EDUCATION FROM DIRTY CHIMNEY, LLC:

If you are building, selling or buying a home, thinking of modifying a fireplace or replacing an insert & it has a firebox & flue (gas, solid fuel, pellet, or stove) or if your water heater or boiler is venting into a chimney flue,  it is required to have a Level 2 Inspection per NFPA 211.  We are not just a Chimney Sweep & Dryer Vent Company, we want to help educate our communities on "Fireplace Safety". Our chimney inspectors are the premier Certified Chimney & Dryer Vent specialists in South Carolina. We inspect Water Heater vents, Bathroom Exhaust fan vents, Dryer ducts, Transition ducts (located behind the dryer), and Fireplace & Chimney Vents. If you are a Realtor, Home Inspector, or an individual completing a transfer of sale and are in need of a Chimney or Vent inspection (Level 2) and/or cleanings call Dirty Chimney, LLC today!

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), defective smoke chambers are the third leading cause of chimney related house fires. For safety and efficiency of your fireplace, it is important that any gaps, cracks, or holes in the smoke chamber be sealed and to make the brick corbelling smooth. Because the smoke chamber is a "High Heat" area, any gaps, cracks or holes can allow excessive heat to attack any surrounding wood or combustibles. The jagged corbelling slows the draft and will provide more surface area for highly combustible creosote and soot to form. Feel free to give Dirty Chimney a call to schedule your yearly Inspection. 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 211...Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances 2019 Edition 11.2.1.13..."The inner surfaces of the smoke chamber shall be parge coated smooth, with an insulating refractory mortar..."

2018 International Residential Code - Fireplaces And Chimneys R1001.8..."Smoke chamber walls shall be constructed of solid masonry units, hollow masonry units grouted solid, stone or concrete... The inside surface shall be parged smooth with refractory mortar conforming to ASTM C199"

Certain homes have water heater tanks that vent into a masonry chimney flue, through a wall, or up through the roof to release the toxic gas carbon monoxide (CO) - the poisonous, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. It's important to have the flue inspected & cleaned if necessary. The flue gases can deteriorate the clay flue liner and cause it to break the tile. Dangerous carbon monoxide gas can be forced into your home through open mortar joints, broken flue liners and flues blocked by debris.

Cleaning dyer exhaust ducts has become an important service that many homeowners do not yet recognize as necessary. Homes that have the clothes dryer and exhaust on an exterior wall are easily maintained. However; there are many others, especially in new construction, that are improperly installed and represent a real risk of fire. The duct may be vertical or horizontal, it may go  under the house or into the attic, or be hidden in the wall or ceiling. It is important to understand how they should be installed. Because the duct is usually 4" in diameter, the slightest deposit can reduce the ability to exhaust properly. The problem is not usually the dryer, but rather the exhaust system. Removing lint deposits will normally correct the problem. It is required that dryer ducts and transition ducts be inspected & cleaned annually by the NFPA 211. Call Dirty Chimney to have a Certified Inspection & Cleaning performed on your vent today!

A dirty, damaged or blocked chimney can lead to a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. That's why Dirty Chimney, LLC and the National Fire Protection Association recommend that homeowners have chimneys checked annually. 

"Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary."

This is a national safety standard, and it takes into account the fact that - even if you don't use your chimney much - animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe. 

Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic here is that the deposits are quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace by corroding the different components of the prefab system. 

A Word of Advice 

Your chimney is an important part of your home heating system. For safe and efficient operation, your chimney should be inspected annually by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and serviced as needed. Each year, unmaintained chimneys cause significant numbers of deaths and injuries and account for more than $200 million in property losses. Make chimney inspections a regular part of your home maintenance schedule. 

Level 1: 

• Annual Inspection 

• Routine Cleaning of Flue

• Direct Replacement of a Similar Appliance

Level 2:

• Upon any sale or transfer of property (Required by the NFPA 211)

• After an operating malfunction or an external event is likely to have caused damage to the chimney (ex: Lightening Strike, Hurricane or Earthquake)

• Addition or removal of one or more connected appliances, or the replacement of an appliance with one of a different type, a different input rating or a different efficiency

• Prior to relining or replacement of the flue lining

Level 3:

• Where necessary for the investigation of an incident which has caused damage to the chimney or building

• Where a hazard is detected or suspected as the result of a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection and the suspected hazard cannot be fully evaluated without access to concealed areas

• A Level 3 inspection may be required when the construction of all or part of the chimney is deemed critical to the renewed or continued use of the chimney due to potential concealed defects

FAQ:

Q: How do I know if my chimney needs to be cleaned? 

A: If you see any of the following it is time to have your chimney inspected, and cleaned if necessary:

• There is soot dripping or falling into your fireplace

• Signs of tar build-up

• A strong odor coming from your fireplace or stove

• Reduced draft causing smoke to back up into your home

• A critter has made a home in your appliance

• You just purchased your home and the previous owner could not tell you when it was last serviced. A Level 2 inspection is required on each home sale and property transfer PER  NFPA 211.

Q: How often do I need my chimney swept?

A: All working appliances or systems should be inspected, and cleaned if necessary, once per year no matter what they are venting. Wood Burning appliances need to be inspected and/or cleaned more frequently as they create a greater creosote build-up. Call us today! 

Our services and specialties include each of the following:

• Certified Chimney & Fireplace Cleanings 

• Certified Chimney Inspections & Real Estate Inspections (Level 2) Required by NFPA Code 211

• Insert Cleaning & Removal  

• Installation of Chimney Caps 

• Level 1, 2 & 3 Inspections (Level 1 Inspection (cleaning if necessary) is  required & recommended annually by the NFPA 211)

Chimney & Fireplace Repairs: 

• Masonry Repair & Chimney Rebuilds 

• Chimney Relining 

• Smoke Chamber Repair 

• Damper Replacement 

• Leaky Chimney Repair & Waterproofing  

• Crown/Wash Repair 

Certified Dryer Vent Inspections Include:

DID YOU KNOW THAT DRYER VENT CLEANINGS COULD SAVE YOU BETWEEN $15-$25 EACH MONTH IN ENERGY SAVINGS?

• Dryer Vent Inspection - If you check the vent outside and you CAN'T noticeably feel the air blowing out at least 12" from the vent, it is time to schedule a vent inspection. Call us today!

• Dryer Vent Cleanings (Required by the NFPA 211 Annually)

• Dryer Vent Inspections for Real Estate Transfers (Selling or Buying) - This is required by the NFPA 211 on every home sale (Home Inspectors only recommend this should be done to buyer or seller). The vent should be fully inspected or cleaned as required by the NFPA CODE 211

• Dryer Vent Install or Relocation 

• Terminate Hood Repair 

Rain Gutter Services Include:

Residential, Apartments, Mobile Homes, Real Estate Inspection 

• Gutter Cleanings 

• Gutter Repairs 

• Leaky Gutter Repair 

• Gutter Guards (Rain Drop Pro Gutter Guards) by Certified Installer & 20+ year warranty 

FIRST RESPONDERS & VETERANS RECEIVE 15% OFF ANY ONE SERVICE!

FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS RECEIVE 10% OFF ANY ONE SERVICE! 

CANCELLATION POLICY:

We understand that unplanned issues can arise and you may need to cancel your scheduled appointment.  If this happens, we respectfully ask that scheduled appointments be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. 

Our staff wants to be available for your needs and the needs of all our customers.  When a customer does not show up for a scheduled appointment, another customer loses an opportunity to be serviced.  Although we have always had a cancellation policy in place, circumstances have caused us to enforce a policy to charge for no-show appointments, as well as those appointments not cancelled within a 24 hours.  As of October 1, 2022 there will be a fee of $50.00 assessed if we do not receive a phone call to cancel an appointment at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment.

Thank you for being a valued customer and for your understanding and cooperation as we institute this policy.  This enables us to open otherwise unused appointments to better serve the needs of all our customers. 

When scheduling an appointment, it will be required to provide a credit card number to secure the appointment (no charge will be placed on the provided card unless the appointment is considered a no-show or cancelled less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment).  We accept all major credit and debit cards - Visa, Discover, Amex, & Mastercard.

We Accept Cash, Check & Credit  Cards for payments. There is a $35 Return check Fee on all returned checks.