$169 for a Chimney Sweep and Inspection with $100 Toward Chimney Repair from Chimney Tek ($389 Value)
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Chimney sweeps remove buildup from chimney interiors, then inspect the masonry and parts for any damage in need of repair
The Deal
- $169 for a chimney sweep, Level 2 inspection, and $100 toward chimney repair ($389 value)
This Groupon is valid for fireplace chimneys (both gas and wood-burning), wood stoves, and furnace or water-heater chimneys. During the sweep, technicians brush the interior of the chimney to remove buildup.
A visual inspection then covers the masonry work, damper operation, chimney crown, and chimney cap. The flue is checked for holes, cracks, or voids, and the ash dump and smoke shelf are checked for signs of damage or creosote buildup.
Five Things to Know About Creosote
A chimney cleaning clears the flue of creosote—a black or brown substance that builds up over time. Learn why it needs to go with Groupon’s breakdown.
1. Creosote comes from condensation. As wood burns in a fireplace, it releases a veritable cocktail of materials: smoke, water vapor, tar fog, and a number of gases. These substances move up the chimney, cooling and condensing as they rise. That condensed stuff sticks to the sides of the chimney in the form of a black or brown goo—sometimes sticky, sometimes flaky, and always highly combustible.
2. It can be dangerous if left to linger. Due to its flammable nature, creosote is the number-one cause of chimney fires. These blazes can range from small, undetectable smolders inside the chimney itself, to five-alarm catastrophes that can level a house. Fortunately, routine cleanings are a very effective way to prevent fires.
3. Creosote can be good, too. Both man-made kinds of creosote—wood-tar and coal-tar—are toxic, but they’re also manufactured commercially due to several benefits. The wood-tar variety helps preserve wood structures and Trojan horses, while the more noxious coal-tar type makes a good sealant for railroad ties and bridgework.
4. Not all creosote is man-made. Larrea tridentata, a low-growing, spiky plant commonly found in deserts, is known as the “creosote bush” for its pungent smell. Native American tribes of the Southwest used the plant’s leaves in teas or compresses to treat minor ailments such as bruises and colds.
5. Don’t invite creosote to your barbecue. Creosote can build up on roasted meat the same way it accumulates in a chimney, resulting in a bitter, unpleasant taste. A small amount, however, can keep meat from rotting—in fact, the name derives from the Greek words kreas, meaning “flesh” or “meat,” and sōtēr, meaning “preserver.”