The primary job of the Chimney Sweep is to aid in the prevention of chimney fires and reduce the risk of dangerous fume emissions from blocked heating appliances, flueways and chimneys. (Martin Glynn)

It is recommended that you have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year. If you use your fireplace or wood stove as a primary source of heat for your home, you should consider a cleaning and inspection at the beginning and end of each heating season. To select a chimney sweep, don't just base your decision on cost. Ask how did they learn their craft? Ask for references.

A professional chimney sweep will do more than brush out your chimney. They inspect your chimney for damage to liners, cracks due to settling, improper installation of prefabricated chimneys and much more.

A chimney consists of three parts:
* The throat: The opening immediately above the fire, it narrows to a few inches in width just below the damper, a door which can be closed when the fireplace is not in use. The damper has to be dismantled for the cleaning job.
* The smoke chamber: Above the damper. At the bottom of the chamber is a smoke shelf that deflects downdrafts that might otherwise blow smoke into the room. The smoke chamber narrows to the top. It slows downdrafts and acts as a reservoir for smoke trapped in the chimney by gusts across the chimney tops.
* The flue: The main length of the chimney.