Ageless Chimney was one of three estimates sought, and I'm glad that I chose them....read moreAgeless Chimney was one of three estimates sought, and I'm glad that I chose them. Although it hasn't rained yet, I trust that the leak from failed flashing (no thanks to the previous roofers) is fixed, and the chimney on this 100+ year old home was completely re-pointed for the first time ever. From the professional office staff, to Keith the estimator, to Sherwood and Kevin who performed the work, thank you for giving me peace of mind from a job well done!read less
Joey S.
- Yelp
Friendly, Efficient, Professional and on time. They put a liner in my old chimney...read moreFriendly, Efficient, Professional and on time. They put a liner in my old chimney with. cap after providing a clear and fair estimate. I would swear they left the basement cleaner than they found it. 🙂read less
Vanessa P.
- Yelp
Called Ageless Chimney to get a free estimate on our damaged and old chimney. They...read moreCalled Ageless Chimney to get a free estimate on our damaged and old chimney. They were very knowledgeable and helpful with our chimney issues. The guys showed up and really took care of business. We had the upper portion of our chimney rebuilt and it looks amazing. Very clean job. We also had the metal chimney liner put in and now we don't have to worry about the old terra cotta lining. Bobby and the guys at Ageless Chimney are professional, knowledgeable, clean and on point. Highly recommend.read less
Phillippe I.
- Yelp
They're great! Did a solid liner on my old chimney. Santa is gonna have great...read moreThey're great! Did a solid liner on my old chimney. Santa is gonna have great time sliding down my chimney nowread less
Julieann C.
- Yelp
This Chimney company is reliable! Sherwood(owner) and one other guy showed up at the time...read moreThis Chimney company is reliable! Sherwood(owner) and one other guy showed up at the time they said they would and they were very professional. They put chimney cap's, and a new liner in for a great price. They were fast, and efficient. I would definitely recommend this company.read less
Patrick G.
- Yelp
I needed a chimney service, and read the glowing reviews of Ageless Chimney here on...read moreI needed a chimney service, and read the glowing reviews of Ageless Chimney here on yelp, so gave them a call. From that first call to the completion of the job, the many 5 star reviews were right on -- so I'm adding one.
Joe and his assistant arrived early and got right to work, quoting me a very fair price for a full sweep. Little did he know that he would find triple the amount of soot than generally encountered.
Not only did they complete the job with no additional cost (I would have understood an upcharge for the amount of work), but Joe suggested we have the burner serviced as the amount of soot indicated to him a potential failing unit.
These guys did a great job, kept a dirty job from messing up the house -- and made a friend with my dog! They also have a loyal customer moving forward.read less
Adam G.
- Yelp
Ageless Masonry put a patio of Cambridge pavers in my backyard and I couldn't be...read moreAgeless Masonry put a patio of Cambridge pavers in my backyard and I couldn't be happier. The attention to detail was top notch as well as their professionalism and the finished product is fantastic. I highly recommend this company for anyone with masonry needs.read less
Lisa D.
- Yelp
Everything about this company was very professional beginning with the friendly receptionist in the office....read moreEverything about this company was very professional beginning with the friendly receptionist in the office. She scheduled to have someone come out for an estimate a few days after my call. Someone called to confirm the appt a couple of days prior. Charlie and Terry showed up early (could it get any better?!) and my parents felt so comfortable with their ability to complete the work, they had them just take care of it on the spot! Everyone I interacted with on this repair was so pleasant and friendly! Would not hesitate to use them again or to recommend to others.read less
Howard N.
- Yelp
While having my heating system serviced by Master Plumbing they called my attention to a...read moreWhile having my heating system serviced by Master Plumbing they called my attention to a possible chimney problem. They referred me to the services of Ageless Chimney. I'm glad they did. Not long after they arrived Nick was able to diagnose the issues my chimney was suffering from and show me with pictures of the roof, cap, crown, flue liner, etc. He is extremely knowledgeable, personable and a very hardworking and skillful tradesman. I was pleased the speed, efficiency, and quality of the job. Also, the neatness and care they took in working in our home. I recommend Ageless Chimney and especially Nick very highly.read less
CHIMNEY CLEANING: A DO IT YOURSELF APPROACH
Here on Long Island, it is very important that you keep your chimneys cleaned and in proper working order. We suggest that you call one of our professional chimney sweeps to do the job for you. However, there are some basic things that you can do to prep for the cleaning process. There are even some things you can do to keep your chimney clean yourself! Read on for a step by step at home chimney cleaning guide.
Prepare the Area Around Your Chimney
First thing’s first. You should remove anything that is in front of your fireplace. Also move any furniture as far away as possible. If you don’t want anything getting dirty, make sure you cover everything with old sheets. You should also roll back any rugs that are near the fireplace. If you have carpeting, it would be wise to set down a tarp.
Remove the Grate from the Fireplace
This may go without saying, but do not operate an open flame in the area surrounding the fireplace while attempting to do any chimney cleaning. Be sure to wear a dust mask and protective gloves while you attempt to clean the fireplace. While being mindful not to inhale any dust or soot, shovel out ashes and debris from the inside of the fireplace.
Inspect Your Chimney
Use a torch, (carefully!) to look up the flue of the chimney. If there is a damper fitted to your flue, you will need to ensure it is open. If there is, use the damper handle to push the flap back and lock it open. Check for any animals or birds that may have taken up residence. Inspect for any cracks or missing firebricks and take remedial steps if damage is found. The lining of your flue is important to prevent gas or smoke escaping. Check the thickness of any creosote build-up using a blade or scraper. If you notice significant damage, it may be time to get some professional chimney cleaning company, or even chimney repair, with Ageless Chimney.
Select Your Brush
By now you should have determined the size and shape of your chimney flue. It will be either square or round. You should also estimate the height of your chimney. Once you choose the correct brush, attach it to a rod. Push the rod up the flue until the bottom end of the rod is in the middle of the fireplace.
Scrub, Scrub, Scrub!
Start scrubbing up your chimney by going through the hole in your dust sheet or cardboard, attach another rod to lengthen your chimney brush. Scrub using a slight clockwise movement as you push, and never twist the brush counter-clockwise. With a hard and vigorous thrust, scrub the flue with the brush, adding more rods as you proceed up the flue.
Remove Brush and Soot
You will know that you have reached the top of your chimney when you feel less friction. Withdraw the brush unscrewing one rod at a time. As you unscrew the last rod, let the brush fall into the soot pile that now lies at the bottom of the fireplace. Lift the bottom of the dust sheet or cardboard covering, remove the brush and carefully shovel the pile of soot into a metal bucket.
Cleaning Up
First, remove any dust cloths or cardboard you have assembled. Now is the time to get your vacuum or shop vac and get up all that soot! Your next step is to reassemble the grate of the fireplace. Take any old sheets you used and shake them out outside. Soot can be disposed of by burial, as although it is flammable it is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Hard deposits of creosote are corrosive and more toxic, however they can be buried too. Any edible plants in your garden will not absorb creosote, and when you eat the fruit or vegetables they produce, they will not contain the chemicals present in creosote.
While this is a very basic guide to cleaning a chimney, we do suggest you call the best chimney company on Long Island, Ageless Chimney! We will save you a lot of time and effort for you. Don’t trust just any chimney company, call us today!
