Bethesda Homeowners Trust Our Chimney Sweep Expertise

Albert & Sons Chimneys is your destination for comprehensive chimney and heating appliance services, including:

Chimney Relining

Chimney Leak Detection

Chimney Repairs

Chimney Waterproofing

Masonry Repairs

Stove Installation

Chimney Cleaning

Chimney Inspections

Fireplace Installation

What Factors Make Us Stand Out From the Rest?

We know you're extremely busy and put a lot of effort into maintaining your home's beauty. At Albert & Sons Chimneys, our priority is to ensure we leave no evidence of our visit, except for your satisfaction and a secure, healthy chimney. We start by placing drop-cloths as soon as we enter your home to keep your floors pristine, and we utilize powerful vacuums to eliminate any debris or soot that might be dislodged during sweeping.

We utilize advanced video scanning technology to record the state of your chimney before and after our services, ensuring cleanliness and the detection of any issues.

When selecting Albert & Sons Chimneys for your chimney needs, you can expect certified and experienced technicians, a spotless cleaning job, the latest in chimney inspection, and complete documentation of the process, including before and after.

In Bethesda, MD, homeowners recognize our exceptional craftsmanship and integrity. Every service vehicle is staffed with a skilled chimney technician and an assistant. Our technicians, with years of experience, are all committed to delivering excellence.

Reasons Chimney Sweeping Matters

The detailed process of chimney sweeping might sound simple, but it requires an expert's care to be carried out accurately, and it is essential for maintaining a functional chimney and the safety of your home and family.

The chimney serves to safely contain and expel harmful substances produced by burning fuel, including gases, smoke, particles, and minerals, while you use your fireplace or stove. Over time, debris and creosote accumulate, potentially leading to blockages and fires. A proficient Maryland chimney sweep can securely and meticulously remove this buildup, allowing your chimney to function properly.

Chimney sweeping, as a low-cost and essential component of preventative maintenance, can help keep you safe and yield long-term monetary savings.

Annual cleaning and inspection should be conducted for chimneys in regular use, while even those rarely used should undergo at least one sweeping and inspection to verify their safe and correct functioning.

Readying for your chimney sweeping appointment is straightforward:

Before your appointment, don't use your fireplace for a fire for a 24-hour period.

Move furniture or any breakable items several feet away from the area around your stove or fireplace.

It is requested that you keep pets in another room, at a distance from the work area.

In about 60 to 90 minutes, your chimney sweep should complete the job, and you can look forward to your technician performing the following:

Evaluate accessible parts of your chimney, inside and outside.

Inspect factory-assembled units for cracking.

Sweep your chimney utilizing special brushes.

Ensure your chimney liner is free of cracks, gaps, and missing joints.

Use our hand tools to thoroughly scrub your chimney's smoke chamber, smoke shelf, and damper.

Brush away ashes, then clean the firebox.

Remove the grate from either a fireplace or stove and brush it.

Ensure no fire safety hazards are present.

Despite chimney tools' evolution, the time-honored practice of chimney sweeping with brushes and rods remains intact.

Chimney Sweep Hiring Tips: What Matters Most

Unfortunately, chimney sweeping isn't a federally regulated industry, so anyone can purchase a few tools and brushes and claim to be qualified. However, choosing the wrong team for the task can be an expensive error.

Many chimney fires and fireplace issues can be averted with correct maintenance, whereas unqualified chimney sweeps and their sub-par repair work can aggravate problems and risks. We have even had to come to the aid of homeowners who have fallen victim to some of these unqualified businesses.

As there are many chimney sweep companies to choose from, understanding the differences in education, training, experience, and standards can be challenging.

Not all chimney sweeps are equally concerned about your long-term safety. Make sure the company you choose, whether it's Albert & Sons Chimneys or another, has the proper licensing, insurance, and certification to handle your chimney and fireplace needs.

First of all, you want to make sure the company is licensed and insured, and it can be a good idea to ask for references as well. But one other important thing you want to look for in Maryland chimney sweep services is CSIA certification.

Governed by volunteer industry professionals, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is a non-profit organization with a purpose to keep homeowners safe and protect them from fire hazards. They have been doing this since the 1980s by providing the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential.