Chimney and fireplace cleaning in Tulsa
We remove creosote, soot and debris so smoke goes up the flue, with your floors protected and your hearth clean when we leave.
Chimney and fireplace
A cleaner chimney and a safer burn season
Creosote and soot build up every time you burn. Left alone, they restrict your draft, cause smoky smells and raise the risk of a chimney fire. We remove the buildup from your firebox, damper, smoke chamber and flue so your fireplace burns the way it should.
Once a year
The usual recommendation for regular burners.
Floors protected
Drop cloths down before we start, hearth left clean.
Tulsa and nearby towns
Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, Sapulpa.
Plain-English answers
We show you what we found before we leave.
Why chimney cleaning matters
Every fire leaves a residue in your flue, and that residue is fuel.
When wood burns, the smoke carries unburned particles up the chimney. As the smoke cools against the flue walls, those particles stick. The first layer is soot. Over time it can turn into creosote, a tar-like coating that can catch fire. A regular cleaning removes that fuel.
Cleaning and inspection go together. We look at the whole chimney as we work. If we see a crack, a damaged cap or water stains, we tell you what we found and what it means. If you want a closer look, ask about a chimney and fireplace inspection. If the buildup has hardened into a glaze, we may recommend chemical chimney cleaning.
Smoke should rise up and away from the house. When it does not, the flue usually needs attention.
What we clean
Firebox and damper
We brush and vacuum the firebox, then clean the damper so it can open and close freely. A damper coated in soot can stick or fail to seal.
Smoke chamber and flue
The smoke chamber is the sloped area above the damper where soot collects. We brush it clean, then clean the flue itself so the draft can do its job.
We start at the firebox and damper, where the fire burns.
Chimney cleaning for Tulsa homes
Tulsa homes range from older brick houses with masonry fireplaces to newer builds with factory-made fireplaces. We clean both. Oklahoma weather matters too. Wet springs, hail and winter freezes are hard on a chimney, and animals look for a dry place to nest above the damper. We clear what we find and tell you if the cap needs attention.
Older brick chimneys and newer factory-built fireplaces need different care.
Even took his shoes off on our new carpet.
Collin Heath, customer review
Chemical chimney cleaning
When a brush is not enough.
Most creosote comes out with a regular sweep. Glazed creosote is different. It is a hard, shiny coating that bonds to the flue, and it is the highest fire risk of the three stages. Chemical cleaning loosens that glaze so it can be swept out.
Cool, smouldering fires are a common cause of glazed creosote.
- A shiny, black, tar-like coating on the flue walls
- Buildup that looks like dripping tar or a hard crust
- A strong smoky smell from the fireplace, even when it is cold
- Fires that smoulder and are hard to keep burning
- A past sweep that left a dark coating behind
Glaze returns when the conditions that made it stay the same. We look for the cause, such as a flue that is the wrong size or a rough smoke chamber, and tell you about it. Sometimes smoke chamber parging or relining helps. Burning dry, seasoned wood with a good hot fire helps too.
How often to schedule a cleaning
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends an inspection at least once a year, and the CSIA says a sweep is needed whenever the inspection shows buildup. If you burn often, check more often. Not sure what to book? Call (918) 361-4929 and we will tell you.
On this page
Ready to book?
Request an appointment and we will confirm your time window.
Other services
Why it matters
What is really building up in your chimney
Every fire leaves a residue in your flue. Over time it changes from light soot into a hard, glossy coating that is much harder to remove and far more likely to ignite.
1
Easy to remove
Soot
Light, dusty and easy to brush away. This is what a yearly sweep keeps you at.
2
Needs a proper sweep
Flaky creosote
Crunchy, tar-like flakes that restrict the flue and give off a strong smoky smell.
3
Highest risk
Glazed creosote
A hard, shiny glaze that bonds to the flue. It is the hardest to remove and the highest fire risk. The earlier it comes out, the easier it is.
What happens on your visit
From drop cloth to walk-through
The same careful routine at every home.
1
We protect your home
Drop cloths go down over floors and the hearth before any tool comes out.
2
We look before we brush
A quick check of the firebox, damper and the visible flue, so we know what we are dealing with.
3
We brush the flue clean
Creosote and soot are brushed out of the flue and smoke chamber.
4
We vacuum and tidy
Soot and debris are vacuumed up, and the firebox and hearth are left clean.
5
We clear blockages
Nests, leaves and debris above the damper come out.
6
We walk you through it
We show you what we found and answer your questions before we leave.
We work around your home, not through it.
Signs you are due
Six signs it is time to clean
If any of these sound familiar, it is time to book.
Smoky smell
A sooty odor in the house, especially on humid days.
Smoke in the room
Smoke drifts back into the room when you light a fire.
Dark, glossy buildup
Flaky or shiny black deposits on the flue walls.
Slow, weak fires
Fires that are hard to start or will not draw well.
Debris above the damper
Nests, leaves or twigs sitting in the flue.
It has been a year
Or you have burned about a cord of wood since the last sweep.
Before we arrive
How to get ready
A little preparation helps the visit go quickly.
- Let the fireplace cool completely before we arrive
- Clear a path and a few feet of space in front of the hearth
- Move valuables and fragile items off the mantel
- Tell us about any smoke, smells or noises you have noticed
What is included
- Floor and hearth protection
- Full flue and firebox cleaning
- Debris removal
- Walk-through of what we found
Cleaning questions
Chimney cleaning FAQ
Another question? Call us and talk to a real person.
How long does a chimney cleaning take?
It depends on the chimney and how much buildup is inside. We will give you a time window when you book and walk you through what we found before we leave.
Do I need to be home during the cleaning?
Someone should be home so we can show you what we found and answer your questions. Call us if that will not work and we will talk through it.
Will a chimney cleaning make a mess in my house?
It should not. We put protection down over the floor and hearth before we start, vacuum up soot and debris, and leave the firebox and hearth clean.
More from Ashes Away
Other services you may need
Chimney and fireplace inspection
A close look at the flue, damper, crown and firebox, explained without jargon.
Chimney and fireplace repair
Cap installation, crown maintenance and relining to keep water, animals and heat damage out.
Book your sweep
Ready for a safe, clean burn season?
Request an appointment and we will confirm your time window.