There’s a reason that virtually every Indiana fire safety agency recommends annual chimney sweeping and chimney inspections. If it's been more than a year since the chimney at your Floyd County, IN, home was last properly cleaned and inspected, now is the time to schedule both services.
Founded in 2007, American Chimney & Fireplace has provided customers in Floyd County, IN, and other local areas in southern Indiana with certified chimney sweeping and licensed chimney inspections. Here’s how we can help you.
Why Your Chimney Needs to Be Cleaned
Chimney sweeping has two primary objectives.
Remove flammable creosote
Creosote is a byproduct of smoke condensation and causes most of the reported chimney fires in Floyd County, IN, each year. Using specialized tools and equipment, we safely remove creosote to reduce the likelihood of a serious chimney fire.
Remove draft-obstructing debris
Outside debris, such as leaves, twigs, and the nests built by intruding small animals, will narrow the flue and impede drafting. When this happens, smoke and deadly carbon monoxide can back up into your home.
Qualified Chimney Sweeps in Floyd County IN
The technicians we employ at American Chimney & Fireplace are fully trained and certified. Some hold more than one advanced industry certification, including CSIA Certified Chimney Specialist, CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, and CSIA Master Chimney Sweep.
Our crew has the skill, training, and equipment to do the job correctly and safely.
Protecting Your Home During Chimney Sweep Service
Chimney cleaning is a dirty job, but that doesn’t mean your house has to get dirty during it. We take extra care by covering the entire work area with tarps to protect furnishings, carpets, rugs, and other items. We use commercial vacuums to keep flying soot and dust out of your room.
Our technicians wear booties so they don’t track dirt on your rugs and throughout your house. We don’t mind getting dirty, but we will not tolerate any dirt left behind in our Floyd County, IN, customers’ homes.
Chimney Fires
Smaller chimney fires, many of which start and go out before they're noticed, can begin a cycle of damage to the chimney liner, interior masonry, and various parts of the chimney system and home. Larger fires can lead to property-wide devastation.
Annual chimney cleaning and chimney inspections for your Floyd County, IN, chimney are two of the best ways to reduce the chance of a chimney fire. Here are some other strategies.
- Install a secure chimney cap at the top of your chimney to keep out tree and animal debris that can become fuel for a fire.
- Use dry, seasoned firewood instead of damp, smoky logs. The more smoke, the more creosote.
- Don’t use accelerants like kerosene, charcoal starter, or lighter fluid, and don’t burn anything that’s not actual firewood.
- Don’t rely on chimney sweeping logs to clean your chimney. These products are not effective chimney sweeping alternatives.
Signs of a Chimney Fire
Many chimney fires produce signs you can notice. Watch for these three:
- Excess dark smoke leaving either end of your chimney.
- A rumbling sound like from a distant train
- Odd clicking and tapping noises
Chimney Sweeping and Chimney Inspections Floyd County IN
If it’s been more than a year since your chimney was last swept and inspected for excess creosote and damage, it’s time to call American Chimney & Fireplace. You can reach us by phone or through our simple contact form.
We proudly serve Floyd County, IN, including New Albany, IN, Georgetown, IN, Greenville, IN, Galena, IN, and the greater Louisville, KY, region.
