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Tag Archives: Chimney Inspection

Do You Need to Clean Your Chimney if You Don’t Use Your Fireplace?

By Doctor Flue | Published July 23, 2025

Do you need to clean your chimney if you don’t use your fireplace?  The short answer is yes – even an unused chimney still requires regular maintenance. Over time, issues like animal nests, soot buildup, structural damage, and moisture problems can develop, posing risks to your home and health. What Happens if You Don’t Maintain […]

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7 Most Common Fireplace Problems

By Doctor Flue | Published July 23, 2025

The most common fireplace problems include creosote buildup, critter invasions, obstructions, closed dampers, poor-quality firewood, improperly sized chimney, and damaged fireboxes. Keep reading to learn more. 1. Creosote Any time you use your fireplace, the smoke from combustion goes up into the chimney. The smoke, when it cools and condenses, turns into a byproduct known […]

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Chimney Inspection Levels: How Do They Work?

By Doctor Flue | Published July 23, 2025

There are three chimney inspection levels that professionals use to determine the state of your chimney. Level 1 inspections only require basic access to your chimney, level 2 inspections are more detailed and are usually required when you make changes to your system, and level 3 inspections are mostly required only for the most extreme […]

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The Ultimate Chimney Inspection Checklist

By Doctor Flue | Published July 23, 2025

A chimney inspection checklist should include checking the interior and exterior of your chimney, its flashing, cap, and crown, damper, and other points, such as strange odors and noises coming from it, and even branches close to your roof and chimney.  While we do not recommend inspecting your chimney solely by yourself, it is valuable […]

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Chimney Protection Keeps Your Fireplace Working & Home Safe!

By Doctor Flue | Published August 31, 2021

Safety is a hot topic. Another hot topic is your fireplace! The heat this summer may have kept you from having a large blazing fire in it lately – or even a small cozy one. Even so, chimney and fireplace safety is an important topic when it comes to keeping your home safe. There are […]

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Five Signs Your Chimney Needs to be Repaired

By Doctor Flue | Published July 30, 2021

With record temperatures out there, your chimney may be the last thing on your mind. But it shouldn’t be! Now is a great time to hammer out some of those maintenance issues that you’ll wish were done when the snowfall starts again – like looking at your chimney! But how do you know when you […]

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How to Hire a Chimney Sweep and Get the Best Service

By Doctor Flue | Published May 29, 2020

A safe home includes a safe chimney and fireplace. But taking care of a chimney isn’t something most homeowners can do on their own – it takes specialized skills and tools to thoroughly inspect and clean them! But you may not know how to hire a chimney sweep who’s experienced and reputable.  Read on to learn tips for hiring the […]

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Where Those Soot Stains Are Coming From & How to Avoid Them

By Doctor Flue | Published February 17, 2020

It’s likely you’ve heard the phrase, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” But where there’s fire, there may also be soot stains. Soot stains in your home can range from a dense black layer that covers the exterior of your fireplace to a faint discoloration on walls or ceilings. Soot stains may be something that you […]

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How a Dirty Chimney Puts You & Your Home at Risk

By Doctor Flue | Published January 22, 2020

Unless you’re Santa Claus, you probably don’t spend much time looking in chimneys. Even if you did look in your chimney, you wouldn’t really be able recognize all the soot and creosote buildup that has accumulated there. Though we don’t usually see it or give it much thought, chimneys get dirty. You may not be […]

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Winter Chimney Preparations: 5 Tips to Ensure Your Chimney is Ready for Cold Weather

By Doctor Flue | Published October 22, 2019

Each year the fall weather sneaks up and it seems as though one minute it is warm and sunny and the next, there’s frost on the ground. The rapid fluctuation in weather is a good indicator that winter is right around the corner. That means it’s time to prepare your chimney for the long, cold […]

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