What does a chimney sweep actually do during a cleaning?
In Brevard, a sweep is half creosote removal and half water patrol: with 80-plus inches of rain a year cracking crowns, spalling brick, and rusting dampers, we're brushing the flue clean and, in the same visit, reading the chimney for the moisture damage our wet season quietly does. On the propane and wood units common out here, the job differs by fuel.
Rain is the local enemy
Transylvania County catches some of the heaviest rainfall in the state, and water is as hard on a chimney as fire. A cracked crown lets rain into the masonry, freeze-thaw spalls the brick face, and a steel damper left damp through the March-to-June wet season rusts stiff. So when we sweep a Brevard flue — sealing the opening, vacuuming at the hearth, brushing the liner and clearing the smoke shelf — we're also looking hard at the crown, the cap, and the crawl-space chase for the water intrusion that a dry-climate sweep would never think to check.
Propane and cabins change the visit
Brevard is propane country — the cabins tucked up the mountain roads and the newer builds around Connestee Falls and Sherwood Forest often run liquid propane, not natural gas. A sealed propane fireplace doesn't get a wood-style sweep; it gets an annual service and a vent inspection. The wood-burners and inserts do get the full brush, and their flues carry the creosote that a moist, slow fire builds fastest. We match the visit to your fuel and tell you plainly which you need.
Time it for a dry stretch
There's no sense sweeping and inspecting a soaked chimney, so we aim for a drier window and can advise on a stainless cap and crown sealing to keep the next season's rain out. Waterproofing and a proper cap do more for a chimney here than in almost any town we serve. About 40 minutes southwest of our Asheville showroom, we know Brevard's weather well. Call (828) 545-0525 to book.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- What is the difference between a chimney inspection and a chimney sweeping?
- How often should a wood-burning fireplace chimney be swept?
- What is creosote and how quickly does it build up?
- Will a chimney sweeping make a mess in my house, and how should I prepare for the appointment?
- What are Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 chimney inspections?