Regular fireplace cleaning can be handled with a brush, and cleaning ordinary soot from your chimney is also relatively simple. You may be comfortable handling those tasks yourself. There are chimney-cleaning brush kits and other chimney-cleaning tools you can buy to do the job. You’ll also want to ensure you have a tarp or other way to protect your room and furniture from soot while you clean.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that “open masonry fireplaces should be swept at 1/8" of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system.”

However, there’s a lot more to chimney cleaning than just soot. Birds can leave nests in your flue, animals can die in your chimney, or other types of buildup or deterioration can make your fireplace and chimney unsafe. In a worst-case scenario, a dirty chimney can cause fires in your home or carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you are wondering how often you should clean your chimney, the National Fire Protection Association says that chimneys, fireplaces, and vents should be inspected annually. Cleaning, maintenance, and chimney repair should then be done if necessary.

Even if you’ve had an inspection or had your chimney cleaned, if you smell wood odors when the fireplace is not in use or you get a lot of smoke in your room when you use the fireplace, your chimney may need to be cleaned again.

If you decide to hire a chimney cleaner (also known as a chimney sweep) to do the cleaning for you, make sure you do your research before signing a contract. Get multiple estimates and be sure you understand exactly what the chimney sweep will do and how much they charge.

When choosing a chimney sweep, pay attention to certifications and memberships to professional organizations. Check to see if your chimney sweep has CSIA certification and is a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG).

You should also always ask for references and check what insurance the chimney sweep carries so you can be confident that any accidents or damage in your home will be handled.

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