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Fully Licensed & Insured - Cleaning & Sweeping Chimneys Since 1993

FAQs about Chimneys, Caps & Critters

How do I know how many flues I have?

Multiple flues inside one chimneyA flue is a venting system, each system needs its own so If you heat your home with oil or gas and have a fireplace you would have two flues. Often times they are in one chimney so if you were to look down the chimney it would be separated into two venting system inside one chimney.

How often should I have my chimney cleaned?

That question really depends on how often you burn, what you burn and how you burn. A wood stove typically needs to be cleaned more often than a fireplace because most homeowners use woodstoves as a heating source where as a fireplace is used mostly for a decorative purpose. A good rule is every cord of wood. Oil and gas should be at least inspected annually. Gas burns clean, but lets off a lot of moisture so a professional chimney sweep is going to look for any debris that could fall into the chimney, cracks in the liner, or even animals nesting in the chimney that could block up the flue and cause carbon monoxide to enter the home.

Oil flues should be cleaned annually to prevent a puff back, if soot builds up to the connecting pipe in your basement and your furnace kicks on soot particles will blow back into your home from the barometric damper causing soot to settle throughout your entire home.


What is the process of cleaning a chimney?

Chimney Cap keeps out critters and debris

Every situation is unique, no two chimneys are the same. The standard cleaning process for a fireplace flue would to be to come into the home , tarp off the firebox so that no soot escapes into your home. The tech would then go on to the roof, and using his rods and brushes would proceed to sweep from the top down. As soon as the flue has been properly cleaned the technician will then return inside the home and using a high powered vacuum, remove any soot that has been brushed down. For a furnace flue cleaning, the technician will begin on the roof brushing any debris to the bottom and then he will go into the basement and disconnect the pipe from the furnace to the flue and vacuum 2-3 feet below that connecting pipe. When this process is completed the technician will make sure that the pipe is properly resealed to the flue. If for some reason there was no way that we could access the roof to do the cleaning, the technicians are trained to do the full cleaning from inside the home.


Why do I need a Chimney Liner?

A chimney liner is like the exhaust on your vehicle if it does not function properly or there isn’t one you and your family would inhale toxic fumes. Your chimney liner does the same thing so it needs to be free and clear of any blockages, as well as structurally sound to ensure all fumes and toxic gases exit your home properly.

How do you know when you need a chimney liner?

Here are the most common reasons

  • Your chimney is unlined
  • Your chimney is lined with terra cotta flue tiles and are cracked, shifted, and/or deteriorated.
  • You are installing a new furnace
  • A furnace is not sized properly to the chimney
  • You had a chimney fire

How do I prepare for chimney cleaning?

Someone over the age of 18 must be present at the home. Please do not light your wood stove, fireplace, pellet stove or coal stove 24 hours prior to a chimney technician coming to clean your flue.

Should I have my burner serviced first or the furnace flue cleaned first?

Really it doesn’t matter, you can schedule both for the same day, A chimney technician doesn’t touch the burner itself and oil and gas technicians do not go on the roof so because of that we can work together.

What is the purpose of a chimney cap?

Dead Raccoon inside oil furnace flueA chimney cap helps prevent water, animals and debris from entering your chimney. All of our Technicians carry numerous sizes of stainless steel caps, but we can also order caps in copper and black.

What is repointing?

Repointing is grinding out old crumbling and cracked mortar joints (mortar in between brick) and then replacing it with new mortar.

Can I buy the materials and you complete the job for me?

Unfortunately, we can not. All of our materials are from a trusted chimney supply distributor and installed by our certfied technicians.

What is a chase cover and how do I know if I need one?

A chase cover is the top protective “crown” of a factory-built chimney. Chase Covers are great for protection from weather conditions, pest control, rust control, and debris entering the chimney.

How do I know if I need a chase cover?

  • If you simply don’t have a chase cover on your factory-built chimney.
  • If your current chase cover is rattling or lifting in the wind.
  • If your current chase cover is rusting.

Chase covers made from galvanized steel can begin to rust in about 4-5 years.

All Ultimate Chimney Sweep chase covers are stainless steel and made custom to your chimney.


I need to know if I can use my chimney can you just come look at it for free?

No licensed and certified chimney professional will conduct a free inspection. We specialize in making sure your chimney is safe to use.

Is there a cancellation policy?

Due to our high volume of calls, appointments and our prompt service we do have a 24 hour cancellation policy. Any appointment cancelled under 24 hours prior to your arrival window will result in a $50 fee and will be charged to the credit card on file. We enforce this because when a time is reserved and not taken advantage of, it takes away from our customers and our technicians.

Your Family is our First Priority.

Call Us at 1-800-499-2726 or Book Online to schedule your Chimney Sweeping appointment.

Professional, licensed, insured, certified Chimney Sweeps

National Chimney Sweep Guild Member NFPA CCP Certified

Ultimate Chimney Sweep is CCP Certified

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Massachusetts Areas Served

Abington, MA, Acton, MA, Acushnet, MA, Amesbury, MA, Andover, MA, Arlington, MA, Ashburnham, MA, Ashby, MA, Ashland, MA, Athol, MA, Attleboro, MA, Auburn, MA, Avon, MA, Ayer, MA, Baldwinville, MA, Barnstable, MA, Barre, MA, Bedford, MA, Bellingham, MA, Belmont, MA, Berkley, MA, Berlin, MA, Bernardston, MA, Beverly, MA, Billerica, MA, Blackstone, MA, Bolton, MA, Boxborough, MA, Boxford, MA, Boylston, MA, Braintree, MA, Brewster, MA, Bridgewater, MA, Brockton, MA, Brookfield, MA, Brookline, MA, Burlington, MA, Buzzards Bay, MA, Canton, MA, Carlisle, MA, Carver, MA, Charlton, MA, Chatham, MA, Chelmsford, MA, Chelsea, MA, Chicopee, MA, Clinton, MA, Cohasset, MA, Concord, MA, Danvers, MA, Dartmouth, MA, Dedham, MA, Dennis Port, MA, Dennis, MA, Douglas, MA, Dover, MA, Dracut, MA, Dudley, MA, Dunstable, MA, Duxbury, MA, East Bridgewater, MA, East Brookfield, MA, East Dennis, MA, East Falmouth, MA, East Sandwich, MA, Easton, MA, Essex, MA, Everett, MA, Fairhaven, MA, Fall River, MA, Falmouth, MA, Fiskdale, MA, Fitchburg, MA, Forestdale, MA, Foxboro, MA, Framingham, MA, Franklin, MA, Gardner, MA, Georgetown, MA, Gloucester, MA, Grafton, MA, Groton, MA, Groveland, MA, Hadley, MA, Halifax, MA, Hamilton, MA, Hanover, MA, Hanson, MA, Hardwick, MA, Harvard, MA, Harwich Port, MA, Harwich, MA, Haverhill, MA, Hingham, MA, Holbrook, MA, Holden, MA, Holliston, MA, Hopedale, MA, Hopkinton, MA, Hubbardston, MA, Hudson, MA, Hull, MA, Ipswich, MA, Kingston, MA, Lakeville, MA, Lancaster, MA, Lawrence, MA, Leicester, MA, Leominster, MA, Lexington, MA, Lincoln, MA, Littleton, MA, Lowell, MA, Lunenburg, MA, Lynn, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Malden, MA, Manchester, MA, Mansfield, MA, Marblehead, MA, Marion, MA, Marlborough, MA, Marshfield Hills, MA, Marshfield, MA, Mashpee, MA, Mattapoisett, MA, Maynard, MA, Medfield, MA, Medford, MA, Medway, MA, Melrose, MA, Mendon, MA, Merrimac, MA, Methuen, MA, Middleboro, MA, Middleton, MA, Milford, MA, Millbury, MA, Millis, MA, Millville, MA, Milton, MA, Nahant, MA, Natick, MA, Needham, MA, New Bedford, MA, New Braintree, MA, New Salem, MA, Newbury, MA, Newburyport, MA, Newton, MA, Norfolk, MA, North Andover, MA, North Attleboro, MA, North Brookfield, MA, North Falmouth, MA, North Pembroke, MA, North Reading, MA, North Scituate, MA, Northborough, MA, Northbridge, MA, Norton, MA, Norwell, MA, Norwood, MA, Oakham, MA, Onset, MA, Oxford, MA, Palmer, MA, Paxton, MA, Peabody, MA, Pembroke, MA, Pepperell, MA, Plainfield, MA, Plainville, MA, Plymouth, MA, Plympton, MA, Princeton, MA, Quincy, MA, Randolph, MA, Raynham Center, MA, Raynham, MA, Reading, MA, Rehoboth, MA, Revere, MA, Rochester, MA, Rockland, MA, Rockport, MA, Rowe, MA, Rowley, MA, Royalston, MA, Rutland, MA, Sagamore, MA, Salem, MA, Salisbury, MA, Sandwich, MA, Saugus, MA, Scituate, MA, Seekonk, MA, Sharon, MA, Sherborn, MA, Shirley, MA, Shrewsbury, MA, Somerset, MA, Somerville, MA, South Dennis, MA, South Lancaster, MA, South Yarmouth, MA, Southborough, MA, Southbridge, MA, Spencer, MA, Springfield, MA, Sterling, MA, Stoneham, MA, Stoughton, MA, Stow, MA, Sturbridge, MA, Sudbury, MA, Sutton, MA, Swampscott, MA, Swansea, MA, Taunton, MA, Templeton, MA, Tewksbury, MA, Topsfield, MA, Townsend, MA, Tyngsboro, MA, Upton, MA, Uxbridge, MA, Wakefield, MA, Walpole, MA, Waltham, MA, Ware, MA, Wareham, MA, Warren, MA, Warwick, MA, Watertown, MA, Wayland, MA, Webster, MA, Wellesley, MA, Wenham, MA, West Boylston, MA, West Bridgewater, MA, West Brookfield, MA, West Chatham, MA, West Dennis, MA, West Falmouth, MA, West Newbury, MA, West Wareham, MA, West Yarmouth, MA, Westborough, MA, Westford, MA, Westminster, MA, Weston, MA, Westport, MA, Westwood, MA, Weymouth, MA, Whitinsville, MA, Whitman, MA, Wilbraham, MA, Wilmington, MA, Winchendon, MA, Winchester, MA, Winthrop, MA, Woburn, MA, Worcester, MA, Wrentham, MA, Yarmouth Port, MA and many more.

Rhode Island Areas Served

Ashaway, RI, Barrington, RI, Bradford, RI, Bristol, RI, Central Falls, RI, Charlestown, RI, Coventry, RI, Cranston, RI, Cumberland, RI, East Greenwich, RI, East Providence, RI, Exeter, RI, Foster, RI, Greenville, RI, Harrisville, RI, Hope Valley, RI, Hopkinton, RI, Jamestown, RI, Johnston, RI, Kingston, RI, Lincoln, RI, Little Compton, RI, Middletown, RI, Narragansett, RI, Newport, RI, North Kingstown, RI, North Providence, RI, North Smithfield, RI, Pascoag, RI, Pawtucket, RI, Portsmouth, RI, Providence, RI, Smithfield, RI, Tiverton, RI, Wakefield, RI, Warren, RI, Warwick, RI, West Greenwich, RI, West Warwick, RI, Westerly, RI, Woonsocket, RI and many more.

Southern New Hampshire Aeas Served

Atkinson, NH, Brookline, NH, Greenville, NH, Hollis, NH, Hudson, NH, Hudson, NH, Litchfield, NH, Mason, NH, Milford, NH, Nashua, NH, New Ipswich, NH, Newton, NH, Pelham, NH, Plaistow, NH, Rindge, NH, Salem, NH, Seabrook, NH, Temple, NH, Windham, NH and many more.

Local Phone Numbers

Andover - 978-475-4507
Attleboro - 508-695-6855
Brockton - 508-580-1994
Cumberland, RI - 401-658-3736
Dedham - 781-320-0463
Fitchburg - 978-343-4201
Framingham - 508-620-0579
Franklin - 508-520-4229
Lowell - 978-441-0861
Milford - 508-478-5125
New Bedford - 508-999-7444
Newton - 617-527-9202
Plymouth - 508-746-0640
Providence, RI - 401-751-4227
Quincy - 617-328-3813
Scituate - 781-545-2487
Taunton - 508-824-9815
Uxbridge - 508-278-7028
Worcester - 508-752-8881

We service all cities & towns in Rhode Island!