOT SAFE" in big letters and he asked who we had insurance with. i refused to give him any information and asked for the pictures. he said he would just send them to all insurance agency's and they will drop my homeowners policy.

he refused to give the pictures and left. i didn't pay him and when he sent the bill in the mail i mailed him back saying take me to court or drop it. that was 5 years ago and haven't heard from him since.

the 2nd time we had it cleaned (diffrent company) it was $75 again and the guy mentioned the stove was old and we should replace it or fix it. but he said fixing it would cost nearly as much as a new one. he said to got Farm and fleet get the stove and he can put it in cheap. but he can't hook it up to the existing furnace wich is what we are thinking of doing.



EDIT: we have someone clean it out every 3 years since we use it a lot in the winter.

 

[SandEagle]

thanks marvdmartian, good info.


well the dude did come and looked it over. he said there wasn't any creosote and the chimney looked good and probably didn't need to be sweeped now.

since he was already here, i said just go ahead and clean it anyway. took 15 minutes and he lowered the price to $115. i'm cool with it

 

[geno]

i refused to give him any information and asked for the pictures. he said he would just send them to all insurance agency's and they will drop my homeowners policy.

I'd be furious if someone who is supposed to be doing me a service threatened that. Good for you for not paying him.

 

[feralkid]

thanks marvdmartian, good info.


well the dude did come and looked it over. he said there wasn't any creosote and the chimney looked good and probably didn't need to be sweeped now.

since he was already here, i said just go ahead and clean it anyway. took 15 minutes and he lowered the price to $115. i'm cool with it

Huh? You were worried about the price, told you needn't spend a penny, but then forked over $115 to have unnecessary work performed?

 

[BoomerD]

Call around

This.

It's been a few years since we had ours done, but we rarely use the dammed thing. It's more of a "heat vampire" than anything else. (mostly decorative...not for actual heat production)

I don't remember how much it cost us the last time, but $140 doesn't sound unreasonable.

Call several places and get quotes/estimates. Get a licensed/bonded company to do the work in case of problems.