Services
Professional chimney cleaning for all types of fireplaces, wood stoves, and fireplace inserts. From Regency to Stûv, we take care of it all.
Why do I need to clean my chimney?
Burning solid fuel of any kind creates tiny particles of soot that build up on the inside of your chimney. Over time, these build up into a thick layer that chokes off airflow and can even catch fire. Cleaning removes the risk of fire and restores the ability of the chimney to move air, ensuring good fireplace performance and indoor air quality.
When do I need to clean my chimney?
It depends on how often you use it, and for how long!
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If your fireplace or stove is your primary home heating method and you have a fire in your fireplace every day during the heating season, then you should have your chimney cleaned yearly.
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If you light a fire a few times per week for the coziness and the ambience, then you’re going to be fine if you clean every 2–3 years.
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The best way to tell is by getting your head in the fireplace and having a look. If you have more than about 3mm of soot on the inside of your chimney, it’s time to clean.
Can I clean my own chimney?
It’s totally possible: here’s a good guide (🔗). The actual brushes don’t cost all that much, but it’s the safety gear and the vacuum system that make it a stretch. I figure it took me about 6–8 hours of learning and getting equipment and figuring out how to tackle the project for me to clean my first chimney (and I still made a mess with the soot!) If you want my opinion, your time is better spent hanging out with your kids and letting me take care of the dirty work.
Who are you, that are so wise in the ways of chimneys?
Squamish Chimney Cleaning is Graham Zell. I have an engineering degree and a bit of an adventurous résumé, including ski patrol, bear chasing, raft guiding, and farming. I started this business when a friend couldn’t find a chimney sweep, and stuck with it because the I enjoy helping people, getting dirty, and standing on roofs singing Mary Poppins songs.