Frequently Asked Questions

Most wood-burning chimneys in Kent should be swept about once a year, or sooner if you burn heavily. Wet Western Washington winters mean many households run the fireplace daily from October into March, and that level of use builds creosote faster than occasional burns. Gas and oil flues have their own schedule based on the appliance. If you can't remember the last sweep, have it looked at before you light the first fire of the season. Call (866) 942-7714 to book a sweep.

A sweep involves protecting the room, brushing the flue with the right-sized brush, and vacuuming soot as the work happens. The technician checks the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, cap and crown, then runs a camera if the flue shows signs of trouble. You get a photo report of what was found. Wood-burning creosote is classified by how hard it is to remove, and heavy or glazed creosote takes more time and different tools. Everything gets explained before you leave the room.

Yes, in most cases you can stay home, though you may want to step out of the immediate room while the brush work happens. The technician lays drop cloths and runs a HEPA vacuum throughout, so dust stays contained. Creosote and soot are the things you don't want to breathe, which is why we run the vacuum from start to finish. If you have small children or pets, keeping them in another part of the house during the sweep is the easy move.

Creosote is the tar-like byproduct of burning wood, and it's the main reason chimneys catch fire. It builds up in layers on the flue walls, and when it gets hot enough it ignites. Glazed, hardened creosote is the most dangerous because it's the hardest to remove and burns hottest. Kent's damp climate can add to the problem because wood stored outdoors absorbs moisture, which produces more creosote when burned. Dry, seasoned firewood and regular sweeps are the practical defense. Call (866) 942-7714 to book a sweep.

Only if the camera shows damage, and never on a technician's word alone. A cracked or deteriorated liner lets heat and carbon monoxide reach the framing and the rooms behind it, which is a genuine hazard. But a lot of liner quotes are given without evidence. We show you the footage and let you judge it for yourself. Sometimes the honest answer is that the liner has years of safe service left and no work is needed now. Call (866) 942-7714 for an exact quote - estimates are free.

Skipping it lets creosote and soot build up until a routine sweep no longer clears it, and it raises the risk of a chimney fire. It also blocks the flue from venting properly, which can push carbon monoxide back into the home. Blockages from nests, leaves or a collapsed liner cause the same problem. None of that is theoretical in a cool, wet climate where fireplaces run hard all season. A yearly sweep is cheaper than almost any repair. Call (866) 942-7714 to book one.

You can, but we don't recommend it for anything beyond a basic check. Roof access, dropping a weighted brush down a flue, and knowing whether the creosote is glazed or routine are the parts most homeowners aren't equipped for. Glazed creosote needs mechanical removal with the right tooling, and a missed crack in the liner is worse than no inspection at all. The safety point matters here: chimney work on a roof is height work and creosote exposure is a real hazard. Call (866) 942-7714 and let a trained technician handle it.

A straightforward single-flue sweep usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Add time for a camera inspection, a second flue, or heavier creosote removal. A steep roof pitch or a chimney that's hard to reach from the ground adds time too, which is why the estimate is based on your actual chimney. You'll know roughly how long to plan for before we book you in. Call (866) 942-7714 with the details and we'll give you a realistic window.

Yes, and those are often the chimneys that most need it. A chimney that's gone several seasons without a sweep tends to have heavy soot and hardened creosote that takes longer to clear and may require mechanical tools rather than a standard brush. The camera inspection matters even more in that case because the liner itself may have suffered. We'll go over what we find and tell you if the fireplace is safe to use or needs repair first. Call (866) 942-7714 to book.

We work with well-known liner and cap products, including Copperfield and DuraFlex stainless liners and HeatShield resurfacing systems. The right choice depends on the appliance, the flue dimensions and what the camera shows. DuraFlex liners suit a lot of wood-burning and gas setups, while HeatShield is often used to restore a damaged clay flue without a full relining. Famco is another name we see in caps and dampers. Call (866) 942-7714 and we'll talk through what fits your chimney.

HeatShield is often the better fit when the existing clay flue is still structurally sound but has cracks or gaps that need resurfacing. A DuraFlex stainless liner is more typical when the flue is too damaged to repair, or when you're venting a new appliance that needs a properly sized liner. Neither is universally better. What matters is what the camera shows. Call (866) 942-7714 and we'll explain which one your chimney actually needs - estimates are free.

Caps, top-sealing dampers and related parts come from makers like Famco and similar brands, and the choice depends on the flue size and whether you want a top-mount or throat damper. A cap is one of the cheapest pieces of chimney protection you can buy. It keeps rain, leaves and birds out, and in Kent's wet climate a missing cap lets water into the flue year after year. We'll show you what fits before anything is ordered. Call (866) 942-7714.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and to carry coverage for the work they do. Chimney work involves roof access and fire safety, so insured, trained technicians aren't optional. We connect you with independent local professionals who meet those standards. You can ask for proof of credentials before booking, and we encourage it. Call (866) 942-7714 and we'll walk you through what to expect.

Ask for proof of license and insurance, whether the sweep includes a visual or camera inspection, how they handle dust in the home, and whether they'll show you the photos of what they find. Ask whether they'll tell you when work can wait, because the honest ones will. A sweep who quotes liner replacement before looking inside the flue has it backwards. Call (866) 942-7714 to ask us anything on that list.

Same-day sweeps are often possible when the schedule allows, and we'll tell you honestly when you call. Availability depends on the season. Late autumn and early winter are the busiest weeks as households in Kent get ready for burning season, so booking ahead is the smarter move if your chimney hasn't been checked yet. Call (866) 942-7714. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.

A live coordinator answers your call and connects you with the local team who'll handle your chimney. We answer 24/7, and a call outside dispatch hours is booked into the next opening, Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. You'll get a clear picture of what's available and what it will cost before anything is scheduled. No voicemail loops, no being told to call back the next business day. Call (866) 942-7714 to get started.

No. The price is set per job by the written estimate, and a same-day booking costs the same as one scheduled weeks out. Scheduling flexibility is a convenience, not a surcharge. That's a point worth checking with any sweep you call, because it tells you whether the price you're quoted is the price you'll pay. Call (866) 942-7714. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.

Dispatch runs Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm, and the speed depends on where the schedule stands that day. We don't promise arrival windows we can't keep. What we can tell you is that when you call, a coordinator gives you the real picture of when a technician can be at your door, not a range that's designed to sound fast. Call (866) 942-7714 and we'll tell you straight.

Yes. We answer 24/7. A call outside dispatch hours is booked into the next opening, Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. You won't hit voicemail or be told to call back when the office opens. A coordinator takes the details and gets you slotted into the schedule. For a chimney that needs attention before burning season, that call is the fastest way to get on the calendar.

Warranty terms depend on the type of work, and you'll see the terms in writing before anything is agreed. Sweeps themselves are workmanship, and the parts used come with the manufacturer's own warranty, which varies by brand and product. HeatShield and DuraFlex products each carry their own manufacturer terms, and we'll tell you what those are for your specific job. It's all spelled out on the estimate, not buried in a phone conversation. Call (866) 942-7714 for a free estimate.

Call us and we'll make it right under our satisfaction guarantee. If the flue wasn't cleaned properly or something was missed, we want to know about it so it can be corrected. Chimney work is straightforward to check. We clear the flue and you can see the camera results for yourself. Any issue with the finished job is handled directly, not passed off or debated. Call (866) 942-7714 and tell us what's wrong.

Yes, the estimate is free, and it doesn't commit you to anything. You'll see the price for the work your chimney needs, in writing, and you decide whether to move forward. If the camera shows nothing urgent, we'll say so and tell you when the next sweep makes sense. There's no pressure to add work that isn't needed. Call (866) 942-7714 for an exact quote - estimates are free.

Yes. You see the camera footage and photo report of your own chimney before any work gets recommended. That's the whole point of the inspection. Liner replacement and masonry repairs are expensive, and you shouldn't have to take a technician's word for it when the evidence is easy to show. If the work can wait, we'll tell you. If it can't, you'll see exactly why. Call (866) 942-7714 to book a sweep and inspection.

Written by the team at Chimney Sweep Kent.