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While this process—also known as “chimney sweeping”—might not be a regular stop in your housekeeping routine, it’s not something you want to overlook indefinitely. Every year, thousands of house fires originate in the chimney or fireplace, most often due to soot buildup that sparks and spreads from there. So now that the colder weather might inspire you to cozy up in front of a fire, here’s the info you need on how to clean a chimney—from where to find a professional cleaner to how to do this task yourself if you’re so inspired.

How to tell if your chimney needs cleaning

Chimney cleaning doesn’t need to be done every week or even every year, says Ashley Eldridge, director of education at the Chimney Safety Institute of America, in Plainfield, IN. It’s really necessary only if the chimney is full of soot. So how do you know if you have soot up there? You need to hire a pro to help you figure it out.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends homeowners get a yearly inspection of their chimney and fireplace to see if they need to be repaired or cleaned. There are two “levels” of an inspection. At the first level, certified inspectors will look for things like water damage to the masonry as well as the buildup of soot and creosote on the inside of the chimney.

This basic inspection involves things an inspector can check with the naked eye, and that’s all that’s typically needed for your yearly review. That said, some inspectors will bring a special camera that they will run up (or down) the chimney, for a second-level inspection. Although the NFPA doesn’t call for a yearly inspection of this intensity, it should be done every time a property changes hands—or if there has been a chimney fire. If an inspection uncovers a problem, then the chimney needs to be fixed and/or cleaned.

How much does chimney cleaning cost?

A chimney inspection can range anywhere from $100 to $500, and some will include the cost of a cleaning as well as the inspection itself, while others may charge an additional fee to bring in their equipment and sweep the chimney.

The bill you pay for a chimney cleaning can also be affected by the amount of work that needs to be done, or the time of year. Chimney cleaning is often done when the weather begins to turn cold, so calling a chimney cleaner in March, when the business is slow, could earn you a deal. Some chimney sweeps are also certified in cleaning dryer vents, and you might be able to score a two-for-one discount if you hire the same contractor to clean both at the same time.

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Watch: How To Get Rid of Musty Closet Odors

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How to clean a chimney on your own: Dos and don’ts

It’s no surprise that the pros suggest you hire one of their own to clean a chimney.

According to Kurt Soens, president of Smoke Stacks, a chimney cleaning company in Brookfield, WI: “Soot in your chimney is like plaque on your teeth. It’s not going anywhere until you get a professional to clean it off.”

But if you’re really handy and looking to save some cash, Eldridge says homeowners can learn how to clean a chimney on their own. He offers these do’s and don’ts for the process:

Don’t use your vacuum cleaner to suck up the soot. While professional chimney sweeps have vacuums custom-made to handle the fine particles in soot, a typical home model can easily be ruined. Instead, you can protect your furniture with dropcloths, and some people swear by hanging a thick sheet over the fireplace, Eldridge says, limiting the amount of airborne soot that will spread into the home. You can also buy an ash vacuum from a home improvement store for $50 to $100—but you might not need this if you follow the next tip. Do buy a chimney cleaning kit. Typically available in home repair stores, chimney cleaning kits can run from $50 to $300 and include brushes and rods that will extend into your chimney. The kit might be as expensive as hiring a cleaner, but it can be used again and again, which could represent a cost savings down the road. Do get an inspector to follow up. If you’re new to the process, make sure you have someone checking behind you to ensure you haven’t missed something serious.

 

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