Our Company Blog

Time to Get Your Fireplace and Heating System Swept!

After a long winter, we’ve finally reached consistent temperatures for spring. Homeowners are shutting down their systems for the off-season and forgetting fires, firewood, and all the work that comes with them. Part of preparing your fireplace and chimney system for the off-season and ensuring it’s ready for fires again in the fall is scheduling professional services. Now is the time to schedule your fireplace and heating system services. We sweep fireplaces wood, gas, and oil fireplace and heating systems!

Safe and Efficient Chimney Systems

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the safest and most efficient chimney systems are those that are cleaned and inspected regularly. Sweeps may be necessary less or more frequently, depending on your fireplace use, but the inspection should be scheduled annually no matter what! Inspecting the chimney annually cuts down on the chance of chimney fires, helps prepare your chimney system for burn season, and prevents damage caused by water and other wear-and-tear.

We Clean Wood, Gas, and Oil Fireplaces and Chimney Systems

At Chief Chimney Services, we clean chimney systems and fireplaces throughout Suffolk County, New York. Whether your fireplace is fueled by gas, oil, or wood/pellets, we have the experience, training, and tools to get the work done.

Wood-burning Appliances
When sweeping wood-burning appliances, we take the utmost care to clear the flue of soot and creosote that can lead to obstruction and danger. If the creosote isn’t cleaned away regularly, it can build up and obstruct the airflow, slowing it as it vents. This process will lead to smoke stalling in the system and depositing MORE soot and creosote each time the fireplace is used. When we sweep regularly, we use drop cloths to protect the floor and furniture while we work. We use rods and brushes to clean the flue and a vacuuming system to keep the mess contained.

Oil and Gas Appliances
Though oil and gas appliances burn cleaner than wood appliances, they still produce soot that can bring down system efficiency. While they burn, these fires also produce water vapor which can mingle with the soot, damaging the flue liner and more.

We Clean Dryer Vents

It’s not only chimneys and fireplaces that pose a threat when they aren’t maintained properly. Your home may be in danger if you have other systems that are neglected. Clothes dryer vent fire occur almost 3,000 times a year across the U.S. They cause 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Failure to maintain the clothes dryer can lead to an obstructed dryer vent, cost you money, damage your home, and affect your air. Having the dryer vents cleaned once per year will mean your system works properly, drying clothes in one cycle, and saving you money in the process.

We don’t just clean chimneys, we also clean and properly install dryer vents, restore chimney systems and repair all ventilation systems in your home.

If you reside in Suffolk County and you haven’t had your heat systems checked in the last year, it’s important to call the professionals today.

Call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or contact us online.

Schedule a Holiday Chimney Cleaning for Santa!

Your holiday spirit may be dampened by only one thing: a dirty chimney. Not only can it be ugly, stinky, and unsafe, but it can also ruin the night of the Jolly Elf himself–Santa! Making sure that you get a chimney sweep scheduled now will mean a clean chimney for Christmas.

Why Clean the Chimney
A dirty chimney is a dangerous chimney. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)  recommend routine chimney maintenance for the safest and most efficient chimneys. A chimney works all winter long to vent your fires, and the fireplace is most popular during the holiday season. Don’t neglect yours! Schedule a chimney sweep to help your chimney work properly, to have the best and most beautiful fire possible, and the warmth you most want.
Soot and Creosote – If not cleaned away, soot and creosote can build up in the chimney interior, resulting in a dangerous mass that can ignite at any time. A chimney professional can clean these materials away before they become a problem, and can even remove glazed creosote without damaging the liner at all.
Unwelcome Odors – A dirty chimney will undoubtedly produce some unwelcome smells that may ruin your holiday gatherings and festivities. It may start with just the smell, but you soon may have a smoky fireplace that pushes smoke into your home more than heat.
Ashes, Stains, and Difficult Fires – Your hearth is the focal point of your home year-round, but during the holidays it is brought to new life! Your fireplace will be the backdrop to all of your holiday festivities, gatherings, and photo-ops. A good cleaning will remove ashes, prevent stains, and help your fireplace produce a beautiful, vibrant, and warm fire.

Call the Professionals
If you’re ready to invest in your home and your holidays by scheduling a chimney sweep, make sure you hire a certified professional who can get the job done right. At Chief Chimney Services, you can count on the best experience possible. We keep your home clean by using drop clothes, tarps, and a high-powered vacuuming system. We’ll clean your chimney system with brushes and tools that do the job while protecting your system from damage. We’ll also make sure you’re notified of any damages–minor or major–and recommended repairs or services.

It might be Santa in coming weeks, but it’s your family that depends on a well-working fireplace all winter long. Your chimney will only work as well as it’s treated, and we treat chimneys with the best at Chief Chimney Services.

Call and schedule a sweep with one of our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps today. Call 631-863-2460 or request an appointment online.

Have Your Chimney Swept Before Lighting Your First Fire

Spring Cleaning is for the house and chimney cleaning is for the fall. There are many reasons to clean the chimney and many homeowners understand why it’s important. However, this isn’t just any job. It must be done by a professional. Having the work done before fall is done means your system will be ready for winter, but having a professional do the work means it will be safe, up-to-code, and efficient. You should never light a fire in a fireplace that hasn’t been swept and inspected since last season.

Dangers of a Dirty Chimney
A dirty chimney is dangerous because it may be filled with soot and creosote from regular use last season. When this isn’t cleaned away regularly, it can become a fire hazard. Not only does a buildup in the system slow airflow and drop the efficiency, but the materials themselves are flammable. Materials left behind by animals, debris from outdoors, and byproducts of the fire can ignite at any time, putting your family at risk of fire. A chimney fire is devastating, can result in an insurance claim, loss of property, expensive repairs, and even injury or loss of life.

Other Dirty Chimney Problems
You might have noticed during the summer months, but dirty chimneys stink. When summer humidity mingles with soot and creosote in the system, it can begin to emit a powerful smell of a dirty barbecue grill. These types of odors in the chimney system are a clear indicator of a dirty chimney. The soot and creosote in the system may be deteriorating the lining (especially if mixed with moisture from the humidity of a chimney leak). Dirty chimneys also work less efficiently than clean chimneys. As the lining of the system becomes coated with soot and creosote, the airflow is slowed, and the chimney system depends on this airflow to work properly. A drop in efficiency means a rise in fire risk.

Why Schedule Now
Chimney sweep companies are busy during this period of time between October and January, called the fall rush. If you schedule now, you can get on the books and will be able to have your services completed before you need your fireplace. You must call as soon as possible, however, so a professional can get a look at your chimney system right away. When you schedule a Chief Chimney Services chimney sweep, you will not only get your chimney system cleaned of soot, creosote, ashes, and other debris, but you’ll get a standard level one inspection as well. Schedule soon, and you’ll have time to make necessary repairs before your first fire. If no repairs are needed, you can rest assured that your system is ready to work for you all winter long, and is safe and protected from winter and water damage.

What to Expect
Schedule today and a certified chimney sweep will come out at the assigned time with brushes and a vacuuming system to clean your system from top to bottom. Using drop cloths and a powerful vacuum, we keep the mess contained so that you don’t have to clean up after us! You’ll get a full report of our findings and the peace of mind that you’ll be safe for another season.

Call Chief Chimney today at 631-863-2460.

Schedule Your Sweep Before the Rush!

Just as you’d leave for a trip before rush hour, or get holiday shopping finished before the week-of, you should plan ahead to have your chimney system cleaned.

Avoid the Fall Rush

At Chief Chimney Services we clean and service chimneys year-round. We’re just much busier from October through January, a time we call the “fall rush.” During this time you may not get the desired appointment time, you may have to schedule several days or weeks in advance, and you may be cold while you wait. We don’t want our customers to be cold or unsafe this winter, so we suggest scheduling your chimney sweep early. Avoid the wait, the hassle, and the cold. Schedule now, and you can be on the books this fall, or get it done this spring or summer.

Scheduling a Spring Chimney Sweep

Many homeowners decide to schedule a chimney sweep in the spring so that the system is ready for fall, and there is plenty of time for necessary repairs before the first fire of the season. Scheduling in the spring will also ensure your chimney is waterproof, animal-proof, and won’t stink when summer humidity mingles with the soot and creosote-covered walls. They’ll be clean after a Chief Chimney Services professional completes this hassle-free chimney sweep.

Scheduling a Fall Chimney Sweep

Do not wait until the weather turns cool before scheduling your chimney sweep! You can schedule now for your service in the fall and avoid the fall rush. Scheduling now also means your chimney is not forgotten. When you neglect to schedule routine sweeps and annual inspections, your chimney and your home may suffer. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) agree that routine chimney maintenance means a safer and more efficient chimney system.

Put Your Trust in Chief Chimney Services

The technicians that make up our team at Chief Chimney Services will not disappoint. We treat your home with the utmost professionalism and clean your chimney system from top to bottom, paying attention to the smallest detail. When you schedule with us, you can also rest assured that your chimney will get a thorough once-over, and we won’t miss a thing. This is the best way to ensure that damage is detected before it becomes unsafe and before it affects the rest of your system and your house. After our technician presents you with a detailed report of the findings, we can help you work out a repair plan that will get your chimney back to work before cold weather strikes in the fall! When you work closely with your chimney sweep, you can work around the fall rush.

Get started today. Call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or contact us online!

Schedule an Early Chimney Cleaning

Spring is the perfect time for your annual chimney sweep because the system has been working for you all winter! Therefore, it is full of creosote, soot, grime, and ashes. As humidity rises, the moisture in the air will mingle with the soot and creosote in the chimney system, and the result is not pleasant. You may be enjoying some family time in your living room or game night with friends, and suddenly the aroma of barbecue is overwhelming. It’s not a barbecue grill in the living room. It’s your fireplace!

The same moisture that causes these foul odors when a chimney is dirty will also corrode your chimney flue. Moisture mixed with soot and creosote creates a corrosive material that must be cleaned away.

Other Reasons to Sweep the Chimney

Preventative Care – Scheduling routine chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections is the best way to have the safest and most efficient chimney system, according to both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Preparation – Once your chimney sweep is completed, you can rest assured that your system is ready for this fall. Your chimney sweep includes a level one chimney inspection which includes an examination of the readily accessible portions of the chimney system. If your chimney professional sees an issue with your system, you’ll have time to schedule a more thorough assessment and have necessary repairs before fall.

Animal Removal – Schedule a chimney sweep if you have had an animal in your flue this spring. We will remove nesting materials, droppings, and fur or feathers from the system. These things are flammable and will lead to a flue fire. Once the chimney system is cleaned, ask your sweep about a cap to keep out critters, birds, and water.

Chief Chimney Services Cleans Chimneys

At Chief Chimney Services, we clean chimneys year-round. We can sweep your wood-burning appliance and chimney, as well as oil and gas appliances and chimneys. The two differ slightly, but our techs are certified, trained, and experienced sweeping all types of chimneys.

Don’t waste another moment. Scheduling your chimney sweep now will give you time for necessary repairs before burn season. It also gets your chimney taken care of before the “fall rush”–the time between October and January in which chimney professionals are busy with emergency calls, installations, and repairs.

Call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or contact us online!

The Importance of a Clean Fireplace for Valentine’s Day

We are halfway through the cold season, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s still important to maintain the chimney properly, however—even if you’re using it less, and even if it is working fine. If your chimney system is broken or damaged, you may not notice it until it’s too late, and serious damage has occurred. Besides the obvious safety perks of a clean chimney, you may also find that a clean chimney is just what you need to make your Valentine’s Day warm, comfortable, and romantic.

Why Sweep Your Chimney

In order to keep your family and property safe, it’s important to keep up with routine maintenance. Both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend routine sweeps and annual inspections for the most efficient and safe chimney system possible—year-round. When your chimney is cleaned, there isn’t anything in the flue to obstruct airflow, so the smoke rises out as it should. The alternative is that the air slows, and smoke stalls, depositing soot and creosote on the flue walls and even pushing smoke back into the house. Carbon monoxide is very dangerous. Carbon monoxide poisoning often goes unnoticed. If you have a smoky chimney, and you’re troubleshooting to no avail, contact a chimney professional and schedule a chimney sweep today.

Most chimney sweeps include a level 1 inspection that assesses the readily accessible portions of your chimney system. This inspection will identify any hazards that may put your family and home at risk. A level 1 inspection is recommended annually and may be required by your homeowner’s insurance. Kill two birds with one stone, and have your chimney sweep completed now.

The Danger of an Unclean Chimney

If your chimney continues to work while dirty, there are many things that can occur.

You may experience:

• a smoky fireplace while the fire is lit,
• a drafty or stinky fireplace while it’s not lit,
• or may even have a fire that devastates your household with injuries and loss of property or life.

A dangerous chimney is no laughing matter, but it can also cramp your style for your big Valentine’s date.

Dirty Chimneys Stink

When the chimney is dirty, it can stink—actually smell! If you notice your chimney has an odor, you may have a dirty chimney or a bigger problem. The best solution is to schedule a chimney sweep with a professional. If the chimney isn’t cleaned, you may also have difficulty lighting or keeping a fire burning, reaching the desired temperature, or burning too much wood. All of these issues can be avoided completely with a chimney sweep, and there’s still time.

You can schedule a chimney sweep with Chief Chimney Services now, and we’ll have your system cleaned before Valentine’s Day!

Keep a Clean Chimney for Santa

Your fireplace may be the most popular aspect of your home this season. The adults can relax by the fire after the kids go to bed, use it as a backdrop for countless festivities and photographs, and even save on utility costs by lighting a fire for zone heating. The real moment for the fireplace to shine is Christmas morning, though. Stocking stuffers, gift exchanges, and family photos are just the beginning. The Jolly Elf himself makes his entrance by way of the fireplace! If you have a fireplace, you are one step ahead of everyone else, but it’s more important than ever to make the experience great for everyone (including Santa Clause), by keeping the chimney clean.

Routine Maintenance

You might have your dream fireplace, but the best way for it to work like a dream is to keep it well-maintained. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) both recommend regular chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections to keep your chimney system working safely and efficiently. Keeping up with this maintenance will make your chimney system work well year after year. The damaged, broken, and forgotten chimney is one that has been neglected. Make sure your fireplace is in tip-top shape for Christmas and all year-round by scheduling your chimney sweep now. Chief Chimney Services offers chimney sweeps and inspections year-round, to best serve our customers in Suffolk County area.

Why Clean Your Chimney

A clean chimney is a chimney that works well. When you schedule a chimney sweep with Chief Chimney Services, a certified technician will come into your home, and clean your chimney from top to bottom, removing all creosote, ash, and soot from the fireplace and flue.
While we’re there, we’ll also:

• Check the flue for cracks or obstructions that can affect airflow and cause a drop in efficiency
• Check the cap and crown for damage that can cause water damage and allow animals into the flue
• Check that the damper is functioning properly so that drafts don’t affect your chimney, waste your central heat, or cause smoke to push into your house
• Check the masonry for water damage, cracks, or gaps that can cause a drop in efficiency, raise the risk of fire, and put your family at risk for carbon monoxide intrusion
• Check the firebox for damage

Besides checking traditional wood-burning masonry fireplaces and appliances, we also specialize in gas and oil-burning appliances.

Contact Us

It’s not that Santa needs the cleanest chimneys possible. It’s that he, like Chief Chimney Services, wants every boy and girl and family to be safe and warm this holiday season. When you hire a professional to clean your chimney system, you will be your safest. You will have less issues with your fireplace, and you will need less services in general. Give yourself a Christmas gift this year, and hire Chief Chimney Services to clean your chimney.

Call 631-863-2460 or schedule online.

The Importance of Reviewing Your Chimney Sweep

When it comes to hiring a professional for any service, you want the best. The best professionals stand out and are easy to find because of their certifications, policies, reviews and, warranty.

Unfortunately, homeowners find a very good service provider, but because of poor reviews. This causes homeowners to not to visit their webpage to find out about about warranties, certifications, referral programs, and more. For this reason it is vitally important that you review your chimney sweep company. Good or bad, you’re review will help us be a better business and help other homeowners in Suffolk County find us.

Why Your Review Matters

1. Your positive review raises our score with sites such Angie’s List, Yelp!, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) which uses specific criteria to create an overall score, including your customer reviews!
2. Your review, positive or negative helps us to adjust our practices and reflect on our pricing, services, and community image. We want to be the best chimney sweep and masonry repair company in Suffolk County, and your reviews help us improve everyday.
3. Your review lets us connect with you—not just on a personal level with your field technician, but with our owners, trainers, and office staff. Making connections with customers and community members is invaluable.
4. Your review lets us know we are appreciated. We love to get a smile and a handshake when we complete a job, but an online review, or a recommendation to a friend or neighbor is the best way to show us we’re appreciated and valued for our services and professionalism.
5. When you “like” us or leave a review on a social media site like Facebook, you are helping a new audience find out about our services. We Want Your Review.

Choose Us!

At Chief Chimney Services we’ve been sweeping Long Island’s chimneys since 1986. We’ve been nationally recognized as a chimney safety authority since 1994, and we wouldn’t be either without our customers. It’s our neighbors in Suffolk County that keep us in business. Their word-of-mouth to their neighbors, showing off their new fireplaces, and bragging about their last home sale. We depend upon reviews to always be better than yesterday. You can help.

Leave an honest review recalling all the details from your interaction with Chief Chimney Services—the good and bad. This will help us improve where there’s a need, and let us know what we’re doing well. We appreciate all criticisms. We also love to share success stories.

You can be a part of the Chief Chimney community today. Call 631-863-2460 now!

Keep Your Home or Business Safe by Scheduling Your Level II Inspection and Chimney Sweep

If you use a furnace or fireplace in your home or business, there is almost nothing more important than your regular chimney sweeps and annual inspections. If your appliance and chimney has not changed, and you plan to continue use in the same way you have, then a level I inspection should be appropriate. However, there are three levels of inspections offered by certified chimney sweeps, and it’s important to learn which one you need!

What is a Level II Inspection?

In a level II chimney inspection the chimney sweep will examine the readily accessible portions of your chimney exterior, interior, appliance, and chimney connection. The technician will evaluate basic soundness of the chimney structure, flue, appliance installation and connections, and verify the chimney is free of obstruction or debris. All of these elements of the inspection exist for a level I inspection. However, a level II inspection also includes all accessible portions or the chimney interior and exterior, including attics, crawlspaces, and basements. During this inspection the technician will also address any clearance issues with area combustibles.

A level II inspection also includes a visual inspection of the interior flue lining, surfaces, and joints, whether by video device or other method.

What a Level II ISN’T

A level II chimney inspection requires no heavy machinery. If you schedule a level II inspection and the chimney sweep wants to add or remove any permanent pieces or structure to your appliance or venting system, that is work for a level III inspection.

If your certified chimney sweep notes hazardous structural issues or other dangerous problems, a level III inspection may be required.

When To Schedule a Level II

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends a level II inspection for a few reasons, and as of 2000 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires a level II inspection for the following reasons (as per NFPA 211):

• The property is sold or transferred
• Fuel type is changed
• The chimney flue is relined
• An appliance is replaced or added
• A part or parts of the heating system has malfunctioned
• The chimney or flue has experienced a fire
• The home or business has endured an earthquake or equally catastrophic occurrence
• BTU rating has changed

While it’s important to schedule a level II inspection for these reasons, you may also need a level II inspection if the chimney sweep finds something concerning in your level I inspection.

Learn more about chimney inspections with this informational article and tutorial.

Call a Professional Today

Only a certified chimney sweep should perform level I, II, and III chimney inspections. Even insurance companies trust the sweeps to make such an assessment, and often rely on a level II inspection to determine where a chimney or flue fire originated.

Our technicians at Chief Chimney Services are licensed, certified, and insured. Our Master Sweep has 30+ years experience for all of your appliance and venting system needs. When Chief Chimney performs an inspection we use a CCTV video camera to thoroughly examine your venting system. We also provide a detailed report of our findings for your knowledge and your records.

To schedule your appointment, call or schedule online today. A technician is standing by.

HeatShield Ceramic Flue Sealant Can Save Your Fireplace and Home

A fireplace acts as a beautiful, sophisticated focal point in any home. It faithfully serves you every chilly New York winter, providing you with a source of heat and adding that special ambiance for holidays or get-togethers. In return, you lovingly address all of your fireplace’s maintenance needs on a regular basis by having professional chimney sweeps and inspections performed. Although regular maintenance can prevent many problems, it cannot always prevent everything. Specifically, if your inspector finds a hole or crack in the chimney lining or flue, this needs to be taken care of right away because it poses a serious safety hazard.

How is a Damaged Flue Dangerous?

Hearing from your inspector that your flue has suffered damage is not something any homeowner wants to hear. Oftentimes, people may brush the issue off as minor and forgo repairing the damage. Unfortunately, ignoring your damaged flue can have disastrous consequences.

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, when an unlined chimney is used to vent a fire, the adjacent structural woodwork can catch fire within 3 ½ hours. When gases from the fire escape the flue through a hole or crack, or if no flue is present to begin with, the hot mixture of smoke, toxins and particularly embers will seep toward your house’s structure. After a certain amount of exposure to the emissions of the fire, the combustible materials in your home (wood, drywall, plaster) will catch on fire.

In addition, the gases that escape from your flue deteriorate the mortar of your chimney. This also allows gases to travel closer to your home and even enter your home. Dangerous smoke, containing carbon monoxide and the known carcinogen creosote, is not something that should be in your home. Also, as the mortar deteriorates so does the structural integrity of your masonry chimney. After extended exposure to smoke, the entire chimney structure could potentially collapse – dangerous and costly.

How Should I Fix My Flue?

Instead of replacing your entire chimney liner, which can be expensive, you have another, more affordable option to repair it. Even if the damage is extensive, the product called HeatShield Ceramic Flue Sealant can repair anything – from plugging small holes to resealing an entire flue.

Chief Chimney Services says that HeatShield has the durability of ceramic and cement, and the product comes with a 20 year warranty when it is installed by a certified technician. A blade customized to your chimney applies and smoothes the material to any damaged areas of your flue. The HeatShield company also requires a video inspection before and after the application to ensure the highest quality work.

Who Can Apply HeatShield Ceramic Flue Sealant?

Only certified technicians can apply HeatShield Ceramic Flue Sealant, because they are trained to properly assess the damage, apply the product and guarantee a long lasting seal. If you live in Suffolk County, New York or the surrounding area, call Chief Chimney Services for a professional consultation from HeatShield-certified technicians.