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Black Goose

Black Goose

Chimney Sweep | Williamsburg, Yorktown, Newport News, & Hampton

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Chimney Sweep

 

Owning a fireplace is a great way to relax and enjoy yourself with friends and family, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. If you’re the owner of a home with a fireplace, you probably don’t think about the importance of having an inspection and cleaning out your chimney regularly. Most homeowners are happy to go on using their fireplace not realizing how damaging failure to clean out the chimney can be. However, failure to maintain the chimney can lead to debris build-up, obstructions in your flue, and structural damages. When your chimney gets buildups of soot and creosote, you can actually create a fire hazard.

Rather than wait until it’s too late, employ a certified chimney technician from Black Goose and clear out the inside of your chimney so that your fireplace can function at its best. Bringing in a professional, certified chimney sweep can help you get rid of potential fire hazards in the home and keep you safer. Let’s take a look at just what is a chimney sweeping and why it matters.

What Is a Chimney Sweeping?

A chimney sweeping is just what it sounds like – someone comes into your home and sweeps the soot and debris out of your chimney. Chimney technicians are specially trained to clean out every area of the chimney including the flues, smoke chamber, firebox, and more. We at Black Goose also have specialized knowledge of fire safety and codes and are able to conduct in-depth inspections of your chimney.

Whether you have a gas fireplace, a wood-burning fireplace, or a different type of fireplace, it’s important to bring in a certified professional to inspect and sweep out your chimneys. That way you keep the home and the people in it safer.

What Part of the Chimney Requires Service?

Sweeping a chimney doesn’t just mean cleaning out the fireplace and calling it a day. In fact, there are many different parts of the chimney that should be regularly swept out, including:

  • The chimney cap
  • The chimney flues
  • The smoke chamber and smoke shelf
  • The throat
  • The firebox

All of these parts of the chimney get swept out during your servicing, leaving you with a cleaner and clear chimney. The inspection also includes checking for deterioration of the caulking, flashing, and mortar work – especially at the top of the chimney.

How Did Chimney Sweeping Originate?

Chimney sweeping has been around since the 13th century, but it didn’t really catch on for another few hundred years. This is where the name of our business came from; the old saying “The blacker the goose the cleaner the chimney!” In fact in the past, many people didn’t understand the importance of sweeping out the chimney to prevent fires, and with thatched roofs being the norm, house fires were fairly common.

Around the 16th century, people began realizing the importance of cleaning debris out of the chimney in order to prevent fires in the home. By the 17th century, having a chimney sweep was the best way to keep the air in the home clean. People understood that soot buildup not only created fires but led to toxic fumes in the home. Over the years, tools and methods for chimney sweeping improved. Today, we have the high-tech brushes and tools needed to provide exceptional cleaning!

How Is the Chimney swept?

Chimney Sweep

Every chimney technician works a little bit differently, but most chimney technicians follow a standard cleaning process. Let’s dive into exactly what it means to hire a Black Goose chimney technician to sweep out your chimneys and get your fireplaces functioning properly.

Step One: Preparing The Space

To get started with, your technician will come in and place drop cloths in the area in front of the fireplace.

Step Two: Preparing The Vacuum

After the drop cloths are in place in your home, our technician will set up an industrial level vacuum near the fireplace. The vacuum will be switched on and will stay running throughout the entire chimney sweeping process to help suck up any debris flushed out of the chimney during the sweeping.

The vacuum isn’t actually used for cleaning, but serves more as a preventative measure to keep dust and soot out of your home and to pick up loose materials that are flushed out of the chimney.

Step Three: Cleaning The Flues

The next part of the cleaning process is to clear out the flues on your chimney. Your technician will run special brushes on long rods up and down the flue. The brushing will remove creosote and soot deposits. The vacuum running keeps the home clean and stops dust from getting into the rooms of your house.

Step Four: Inspecting The Flue

Now that your technician has cleaned out the flues, it’s time for him or her to do a visual inspection of the chimney. Your chimney sweep will shine a bright light in the chimney to check on the work and run a visual inspection on the cleanliness of the chimney.

Step Five: Continuing The Cleaning

Once the visual inspection is finished the technician will begin working at the base of the fireplace. Small brushes are run up into the smoke chamber via the damper so that soot and creosote can be cleaned out of the smoke shelf. The debris that’s removed is either scooped or vacuumed out of the opening.

Step Six: Wrapping Up

The chimney sweep process is wrapped up by turning off the vacuum, clearing up the drop cloths, and loading all the equipment back onto the work truck. The chimney technician will provide you with an evaluation and inspection report so that you have a better understanding of the condition of the chimney and how your venting system works as a whole.

Why Are Chimney Inspections and Sweeps Important?

There are plenty of reasons why you need a chimney inspection and sweep, but the main reason is to prevent fires. When the fireplace isn’t regularly serviced, a buildup of soot and creosote can develop in the flue. Soot and creosote are made up of between 80 and 90 percent carbon, with the remaining 10 to 20 percent being hydrogen. Soot is created after burning wood that’s moist, wood with an insufficient oxygen supply, or during incorrect burning. All wood produces creosote when burned.

All of these issues can lead to creosote and soot buildup in the chimney, which can, in turn, lead to fire hazards and potential safety threats. When you hire a chimney sweep, you help prevent these types of issues. The chimney technician has special fire prevention skills that they use throughout the cleaning process. Plus, the chimney technician can help to advise you about how to properly burn wood in your fireplace.

It’s also important to clean the chimney to ensure that you don’t start creosote fires and to make sure you’re burning correctly. Fireplaces that have a lot of soot are releasing many gases and causing environmental damage. It’s important to reduce the soot and creosote so that you can protect the environment, the home, and your family. Hiring a chimney technician to sweep the chimney ensures that you’re taking care of this issue in the most effective way possible.

What Happens if I Don’t Sweep My Chimney Regularly?

You can’t just get the chimney swept once and leave it at that. In fact, you’ll need to periodically sweep out the chimney to prevent damage and avoid the creosote fires that were mentioned above. The National Fire Protection Association (NPFA.org) publishes the national standards for fireplaces and chimneys. This standard requires annual inspections and sweeping as needed.

The frequency you’ll need to sweep the chimney depends on how often you use your fireplace, what kind of fireplace you have, and what type of burning pattern you follow. Understanding these factors can help you get a better idea of how often you’ll need to sweep the chimney.

Can I Clean My Chimney By Myself?

While cleaning out the chimney on your own might seem like a great idea, the truth is that there are many risks associated with this. DIYing a chimney cleaning could mean that you miss certain soot buildups in the flues or on the smoke shelf.

Without the necessary equipment and training, you run the risk of inadvertently leaving fire hazards in the chimney. To make sure your home is truly protected, it’s always best to hire a professional like Black Goose.

What Should I Do Before Scheduling a Chimney Sweep?

To get ready for the chimney sweeping, you’ll need to remove any obstructions or obstacles that could prevent the chimney technician from being able to get in and do his or her job. They will need a clear path to an open spot in front of the fireplace.

During the sweeping process and afterward, you’ll want to take the time to ask your chimney technician any questions you have about fire safety and preventative measures. Your chimney technician will provide you with an audit once your cleaning is over and will let you know about any defects or areas of concern that were uncovered during the sweeping process.

Your home is important, as are the people in it. Keep your loved ones safe from fire hazards and schedule a chimney inspection and sweeping with Black Goose today! We’re here to answer your phone calls and get you taken care of!

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Google Rating
4.2
Based on 62 reviews
Black Goose Chimney
Black Goose Chimney
4.2
E H
My homeowner’s insurance on my new house said I needed to have my wood stove removed or they’d cancel my policy. Black Goose Chimney was able to come out and do the job within a few days, sealed off the chimney, and provided me pictures to send the insurance company. The crews who came out were on time, professional, knowledgeable, and laid down blankets to protect my floors. Karen in the office was so helpful with getting me the pictures for my insurance company.
Mary Kay Corbin
Work for a Keller Williams agency. Needed a chimney repair on a house closing the following day. Black Goose was able to check it out the day I called and are able to make repairs the following day! Mike the tech, MORE then helpful as was Lois in the office. I highly recommend them for your chimney and fireplace needs!!
Sovonia Golden
Miriam Kotsonis
Super helpful and knowledgeable staff!
Levi Collins
Mrs. Karen was wonderful and got us scheduled right away, the service team was excellent and professional. Mr. Jim ordered our part and it came the next week, nice lady called me and they scheduled it for the very next day. I HIGHLY recommend this company for there excellent attention to detail, customer service that makes you feel like family, and quick response time.
robandpathy S
Excellent Service
William Mace
If I could give negative stars I would! These guys jerked my 80 year old mother around during Christmas when it was freezing. Someone told Mom to call these guys because the furnace was venting into the basement. A dude looking like Bob Marley shows up and says he can't fix it or even look at it because we have slate roof and they need special equipment to get up there. Ok. I get it. When can you come back? Someone will call you. No. No one called me. I called the next week. By this time mom had to sleep downstairs in front of fireplace to stay warm. I called. Dude on phone said he didn't know anything about it but would get back to me day after New Years. He didn't. I called again on Wednesday. No one answered. I left a message. Nothing.
Al Budaszewski
I had my fireplace serviced recently. They were able to restore full function to my gas fireplace and remote control without replaccing any components. They are honest, thorough, and I would do business with them again.
Skip Savell
Dorethea Johnson
They attempted to charge me an absorbent amount for money a fireplace chain cover. They qouted a me the price for it. They didn't have it in stock. When It came in. They had changed the price by more than double.
Kyle Russell
I seen a employee hit another vehicle on 64 and keep driving. Wouldn't want that integrity working at my house.
William Chandler
Very professional and thorough.
Jory Morrison
Frances McCoy-Brown
From the person answering the phone and scheduling my appointment. To the two men who came out and did a chimney check were very courteous and professional. I was provided with information that would help me make an informed decision. There was no hard sell ! I would recommend them.
Yvonne Richardson
Had my chimney and firebox repaired. they did the work in very reasonable time and did a very good job. Were on time and were respectful, courteous and professional. Cleaned up nicely also. The lady in the office was very friendly and helpful.
Fran Spady
The gentlemen were professional and left my home clean. They were thorough in their inspection and answered our questions. They took pictures so we could see repairs. He wrote up more than one bid so we could take care of the necessities first. There was no hard sell or pushing to purchase.Thank you Black Goose. I have a new chimney sweep!
Bridget Sims
Brian Lucas
I paid them to perform a diagnostic on my gas logs that were not lighting. The Tech determined I have a faulty valve and told me the office would look up the part and send me a quote to replace it. That was nearly three months ago. I called the office twice during that time to remind them and got the run-around. Don’t waste your time on this company.
Amanda Wroten
Ken Nelson
Pauretta Banks
Love my fire place! They did a great job and made sure I was satisfied before they left.
Wayne Sears
Tom Jowers
High prices but as the old saying goes "you get what you pay for." In this case, quality service.
John Sims
This company helped fix our chimney after a very scary fire we had. Great quality work and very professional crew
Pamela Mason
Black Goose Chimney did a superb job for us. Their technician Joe is a pleasure to work with and is not only professional and polite, but does fantastic work! On time, great workmanship and a pleasure to work with - what more can you ask for. I would recommend BlacK Goose Chimney to anyone.
Deborah Hill
Michael Chase
What a great team. Highly professional, knowledgable and no nonsense tell it like it is workers. Sergey is a master brick layer and technician. I will not use anyone else when it comes to brick and chimney work.The owner, Jim and Kathy, front office, are absolutely great to work with. I highly reccommend this company.
William Marx
The terracota liner to the oil boiler had broken after 50 years. Jim came out and gave an estimate and managed to promptly get a crew here on a Saturday to replace it with a steel liner. The crew, Sergei and Michael, arrived on time and were quite polite, efficient and neat. The left the house in better shape than when they arrived. They took care that the 5 month old puppy was kept away from the repair materials. Michael went so far as to clear the entire roof of pine needles, not just the area he was working. Greatly appreciated. They truly went the extra mile!
Selina Tyler
James Simone
Wanted to charge a $99.00 service call for an estimate. Other companies came for free
Sean B
Don Lovis
They came out to do a dryer vent sweep. They quoted me 800.00 labor for 2 hours to fix one dryer pipe 10 ft long. Hired another company and charged 75.00. I will never use them again
Anthony Cronin Jr
Very ProfessionalShared Concern To Apply Money To Return Maximum Value With Highest Quality!
Wayne Booth
Called today to schedule cleaning two chimneys. The price they quoted was more than double other places I called. And they were booked out three weeks. The company I scheduled with was six weeks out. It was worth the wait.
Peter Henrie
Very disappointed with my experience with this company. I called to get a quote for a gas stove installed. They sent their employee who charged me $100 to quote me, this wasn't told to me on the initial call, only at the end of the onsite visit to quote. I was told it would be removed from cost of the installation however they were unresponsive to calls and emails multiple times afterwards that I gave up moving forward with them. Would sadly not recommend.
billd354
Used this company about 6 or 7 years ago for a new crown and mortar joint work. Felt they did a good job. Tried to get them to do more work, however after sending me a confirmation phone call that they would be there, they cancelled at the last minute. They did call me and tell me that a person called in sick, so I asked if the next time I schedule that they guarantee no matter what, they meet their appointment obligations. The person would not and so other person called me back, who also would not. They obviously gave preferential treatment to some customers, because they didn't get cancelled. This person told me a different story, that the person was in a car accident the previous day. Then why didn't they call me first thing in the morning? This person also would not guarantee that they would definitely be there on the reschedule. If you live on the southside, you can expect to be the first to be cancelled. Which was it? Sick, car accident, or just didn't want to drive through the tunnel because both people I talked to wanted to give me to their competitors.
Chris Burrell
The guys that came to the house were great!! Highly recommend!!!
Nikki Edgerton
Tim Pratt
Jerry Fortner
Enjoying another early season fire watching football thanks to Blue Goose Chimney. Great system been years we have been able to enjoy our fireplace!Jerry FortnerPoquoson, VA
I C
Barry Hughes
Very frustrated in dealing with the office of this business. My chimney inspection was completed on the 18th of October and I called last week and then sent an email and kristin responded on the 11th of November and said she would have something by the 13th. It's now the 15th and nothing. Not right at all.if you can't
kathryn howard
I have used Black Goose for over 15 years. I needed serious work to our fireplace and chimney which they took care of and they have been out to inspect and or sweep every year since. They are always timely and fair. They only sweep about every other year so I'm not charged a sweep, it's based on how much we have used the fireplace. We have had no problems at all since the repair and I only have them to thank.
Rhonda Saunders
These guys are very professional and they know there stuff. Very honest and trustworthy
Wesley Stilson
Great service. Sergey and his helper showed up during the allotted time. They did a full inspection of my wood stove to ensure it was installed correctly to code. they did a full borescope inspection of the stove pipe and chimney pipe and found one sheet metal screw that was installed incorrectly. they fixed it and did a full sweep. They cleaned up their mess and provided me input on when to have them back for another sweep. Top notch service. They will not disappoint.
Eric Marsalis
Marilyn Keener
I highly recommend Black Goose Chimney. They arrived on time and did an excellent cleaning job. I found them to be very knowledgeable and professional. I would not hesitate to use them again.
Jeffrey Sheffield
Trustworthy, prompt, and professional. Couldn't ask for a better experience.
Adam Russell
Expert technicians, receptionists needs some work though. Completely satisfied all the same.
Ellen Charles
We had a knowledgeable chimney sweep come and inspect our fireplace and chimney. We knew that our fireplace had a bad back wall and knew there maybe some problems with the chimney. He explained what needed to be done and the cost. They had two very nice guys come and do the repairs. They worked well together and cleaned up afterwards. They showed my husband pictures of what they did to the chimney. From the time I called setup an appointment and the work being completed was about 8 days.
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