Having your chimney swept by professionals should take around three hours, depending on how dirty it gets inside. Afterward, any debris left will be taken away, so there’s no way for you to clean them yourself later on. There are companies who offer half-day sweeps, although obviously if you can afford more time, it’s better for everyone involved. 

For those of you who might ask why even bother with this service and what chimney sweeping is, we’ll explain. First and foremost, there are a lot of different kinds of residue built up inside your flue, which contributes to creosote formation, poor airflow, and bad smells. These things need to be removed once or twice a year so that the fireplace operates as intended.

What’s more, creosote formation is dangerous because it can ignite at any time. The last thing you want is for the fire to go out and then suddenly burst into flames when someone goes near it about an hour later.

Additionally, this residue isn’t just bad for your chimney but also unpleasant to smell if left alone inside the house. Some people clean their fireplaces themselves or hire a sweep once every couple of years which is better than nothing but still doesn’t guarantee the best results most of the time.