Frequently Asked Questions
Chimneys come with questions, and we’ve heard most of them. Below you’ll find straightforward answers to the things our customers ask us most, from cleanings to inspections and everything in between.
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It is important to clean your chimney of accumulated combustibles, such as creosote. This prevents buildup, which can lead to chimney fires, identifies potential safety concerns and meets Ontario Fire Marshal's bylaw.
Ontario Fire Marshall, Code 2.6.1.4, states that every chimney flue and flue pipe shall be inspected at intervals no greater than one year, after a chimney fire or at a time when work is completed on an appliance.
A good rule of thumb is that if you use your wood appliance at least once a week in winter, give us a call to have your appliance cleaned and inspected annually.
A W.E.T.T. Certified Technician examines your entire system, top to bottom, to ensure the appliance meets all building and manufacturer installation codes. A detailed report, including pictures, has been completed and provided to the homeowner. W.E.T.T. inspections take place at the request of insurance companies or real estate agents when a new owner moves to a house, or by your local fire department after a chimney fire. For more information on W.E.T.T., please visit their website.
There are many reasons why your fireplace can smell. Animals nesting, glaze creosote, down drafts and moisture are some of the typical reasons why your fireplace can smell. Regular cleanings can help reduce smells within your fireplace.
When using your wood appliance, only burn well-seasoned hardwood: ash, oak, and maple. The split stacked hardwood should be stored outside. It is not recommended to burn softwood, skids and large amounts of cardboard or paper. Factory-built logs (fake logs) can be burned in an open-faced fireplace, but these logs still leave deposits. Your appliance should still be cleaned regularly as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
If the wood is hardwood as per above, then yes. Unfortunately, free wood is often of poor quality and won’t burn properly. Typically, this wood comes from pallets (skids) and leftover building materials, which are made with nails and chemically treated wood, releasing toxins that are harmful to your wood-burning system and the environment. We recommend buying hardwood from a reliable supplier. Northern Hardwood provides split hardwood within the GTA.
No. We ensure we leave every house the same as we found it. Throughout the cleaning, a HEPA-filtered vacuum is used to prevent dust from entering your home.
These manufactured logs provide a catalytic action, which may cause the creosote to become brittle and fall onto the smoke shelf. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work, and the creosote that falls onto the smoke shelf remains flammable. The manufacturer still recommends having your system inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep regularly.
The Rod Station Power System is a chimney-cleaning system sourced from the UK to provide customers with the best possible cleaning. The patented brush system provides the best cleaning for any appliance, with the flexibility to clean every system from inside the home.