What It Means
A chimney sweep is a professional who inspects and cleans chimneys, fireplaces and vents, removing the soot and creosote that build up inside when wood burns. NFPA 211, the National Fire Protection Association's standard for chimneys, says they should be inspected at least once a year for soundness, deposits and correct clearances, and cleaned or repaired when the inspection shows a need. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) follows NFPA 211 in its guidance.
Try It: Is It Time to Sweep?
Move the slider to the soot depth your sweep or inspector measured in a masonry fireplace flue, in sixteenths of an inch. CSIA's line is 1/8 inch, or 2 sixteenths.
Sweep now. CSIA says to sweep sooner than 1/8 inch when any glaze is present.
Sweep now. You've reached CSIA's 1/8 inch of sooty buildup.
Under 1/8 inch with no glaze. Keep the yearly inspection NFPA 211 calls for.
How It Sounds at Home
- "We should get the chimney swept before the first fire."
- "The sweep said there's glaze in the flue."
- "When was the last time anyone looked up that chimney?"
The Breakdown
How often
| What | When | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect chimney, fireplace and vents | At least once a year | NFPA 211 |
| Clean, maintain or repair | When the inspection shows it's needed | NFPA 211 |
| Sweep a masonry fireplace | At 1/8 inch of sooty buildup | CSIA |
| Sweep sooner | Any glaze (creosote) present | CSIA |
Booking one. CSIA follows NFPA 211, which describes the basic Level 1 inspection. Buhata's own suggestion: hire a sweep who works to NFPA 211, book the yearly inspection in late summer or early fall, before you start using the fireplace, and ask for the report in writing.
Make it last between sweeps. Buhata's own suggestion: burn only dry, seasoned firewood, and keep the fireplace clear of trash and wrapping paper. Watch for the glaze CSIA warns about, because it calls for a sweep sooner.
Good to Know
If a chimney fire starts, treat it as a house fire: get everyone out, call 911 from outside and stay out; that's the U.S. Fire Administration's advice for any home fire, as Buhata's fire extinguisherFire extinguisherA handheld tank that sprays an agent to put out a small fire, labeled with the classes of fire (such as A, B and C) it is approved for. See more page explains. Chimney and roof work is a fall hazard, so leave it to a professional sweep rather than climbing up yourself (Buhata's own suggestion). Keep working carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas, as Buhata's carbon monoxide detectorCarbon monoxide detectorAn alarm that sounds when carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, builds up to a dangerous level in the air of a home. See more page describes, whenever you burn fuel at home.
FAQ
How often should a chimney be swept?
NFPA 211 calls for an inspection at least once a year, with cleaning when it's needed. CSIA says a masonry fireplace should be swept at 1/8 inch of sooty buildup, sooner if there's glaze.
What is creosote?
The deposit that builds up inside a chimney as wood burns. CSIA singles out the glazed form as a reason to sweep before the usual 1/8 inch of soot.
Do I need a chimney inspection if I rarely use the fireplace?
NFPA 211's yearly inspection covers soundness and clearances as well as deposits, so a chimney that's rarely used still gets checked each year.
Do It in Buhata
Maintenance and Reminders
Add "Chimney inspection" to Maintenance in your Household X add-on as a yearly job each fall, so it rolls forward each time you tick it.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Fire extinguisher
A handheld tank that sprays an agent to put out a small fire, labeled with the classes of fire (such as A, B and C) it is approved for.
- Carbon monoxide detector
An alarm that sounds when carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, builds up to a dangerous level in the air of a home.
- Smoke detector testing
Pressing a smoke alarm's test button once a month to make sure it sounds, and replacing the alarm 10 years after the date it was made.
- Furnace maintenance
The routine care a furnace needs: a monthly filter check, a yearly professional cleaning and inspection before heating season, and a working carbon monoxide alarm.
Sources
NFPA, "NFPA 211, Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances"; NFPA, "2024 NFPA 211"; Chimney Safety Institute of America, "Homeowner Resources"
- www.nfpa.org/product/nfpa-211-standard/p0211code
- link.nfpa.org/all-publications/211/2024
- www.csia.org/homeowner-resources
Last updated .