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Sweep’s Luck Chimney Cleaning For Fire Prevention

According to fire officials, the leading cause of wintertime residential blazes is chimney fires that flare-up when an accumulation of creosote, a by-product of burning wood, ignites the inside of your chimney and flames quickly spread to the rest of the house. This potentially deadly scenario is entirely preventable if you have your fireplace and chimney inspected, and repaired if necessary, by a licensed and experienced fireplace professional before lighting it up for the first time each winter.

In the mountaintop area, only one company, Sweep’s Luck, meets that criteria. “What separates us from the others is that we’re fully certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Also, I’m a licensed contractor, and we’re fully insured,” said Nolan Calkins, who along with his brother, Nathan, is co-owner of Blue Jay-based Sweep’s Luck, which has been serving the mountaintop communities since 1982.

According to Calkins, the leading cause of residential blazes, year-round, is lint-clogged dryer vents. “Dryer vents cause more fires than fireplaces because, over time, lint, which is extremely flammable, builds up inside the vent and this causes the dryer to overwork and overheat.” Noting that dryer vents run through the wall of your home, Calkins said, “Once the vent catches on fire, so does the inside of your wall.” This tragic scenario is also preventable, said Calkins, by having your dryer vent thoroughly inspected and cleaned about every two years.

Calkins also recommends that homeowners have their heating and air conditioning ducts serviced about every five years. This is important because harmful elements such as mold, bacteria, dust mites and pet hair are lurking inside the ducts. These, he said, can cause health problems, especially if you suffer from allergies.

Sweep’s Luck is also a Buck Energy Center, carrying a wide assortment of heating products, including fireplaces and wood and gas stoves from famous name manufactures like Regency, Lennox, Vermont Castings, Jotul, Timberwolf, Majestic and Napoleon.

Gas burning stoves reportedly offer more versatility than their wood counterparts in that they utilize direct-vent systems for venting and can sit directly on carpet or wood flooring, while electric stoves work the same as electric fireplaces, but take up less space.

While traditional fireplaces are popular for their aesthetics and romantic appeal, wood-burning stoves are more energy efficient. “A wood-burning stove or insert is definitely more efficient,” Calkins said adding, “The traditional fireplace is 8 to 10 percent efficient, while a wood stove offers 80 percent efficiency.”

The best woods to burn in either a traditional fireplace or woodstove, according to Calkins, are locally available hardwoods such as oak and eucalyptus. “Pine is sappy, so I would recommend using it to start your fire, then switching to a hardwood.” Even though pellet stoves are very efficient, he doesn’t recommend them because when the power goes out, so does your heat. Also, he said, pellets are hard to come by, as most dealers don’t carry them.

Sweep’s Luck is currently mailing out coupons offering Spring Savings on chimney, air duct and dryer vent cleaning and repairs, with $40 off any service before May 31, $30 off during June and $20 off in July. They are also offering discounts on hearth and fireplace accessories, as well as gas logs and chimney caps.

Calkins, who grew up on the mountain, said he purchased the business from his dad in 2004. Prior to that, he worked in the San Diego corporate office of a major restaurant chain for several years before moving back up to the mountain.

Sweeps Luck is conveniently located at 26882 State Highway 189 in Blue Jay. Call them at (909) 337-0256 for fast, courteous and efficient fireplace, air duct and dryer vent service, as well as fireplace repairs and a wide selection of fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, inserts and outdoor grills