For the last 4 years I've used a local chimney sweep who has always done a good job but last year I bought a new stove from a shop that also runs a chimney sweep company. I figured since they sell the stoves and are very knowledgable about them (the owners son who is a technician there has the same stove I bought) I would switch it up and have them clean the chimney and stove.
So yesterday the guy came and looked in my chimney (using a little flashlight up a very tall masonry chimney) and told me the chimney didn't need to be swept. All he saw in there was soot. I had the chimney swept last September and burned about 3 cords of red oak and sugar maple over the winter. There was a little build up in the stove pipe but not too much. He did repair the mortar around my flue collar and charged me for that but said I would be wasting my money by having him sweep the chimney. I asked him about the baffle in my stove since he didn't take it out and he said he looked at it and it didn't need to be taken out and cleaned.
I'm sure he we was being honest about it and tryig to help me save money but I'm thinking about calling my regular guy and having him come out anyway. I've never not had the chimney swept and would probably feel better if it was done even if there isn't much build up in there.
What would you guys do?
So yesterday the guy came and looked in my chimney (using a little flashlight up a very tall masonry chimney) and told me the chimney didn't need to be swept. All he saw in there was soot. I had the chimney swept last September and burned about 3 cords of red oak and sugar maple over the winter. There was a little build up in the stove pipe but not too much. He did repair the mortar around my flue collar and charged me for that but said I would be wasting my money by having him sweep the chimney. I asked him about the baffle in my stove since he didn't take it out and he said he looked at it and it didn't need to be taken out and cleaned.
I'm sure he we was being honest about it and tryig to help me save money but I'm thinking about calling my regular guy and having him come out anyway. I've never not had the chimney swept and would probably feel better if it was done even if there isn't much build up in there.
What would you guys do?