chimney/fireplace

I don't think I've ever had my fireplace or chimney inspected or cleaned.  It's been a lot of years.  On the other hand, I only make a few fires per winter and use Duraflame logs.  Long ago I once burned one of those cleaning logs.  Any thoughts on necessity and if so who to use?  I vaguely recall hearing there are a lot of scammers in this field and you have to be careful. 

Is there any DIY potential for this (from below, I'm not going to the steep upper roof to do anything)?

I’ve used Dave The Village Sweep in Scotch plains in the past. Maybe I use my fireplace a half dozen times a year so I call him every other season. They also clean the furnace flu as well which is important.

dano said:

I’ve used Dave The Village Sweep in Scotch plains in the past. Maybe I use my fireplace a half dozen times a year so I call him every other season. They also clean the furnace flu as well which is important.

Thanks.  How much approx?

dano said:

I’ve used Dave The Village Sweep in Scotch plains in the past. Maybe I use my fireplace a half dozen times a year so I call him every other season. They also clean the furnace flu as well which is important.

We also had him make sure our chimney was okay when we rebuilt. He relined it. We have never used it for actual fires but the previous owners had and we wanted to keep that function for when we sell Fallen Oaks Manor someday. I don't recall the cost but for something like that where the boiler exhausted up through it, we paid whatever he asked. We couldn't get anyone else to answer.

bub said:

How much approx?

To inspect and clean our two-story chimney, Village Sweep charges $225.

Thanks.  I'll give it a go.  

I used to use Top Hat and Tails, but have not been happy for the last couple of years with them trying to come 2xyear - I don't burn that much.  Switching this year, going to try Village Sweep.  Thanks

SammiJ said:

I used to use Top Hat and Tails, but have not been happy for the last couple of years with them trying to come 2xyear - I don't burn that much.

Village Sweep sends me a postcard reminder every three years.

we used village sweep in July. Every 3 years they send out a reminder. it was 205 with the coupon discount

A lot of houses use adjacent flues to vent both their fireplaces and their boilers.  Our house had this set up and, when we finally got it inspected, we realized that the  lining of the flues had eroded to the point where exhaust from the boiler was leaking between them and, from there, out into the house. We discovered this when the CO alarm in the living room started going off.

Regardless of how much you use your fireplace, you should have the whole system inspected by a sweep at least once.  Suddenly finding that you can't use your boiler in the middle of the winter is no fun at all.

Bub,  my thoughts on chimney cleaning.  (I don't have a fireplace for what that is worth.)  But my impression is that a chimney is cleaned mostly because of buildup of creosote.  This buildup occurs mainly when burning pine logs which are by nature filled with much sap.  That is why chimney maintenance is critical in northern areas where evergreens flourish.  Duraflame logs don't fit this scenario.  If your heating system vents up the chimney in addition to your fireplace, you should probably rely on your heating professional for advice.

Thanks all.   I'll do something.

mrmaplewood said:

If your heating system vents up the chimney in addition to your fireplace, you should probably rely on your heating professional for advice.

I don't suppose it could hurt to ask but I don't think most plumbers deal with chimneys.