CHIMNEY
SWEEPING
Certified annual sweeping that removes the creosote buildup behind most chimney fires. Performed by WETT-certified technicians in Camrose, Edmonton, Wetaskiwin and across central Alberta, with a written report included.
WHAT A CHIMNEY SWEEP COVERS
Creosote is a flammable byproduct of burning wood that builds up inside your chimney flue. A professional annual sweep removes this buildup — the #1 cause of chimney fires — keeping your family safe all winter.
- Complete removal of creosote deposits from flue liner
- Clearing of bird nests, debris, and blockages
- Visual inspection included with every sweep
- Drop cloths and vacuum used — zero mess guaranteed
- Written service report provided same day
WHY ALBERTA HOMES NEED AN ANNUAL SWEEP
Every wood fire leaves creosote behind on the inside of the flue. Over a single Alberta heating season that residue can build into a layer thick enough to ignite — which is why an annual sweep is the baseline maintenance recommendation for any wood-burning fireplace or stove.
A sweep also catches the things you cannot see from the hearth: a bird nest blocking the flue, a cracked liner, a damper that no longer seats. Every sweep we perform includes a visual inspection and a written report so you know the actual condition of your chimney, in plain English.
Sweep or WETT inspection?
They are not the same thing. A sweep cleans; a WETT inspection documents the installation against the Canadian standard, which is what insurers and home buyers ask for. If someone has asked you for paperwork, read what a WETT inspection is and when you need one.
HOW OFTEN YOU ACTUALLY NEED ONE
Once a year, for a wood-burning fireplace or stove used through the heating season. That is the baseline recommendation, and for most Alberta households it is also simply the right answer.
Two situations change it. If you burn heavily — a stove carrying a real share of your heating load rather than the occasional weekend fire — a mid-season look is worth it, because creosote accumulates on burn hours rather than on calendar months. And if you have not lit the appliance at all this year, what you need is an inspection rather than a sweep: there is nothing to remove, but bird nests, water ingress and deteriorating mortar happen whether or not you light a fire.
Burning habits matter more than most people expect. Cool, smouldering fires and unseasoned wood lay down far more creosote than hot, clean-burning ones. If you are getting a thick tarry deposit every single season, the wood or the way it is being burned is usually the reason — and we would rather tell you that than sell you a second sweep.
WHAT THE VISIT LOOKS LIKE
A straightforward sweep on a single flue is a job of a couple of hours, not a full day. Drop cloths go down over the hearth and the surrounding floor and a vacuum runs throughout; our Zero Mess Guarantee means a full refund if any mess is left behind.
You do not need to move furniture out of the room. Clearing the immediate hearth area before we arrive makes it quicker, and someone needs to be home to give access to the appliance — but you are not expected to stand and watch.
The visual inspection happens on the same visit. If we find something — a cracked liner, a damper that no longer seats, a crown letting water in — you are told what it is, whether it needs attention now or can reasonably wait until spring, and roughly what it would cost. We do not carry out repairs on the spot without asking you first.
What it costs
Our chimney services start at $240 plus applicable taxes. That is a starting price across the service line rather than a fixed sweep fee — what it comes to on your home depends on the appliance, how many flues there are, roof access and how much buildup is in there. Nothing is payable until the work is finished and you are satisfied with it.
CHIMNEY SWEEPING,
ANSWERED
Do I need to be home while you work?
Someone needs to let the technician in and show them to the appliance, but you do not need to supervise the job. Most people carry on with their day in another room. If you would rather be out, arrange access with us when you book and we will confirm how you want the report handed over.
Do you sweep from the roof or from inside the house?
It depends on the chimney. Many are swept from inside at the hearth, with the flue brushed upward and the debris drawn into a vacuum — no roof access needed and nothing tracked through the house. Others, particularly some stove installations and capped masonry chimneys, are better done from the top. The technician decides once they have seen the setup, and either way the mess control is the same.
What happens if you find a problem during the sweep?
You get told about it in plain terms — what it is, whether it is a safety issue that means you should stop using the appliance, and whether it needs doing now or can wait. It goes in the written report either way. We do not start repair work during a sweep visit without your say-so, and if the honest answer is that it can be left alone for another season, that is what the report will say.
Do you sweep gas fireplaces as well?
A gas appliance does not produce creosote, so there is no sweeping in the wood-stove sense — but it still needs servicing. What we check is the venting for blockage and integrity, the glass and burner assembly, the pilot and ignition, and the surrounding structure. Blocked or damaged venting on any fuel-burning appliance is a carbon monoxide risk, which is a good reason not to skip it just because there is no soot to show for it.
How do I tell when my chimney was last swept?
If you have no paperwork and no one can tell you, assume it is due. Previous owners rarely leave records, and there is no reliable way to judge buildup by looking into the firebox from the room. This is a common situation on a recently bought house, and it is one of the cases where an inspection is worth booking even if the appliance has not been used since you moved in.
READY TO GET
STARTED?
Schedule online in minutes, or call us directly. We serve Camrose, Edmonton, Wetaskiwin and central Alberta.