Having your chimney inspected once a year is one of the most important steps in keeping your home safe and your fireplace working efficiently. Over time, soot, creosote, and debris can build up inside the flue, creating a serious fire hazard. Small cracks, leaks, or blockages may also develop without you noticing, allowing smoke, dangerous gases, or even sparks to enter your home.
An annual inspection ensures:
Fire safety – Reduces the risk of chimney fires caused by creosote buildup.
Proper ventilation – Keeps smoke and carbon monoxide moving safely out of your home.
Wood stoves are a great way to heat your home, but they produce more smoke, soot, and creosote than most open fireplaces. Over time, these byproducts build up inside your chimney flue. If not cleaned out regularly, this sticky residue can:
Create a serious fire hazard — Creosote is highly flammable and is the leading cause of chimney fires.
Block airflow — A clogged flue reduces draft, causing smoke to back up into your home.
Release harmful gases — Poor ventilation can allow dangerous carbon monoxide to enter your living space.
Shorten your stove’s lifespan — Excess buildup makes your stove less efficient and puts more stress on the system.
✅ Having your wood stove chimney professionally cleaned on a regular basis keeps your stove burning hotter, cleaner, and safer — while protecting your home and family.
Helps prevent water intrusion that can damage the flue and structure
Keeps out animals, leaves, and debris that lead to blockages and odors
Acts as a spark guard to protect your roof and reduce fire risk
Improves airflow and fireplace efficiency for cleaner burning
Investing in a stainless steel chimney cap helps protect your chimney for years to come. Contact us today to schedule yours!
Over time, normal wear and weather can cause damage to your chimney and fireplace. Common repairs include:
Masonry and mortar repair – Fixing cracks, loose bricks, or deteriorated mortar joints.
Chimney crown and cap replacement – Sealing and protecting the top of your chimney against water damage, animals, and debris.
Flue liner repair or replacement – Restoring damaged liners to ensure safe venting of smoke and gases.
Damper repair or replacement – Ensuring your damper seals properly to prevent drafts and energy loss.
Waterproofing – Adding protective sealants to stop leaks and prevent structural damage.
Even small cracks or leaks can quickly turn into serious safety hazards if left unaddressed. Damaged chimneys may allow water intrusion, smoke leakage, or even carbon monoxide to enter your home. Crumbling masonry or missing caps can also increase the risk of chimney fires and costly structural repairs.
✅ Timely repairs protect your home, extend the life of your chimney, and keep your fireplace safe, efficient, and ready to use year-round.
Over time, prefabricated wood stove chimneys collect soot and creosote — a highly flammable substance that can lead to chimney fires and poor stove performance. A professional cleaning removes this buildup, improves draft, and helps your stove burn hotter and more efficiently. At Professional Chimney Services LLC, we use the latest rotary cleaning technology to safely eliminate dangerous deposits and keep your system running at peak performance all winter long.
This chimney was full of glazed creosote, which is extremely flammable and can easily start a chimney fire. Regular cleaning and inspections can prevent damage and keep your home and family safe.
In this video, we take you through a recent masonry repair project involving loose brickwork, repointing, and resurfacing a deteriorated chimney crown. If your chimney has cracks, loose mortar, or crown damage, now is the perfect time to schedule an inspection.
Keeping your fireplace chimney clean and properly inspected is one of the most important steps in preventing chimney fires and costly damage to your home. In this video, we show the process of a professional chimney cleaning and inspection — removing creosote, checking for cracks, and making sure your chimney is safe and ready for the season.
Tim Brown is a Veteran, former First Responder, and a knowledgeable chimney professional with years of experience. Tim grew up in Chesterfield County in the chimney cleaning and repair trade, working alongside his father and uncle who each owned their own chimney sweep businesses. Tim began helping as a teenager and went on to work full-time in his father’s business at 21. After gaining years of hands-on experience, Tim started and successfully ran his own chimney sweep business. Today, he brings years of knowledge, skill, and dedication to keeping homes safe and chimneys in top condition.