Cost to Clean Chimney? (inspection, estimates, gas)

[FrmlyBklyn]

Originally Posted by Port Washington Native

Thanks for your reply but I'm a little confused. Are you saying that the cleaning of each flue is a separate charge?

Yes, each flue is a separate charge. In my last cleaning during early November I was charged $125 for my wood burning chimney and $150 for the oil flue.

[Port Washington Native]

Originally Posted by FrmlyBklyn

Yes, each flue is a separate charge. In my last cleaning during early November I was charged $125 for my wood burning chimney and $150 for the oil flue.

Thanks very much!

[brunette-T]

we checked the BBB, found a local chimney service Chimney King, paid $89 for our wood burning chimney and the gas burner chimney to be cleaned. they were here all of a 1/2 an hour or so and complimented how well maintained our chimney's were.

[Port Washington Native]

Originally Posted by brunette-T

we checked the BBB, found a local chimney service Chimney King, paid $89 for our wood burning chimney and the gas burner chimney to be cleaned. they were here all of a 1/2 an hour or so and complimented how well maintained our chimney's were.

Was it $89 for each flue or was that the total charge?

[brunette-T]

Originally Posted by Port Washington Native

Was it $89 for each flue or was that the total charge?

total.

[HesTNTonPMS]

It will be quoted price per flue . . If they're saying $89.00, then it is 89 per flue , often times there can be multiple flues in a single chimney, then it will be up to you which you want swept. As for the person with the water droplets inside his fireplace and he clearly can see the chimney has a raincap, water intrusion can sometimes be difficult to figure out , naturally you would start at the most obvious, check the exteroir of the chimney for cracks ,missing mortar joints, check around the flue itself where it passes through the crown see if it is sealed completely , often times there are gaps around the flue. If you have gas heat and the fireplace flue and the gas heater flue are both inside the chimney you may want to check to see if there are missing mortar joints betwen the flue sections or missing pieces of liner /no liner or even blockages in that furnace chimney , the biproduct of gas is steam if there are voids in the furnace liner or blockages that could be your problem, but you need an honest guy to come check it out . Sometimes it is nothing much , sometimes it is a disaster. You may also find this happening with the new high efficiency oil heaters that are fan assisted ,"Positive Pressure " It may be the pressure from the furnace is blowing the exhaust so forcefully it is actually getting into the fireplace flues. But as I said, you need an honest chimeny guy to really look at it. If any 18 year old kid comes to your house claiming to know it all , ask your self this question . . . How many years could this kid possibly be doing chimney's and what could his level of experience be. We are finding a lot of kids going from company to company screwing up jobs and just moving to the next company. Chimney guys are hard to find , especially in the colder months often times a comapny will take whatever they can get and trust that the person they hire will do the right thing. I wouldn't have anyone work on my home at all unless they have a minimum of 10 years experience , but that's just me. You're not learning this business and all of the reason problems occur in 2-3 years. I am doing this about 18 years and still wouldn't claim to know it all, but it is a passion of mine. My customers safety and piece of mind is as important to me as their business, it is not just about the dollar. Ask a lot of questions and if the person in your home get's irritated about answering them or if what they're saying revolves around the all mighty dollar , chances are you have the wrong person in your home. Best of luck to you . . .

[WJFM]

So, How often do you need to clean the oil burner chimney? 2 years, 5 years, 10 years??

[Letterhead]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

Are you????
Thats what Im wondering too.

Also what resposibility does the oil co service contract have in it?
Shouldnt they alert you if you need a cleaning?

Does the chimney really effect efficiency?
Is it in the Oil cos best interest not to say anything?

crooks

Every time I read your posts I have to remind myself that you're not calling the people you're talking about, "crooks"

[hotkarl]

I clean my own chimney. However, I'm a pretty handy guy, and dirt poor.
Oh, and not afraid of heights.

[FrmlyBklyn]

Originally Posted by WJFM

So, How often do you need to clean the oil burner chimney? 2 years, 5 years, 10 years??

I clean the oil burner flue, every year - maybe this is overkill, but the sulfuric acid and ash by-product of oil is corrosive.