Our Process

Jeff Rozendal, the owner of Chimney Crickets, designed his chimney sweep process from over three decades of hands-on experience. Paired with the Certified Chimney Sweep Program of the Chimney Safety Institute of America and following the most current recommendations and best practices from the primary chimney cleaning professional organizations and guilds, Jeff delivers a top-notch experience.

Our Tools & Sweeping Process

A skilled chimney sweep removes chimney debris while keeping your home spotless. Jeff dedicates time and comes prepared to ensure your house will be as clean as when he first walked through the door.

Step 1 First, to maintain the cleanliness of your home, he will set up drop cloths in front of the fireplace and all other areas that the cleaning will involve.

Step 2 Next, Jeff sets up an industrial vacuum by running a 4" diameter hose under a cover that seals the fireplace opening. The vacuum turns on and will remain running to collect the debris created from the actual cleaning. The vacuum doesn't perform the chimney cleaning – its job is to keep dust out of the house and pick up loose material produced during the cleaning. A good industrial vacuum is essential for professional chimney work.

Step 3 Jeff then goes up on the roof and runs special brushes mounted on rods up and down the flue to remove the soot and creosote deposits as much as possible; meanwhile, the vacuum below prevents dust and debris from entering the house.

Step 4 When he finishes brushing the flue from the roof, he will shine his light down the chimney to check the work and perform a visual inspection of the overall physical condition of the chimney. When the chimney cleaning work is complete, you can expect Jeff to share this assessment of the chimney.

Step 5 No chimney can be properly cleaned with only roof access, so next, Jeff will return inside the house to continue the cleaning process at the fireplace or wood stove. Any chimney cleaning performed according to professional standards has the chimney sweep work both from the roof and inside the home.

Step 6 For a fireplace, Jeff runs small brushes into the smoke chamber, which is up through the throat by the damper. He will either scoop or vacuum the soot and creosote off the smoke shelf. Next, he will scrub out the firebox and further examine his work and the condition of the system parts.

For a wood burning stove, he will remove the baffles inside the stove in order to clean out the debris that was just brushed down the chimney. Depending on the particular appliance, or with certain types of stove installations, the chimney connectors may need to be disconnected for a proper cleaning.

Step 7 Finally, when the work is complete, Jeff turns the vacuum off and loads his equipment back into the van. For your convenience, and to promote fire safety, he provides an evaluation report that details the condition of the chimney and the overall system. At this time, he will receive your payment unless other arrangements have been made.