How to Tell If Your Chimney Needs Sweeping
If you can smell a strong, tar-like odor from the fireplace or see black flakes in the firebox, your chimney is overdue for a sweep. Here are the five signs Geneva homeowners should never ignore.
1. A strong, smoky or tar-like smell
That campfire-in-the-living-room smell, especially in humid weather, means creosote has built up inside the flue. Creosote is flammable and the leading cause of chimney fires.
2. Black soot or flakes falling into the firebox
Flakes of black, tarry debris are creosote shedding off the flue walls. Steady flakes are a warning that buildup is heavy.
3. Smoke pushing back into the room
If fires are hard to start or smoke rolls back into the room, the flue may be partly blocked by creosote, a nest, or debris.
4. An animal, nest, or debris in the flue
Scratching sounds, a musty smell, or bits of twig point to a critter or nest — common in Geneva’s tree-lined neighborhoods near the Fox River. A capped, swept chimney keeps them out.
5. It’s simply been a year
Even with none of the above, NFPA 211 calls for an annual inspection and a sweep whenever creosote reaches about an eighth of an inch.
A professional chimney sweep clears all of it and includes a camera-backed safety check. If you’re in Geneva or anywhere in the Fox Valley, the Fox brothers can take a look and give you an up-front price.
Quick answers
How often should I sweep my chimney?
Once a year for regular wood-burners, and any time creosote reaches about an eighth of an inch.
Can I tell if my chimney needs sweeping myself?
The smell, soot flakes, and smoke backing up are clues, but only a camera inspection reveals a cracked liner or hidden blockage.
Is a smoky smell dangerous?
It signals creosote buildup, which is flammable and the leading cause of chimney fires.
Need a hand in Geneva?
Call (630) 451-4179By Jack Fox, CEO & Lead Chimney Expert — Fox Chimney Service, St. Charles, IL · About the author