What time of year is best to have a chimney swept?
In Leicester, plan the sweep for late summer, and plan around wood and propane. These rural, large-property homes out Sandy Mush and Turkey Creek lean on wood heat and propane rather than a gas main — and wood is where creosote, the real chimney-fire risk, builds. Cold-air drainage runs these valleys 5 to 8 degrees colder than Asheville, so the season comes early.
Wood heat means creosote
Wood heat is popular across Leicester's spread-out properties, and every winter of burning lays down creosote in the flue — the tarry residue that fuels chimney fires when it's left to accumulate. A late-summer sweep clears it and inspects the liner before you fire up again, which matters most exactly where wood does the heavy lifting.
Some of the more remote Sandy Mush and Newfound Road properties also run on limited electrical capacity, which is part of why wood and propane carry the load out here — and part of why keeping those flues clean isn't optional.
Cold arrives early in the hollows
On clear winter nights, cold air drains down Leicester's rural valleys and settles, running 5 to 8 degrees colder than Asheville proper. Your first real fire comes sooner than the city's, so the safe move is to sweep on the early side — August or September — rather than gamble on a warm fall.
As a licensed gas contractor, we service and pressure-test any propane connection and permit repairs through Buncombe County. Leicester is 15 minutes west of our Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.
The spring alternative
Sweeping right after burning season clears acidic creosote before the humid summer and evicts nesting material before spring — and on a heavily-used wood flue, getting a season's residue out early is the healthiest thing you can do for it.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.