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(972) 521-7225
Looking for chimney flue cleaning in Allen, TX? The flue is the inside of your chimney, and it is where creosote builds up after every fire. Collin Chimney Sweep & Repair cleans the full flue from the smoke shelf to the cap, so your Allen fireplace burns safely. Call (972) 521-7225.
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Every wood fire sends smoke up the flue. As the smoke cools, it leaves a black layer called creosote on the flue walls. Creosote burns. A thin layer is normal after a season of fires. A thick layer can catch fire inside the chimney, and a chimney fire can crack the flue liner and spread to the framing of the house. The Chimney Safety Institute of America says to clean the flue once creosote reaches 1/8 inch.
Allen homes build creosote in their own way. Most houses here were built in the 1990s and 2000s with prefab metal fireplaces and tall, narrow flues. We use fireplaces only a few months a year, often with short evening fires. Short, cool fires make more creosote than long, hot ones. Oak and mesquite that has not dried for a full year makes even more. After the first cold front in November, we find flues in Watters Crossing and Cottonwood Bend that have not been cleaned in five years or more.
Flue cleaning is one part of a full chimney cleaning. A brush alone handles soft soot. Hard, shiny creosote does not come off with a brush, so we use rotary tools or a creosote removal treatment. We also clean the area just above the firebox, because most build-up starts there. See our smoke chamber cleaning page for that step.
Not sure how bad it is? A chimney inspection with a camera shows the whole flue. If the liner is cracked, we explain your chimney liner options before you use the fireplace again.
Our chimney sweep and inspection is $99 for a limited time, and it includes cleaning the flue. Heavy or glazed creosote takes extra time and tools. If we find that, we show you photos and give you a price before we do any more work.
Have the flue checked once a year and cleaned when creosote reaches 1/8 inch. If you burn more than a cord of wood each winter, or you burn wood that is not fully dry, you may need a cleaning every year.
The flue is the passage inside the chimney. A full chimney sweep cleans the flue plus the firebox, damper, smoke shelf and cap. Flue cleaning is the main part of the job, because that is where most creosote sits.
You can brush light soot yourself, but most homeowners cannot see the upper flue or the smoke chamber. Hard creosote will not come off with a store-bought brush. A professional cleaning also includes a camera check for cracks you cannot see from below.
Gas burns cleaner than wood, so the flue does not fill with creosote. It still needs a yearly check. Bird nests, leaves and rust flakes can block a gas flue, and a blocked flue can push carbon monoxide into the house.
Most flue cleanings take 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Heavy creosote, a very tall chimney, or a steep roof can add time. We tell you what to expect before we start.
No. We lay drop cloths from the door to the fireplace and run a HEPA vacuum at the firebox the whole time. Soot goes into the vacuum, not into your living room.
Glazed creosote is the hardest stage of build-up. It looks like shiny black tar on the flue walls. It burns very hot if it catches fire, and a brush cannot remove it. We remove it with rotary tools or a chemical treatment.
Spring and summer are best. You avoid the fall rush, and creosote left in the flue through a humid Texas summer makes that sour fireplace smell. If you missed it, book before the first cold front.
Yes. Collin Chimney Sweep & Repair cleans flues across Collin County, including Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview and Lucas. Our office is at Watters Creek in Allen. Learn more about our chimney sweep in Allen, TX.
Mon–Sun: 7am–8pm
We respond within 2 hours during business hours.
