330 Homes Fall 2021

s p a c e l i f t | f r e s h d e s i g n | o p e n a i r | s p r u c e u p

by HALENA SEPULVEDA and photos provided by FRIENDLY SWEEPS

C L E A N SWE E P Keep your chimney clear heading into winter.

T he season of cuddling by the fire is just around the corner, so now is the best time to get your chimney cleaned. Being proactive is important, as winter is a time when your chimney is at risk for hazards such as freezing water that can lead to cracks in the chimney tile. Lee Hlas, the owner of Medina-based Friendly Sweeps, recommends homeowners get their chimneys inspected at least once a year, even if they don’t use them very often.

“There’s a lot more that can go wrong,” he says, “especially if someone doesn’t use it for a long time.” Annual chimney main tenance checks help keep chimneys clean and safe and can teach you how to monitor for signs of damage. Hlas offers some factors to consider when getting your chimney serviced this season. L OOK OV E R : Hlas recommends getting a full assessment during your maintenance check,

which typically includes technicians inspecting your firebox

for mortar or buildup,

confirming gas lines work and

about whether the chimney needs additional services. “If it doesn’t need to be cleaned, we tell them upfront,” he

are capped and checking that any ash in the ash dump is discarded and not a fire hazard. Technicians should also make sure the chimney’s damper, which controls whether air can escape, is sealed and that there are no cracks in the tile. After an assessment, they give clients feedback

says. If the chimney needs to be cleaned,

however, technicians use a brush with heavy metal

bristles to sweep out buildup from inside.

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