Company Blog

When is the BEST time to get your chimney inspected and/or cleaned?

This is a common question, and the common assumption is to call for this service right before you are going to need to use the fireplace or wood stove – in the Fall.   One of the problems when trying to make an appointment, with a premier and well regarded chimney sweep company — in the Fall or Winter — is that you are competing with everyone else who is trying to get ready for “the season”.  Therefore, logically, (even though it goes against our procrastinating human nature) it makes sense that, if one wants more timely service, the sensible thing would be to opt to request the service when the demand is not so great.

Experience (36 years of it) has taught us that there is a definite difference in the number of requests we get in the Spring and Summer and the number we get in the Fall and Winter.  Therefore, we invite (even strongly encourage) our regular, repeat customers to call us at the END of the burning season instead of the beginning of the Winter season.   We would offer this same advice to everyone in the market for chimney inspection or sweeping.  

So…after you are sure you are not going to use your fireplace or woodstove any more for the year, just plan to go ahead and get it inspected and/or swept out.  There are several very good reasons to get it done in the Spring/Summer.  

Call US for Chimney Cleaning- Spartanburg SC- Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps

Reasons to call in SPRING instead of Fall

  • As already mentioned, a shorter wait time for an appointment
  • After the chimney is swept in the Spring, it will not get dirty again before it’s needed the next Fall/Winter.  It will be guaranteed ready for the cold AND those holiday or special family occasions.
  • Sweeping the creosote deposits from the chimney early may cut down on the bad smell that some folks experience during the summer months.
  • Lots of bad things can happen during the winter to a chimney.  For example:  Winter rains soak into a chimney and if the temperatures drop below freezing, the water in the bricks and mortar joints freezes and expands.  This can cause the brick or mortar joints to break or crack.  When this freeze/thaw action takes place over and over throughout the course of the winter, the damage can compound.  A Spring inspection will detect this kind of damage and you’ll have plenty of time (all Summer) to get things in order before the next Winter cycle begins.

We, here at Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps|Bless Your Hearth, inspect, sweep and repair chimneys all year round, but Spring/Summer is admittedly a better time to do major repairs.  So accept our invitation to call us after you complete your last fire for this winter.  We will be pleased to get your chimney ready early for next year’s burning season.

Why is it SO HARD to get an appointment BEFORE Thanksgiving (and now Christmas)?

That’s another REALLY good question! There’s a couple of really good reasons.
Supply and Demand: The demand for services during the Winter season usually exceeds the supply of qualified technicians to perform the needed services. Kinda like trying to get your air conditioner fixed in July. The second? Quality: Premium companies usually have the longer wait lists. Word gets around.

SUGGESTIONS TO EASE THE PAIN:

Regular users (weekly fires throughout the Winter season):

Why is it SO HARD to get an appointment BEFORE Thanksgiving (and now Christmas) - Spartanburg SC - Bless Your HearthGet your service done IN THE SPRING right after the burning season is complete. You may have a short wait, even then, if you choose to book with a company that has a good reputation and has been around long enough to have a solid repeat clientele base. However, it’s a cinch that getting it done at the END of the burning season will have you ready to go when you want to use it the NEXT winter – no waiting.

Holiday (Thanksgiving/Christmas) users:

Call to make your appointment NO LATER THAN Labor Day. The longer you wait to call for an appointment, the longer you will wait for an appointment. It’s a fact of life. With the premium companies, their procrastinator clients (the ones who don’t remember to get it done in the Spring) start calling in AUGUST because they know the drill. Truth is: by October you likely can’t get a definite appointment until close to Christmas – if you’re lucky.

Home Sales/Houses under Contract:

This is a hard one. There’s ALWAYS a limited window for the inspections to take place. The best thing to do is call AS SOON AS THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED and get on the waiting list and be as flexible as possible. Most professional companies will work hard to take advantage of any schedule changes that will allow them to get you worked in as quickly as possible — if you give them enough lead time. I know we do. It helps tremendously if we can have 2 to 3 weeks lead time during the Winter season. Spring and Summer are much easier to accommodate short notice.
• Note to Buyers: It’s important to get this done if your purchase is contingent on having a working fireplace. This is especially important if there has EVER been a wood stove vented though a fireplace or into a masonry chimney. Reference: CSIA.org regarding Level 2 Inspections.

• Note to Sellers: Be as flexible as possible in providing access. While it might be scary, not knowing what will show up, professional companies know the difference between normal wear and tear and actual damage or construction defects that can impact usability.

Worst Case Scenario:

Pick the company you prefer to work with based on quality, training and experience. Take their first available appointment. Professional companies will work hard to get you moved sooner when they have pop-up openings due to schedule shifts. They are usually worth the wait.

Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps|Bless Your Hearth is proud to be one of those premium professional companies. Call our friendly office staff (864-682-5422) or email (bluesky@sweepstuff.com) to set an appointment for your annual chimney service.