American Chimney & Masonry offers top-notch Chimney Sweep & Cleaning Services in Portland, Oregon
American Chimney & Masonry is one of the most widely respected chimney sweeps Portland, Oregon has.
Just about every organization with any connection to homes or home heating – from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to the Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) recommends having your chimney regularly cleaned and swept by professional, CSIA-certified chimney sweep technicians.
The benefits of regular chimney sweeping and maintenance are many, from:
- helping your chimney system function more safely and more environmentally-friendly to
-encouraging better performance and a longer service life.
And that’s true whether you have:
- A traditional masonry chimney
- A pre-fabricated system
- A chimney venting a furnace.
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American Chimney & Masonry is located right here in Portland. We have been performing chimney sweeps and chimney cleanings for homes and businesses within the Portland-Metro area for many years.
Our professional technicians are certified and vaccinated. Our service area stretches from NE Portland down to SE Portland, Tualatin, and Oregon City in the south, from Pleasant Valley in the east to Beaverton and Sherwood in the west.
We continue to be the most trusted Chimney Sweep company in Portland!
All of American Chimney & Masonry’s chimney sweep technicians are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and by the Oregon Chimney Sweep Association (OCSA). That means you can expect us to follow the CSIA’s detailed and exacting chimney sweep practices and provide you with the most thorough, effective chimney cleaning service. Our techs use industry-leading tools that are specially designed for the type of chimney we’re sweeping, be it masonry or a prefabricated system. Our chimney sweep technicians thoroughly and cautiously break free and remove …
-Debris
-Creosote
-Soot
-Ther Deposits,
… and contain all of those materials with a high-speed vacuum.
With American Chimney & Masonry, you can expect a thorough, mess-free service – guaranteed. We take extra steps to ensure a mess-free chimney sweeps, laying drop cloths, rug runners, and tarps around the work area, and wearing shoe covers whenever we’re in your home.
When our chimney sweep technician visits your home, you can expect top-notch, dedicated service and a chimney sweep that provides higher levels of performance and safety.
If you’re overdue for a chimney cleaning or sweeping, give us a call at 503-644-0393 or click here to schedule an appointment – our CSIA-certified technicians are ready to serve you! Our comprehensive chimney video inspection means we know exactly what needs to be done, and it lets you be confident that you are getting the best chimney and fireplace service available.
If you live in the Portland area and are looking for top-notch chimney and fireplace services, look no further than American Chimney & Masonry.Call us at 503-644-0393 or click here to schedule an appointment!
Think about the concept of aerodynamics:
Cars, for example, are designed to allow air to flow over surfaces with as little obstruction as possible, and that plays out as smooth surfaces with gentle curves. Blunt points and craggy surfaces fight against the flow of air and lessen performance.
That concept fits into your chimney’s performance, too. You want air to flow into, through, and out of your flue as smoothly as possible, without anything blocking, slowing, or otherwise hampering its movement.
Debris and creosote build-up has an appreciable effect on flow and creates a frustrating feedback loop. Once a draft is inhibited, you end up with:
Proper chimney sweeping, however, will be free of debris and deposits, so the air will be free to flow.
Along with inhibiting airflow, the various deposits that result from combustion — whether you’re burning wood, gas, or oil — have acidic and corrosive qualities that will wear at your flue liner and chimney over time.
The good news is: Having a regular chimney sweep service can minimize those effects and keep your chimney system performing better, for longer.
Regular chimney sweeping is important!
As you burn wood in your chimney, combustion creates a variety of byproducts, including hot gasses flush with particulates. As those gasses rise in your chimney, they reach the cooler flue walls and condense into a liquid. The result is a dark, dirty, extremely combustible deposit called creosote.
Over time, creosote will layer and thicken,
creating several safety issues. First, the thicker the creosote, the more constricted the flue gets – and the less able it is to vent the byproducts of combustion.
If creosote levels are considerable enough, it can block your flue, allowing toxic gasses to get into your living area, heat to build up in the flue, and potentially cause a chimney fire and even a house fire.
A professional chimney sweep removes creosote and drastically lessens those risks.
Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive from homeowners.
It's recommended to have your chimney inspected at least once a year, even if you don't use it frequently. This helps identify potential safety hazards like creosote buildup, moisture damage, pest entry, or structural damage. If there is 1/8” of soot or creosote build-up anywhere in the system, sweeping the system is recommended.
This can be caused by a number of factors, and a CSIA-certified chimney sweep can help diagnose the source(s) of the problem and make appropriate recommendations for a solution. Causes include:
- Inadequate draft: This can be caused by several factors such as wind, air pressure issue inside the home, the temperature of the outside air in relation to the indoor temperature, or the chimney not being tall enough.
- Flow restrictions: Improper flue sizing, construction flaws that cause turbulence, improper chimney cap.
- Poor wood or fuel: Wood with too much moisture makes it difficult to maintain adequate temperatures to give the smoke buoyancy. It also consumes much of the potential energy to drive out the moisture instead of providing heat to the home.
If you're unsure about the safety of your fireplace:
- Have it inspected by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep.
- Ensure the damper is working properly.
- Keep flammable materials away from the fireplace.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
To increase fireplace efficiency:
- Use a fireplace insert or stove.
- Seal any air leaks around the fireplace.
- Burn high-quality firewood.
- Have your chimney cleaned regularly.
Gas fireplaces offer several advantages, including:
- Convenience: No need to gather, chop, or store wood.
- Efficiency: Often more energy efficient than wood-burning fireplaces.
- Cleanliness: No soot or ash to clean up.
- Safety: Reduced risk of accidental fires.
There are several areas of the chimney and surroundings that can allow water to get into the home, including:
- Lack of a proper chimney cap.
- Improper, missing, or damaged flashing.
- Water penetration through the masonry.
- Flue gases leaching through from the flue.
Look for these signs of chimney damage:
- Cracks or spalling in the masonry.
- Leaning or tilting chimney.
- Missing, soft, or damaged mortar.
- Rust or corrosion on metal components.
- Staining on the chimney exterior or interior.
For safety and effectiveness, it's best to hire a professional CSIA-certified chimney sweep. They have the necessary tools and expertise to remove creosote and other debris from your chimney and are trained to identify any potential hazards or concerns.
To minimize creosote buildup:
- Burn dry, seasoned wood.
- Maintain a hot fire.
- Have your chimney swept regularly.
Hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory are generally considered the best choices for firewood. They are denser, burn longer, and provide more heat by volume. It’s not a bad idea to use softer woods like fir or pine to get the fire started.
To schedule an appointment with one of our expert chimney repair technicians, please call 503-644-0393. With over 19,000 satisfied customers since 1989, we are ready for more! We look forward to visiting with you soon about your fireplace and chimney sweep needs.
There are many health hazards that are caused by the improper maintenance of a home chimney.
If you are a busy homeowner and cannot find the time or don’t have the know-how to clean your own flue, it is a good idea to hire a professional chimney sweep and make sure they are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).
A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep is a skilled technician who inspects the chimney and cleans and clears soot, debris, and ashes from the chimney. The government’s fire prevention and protection agencies are recommending homeowners have their chimneys inspected at least once per year.
Chimney sweep companies that employ CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps are dependable and will provide professional services for this kind of task.
They are promoting their expertise in inspecting and maintaining:
Professional CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps are experts in inspecting and sweeping residences of all sizes and designs no matter the year of construction. You want to look for these skilled chimney sweeps that understand, and can utilize, the latest tools that enable them to do their jobs, safely, securely and correctly.
01. The ability to perform regular chimney inspections (Level I and Level II), and recommend needed repairs and waterproofing when necessary.
02. The ability to detect and repair of any water leak that will cause damage to the outer and inner parts of the fireplace and chimney.
03. The ability to install chimney caps for preventing snow, rain, small animals, leaves and debris from entering the flue. The ability to repair an incorrectly built or deteriorated chimney crown.
04. Restoring a dented chimney’s chase tops, which are likely to lead to the staining of your chimney’s sidings and putting strain on the assembled metal flue.
01. How long has the Portland chimney sweeping company been in business?
02. Does the company offer current references?
03. Does the company have unresolved complaints filed within the city of Portland or state consumer protection agency or Better Business Bureau?
04. Does the company or individual carry a valid business liability insurance policy to protect your home and furnishings against accidents?
05. Does the company ensure that a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep will be on the job site?