The Irish Sweep is still accepting calls to answer questions and schedule any service needs. However, no on-site visits are currently being conducted pursuant to the government's stay in place order. Please feel free to contact us at 510.521.4088 to get answers to your questions or schedule a future appointment.

Category: Safety

How Ceramic Coatings Make Your Chimney Safer, and 3 Other Benefits

In this blog post, we’ll explain how ceramic coatings make your chimney safer – and the many other benefits of using them.

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think about the chimney until there’s a problem with it. And by then, it’s often too late. A broken or deteriorated chimney can lead to all sorts of safety and efficiency problems in the home, from hazardous flue gasses leaking into the living space to an increase in our energy bills due to draft problems. But ceramic coatings can help prevent all that!

How Does a Chimney Lose Integrity Over Time?

With time, even a lightly-used fireplace and chimney can start to deteriorate. Exposure to winds, extreme temperatures, and moisture can cause mortar joints to crack and separate, bricks to crumble or spall, metal dampers to rust through, and clay flue tiles to crack.

This deterioration can lead to all sorts of problems in our home. To stay ahead of damage and keep our chimney functioning efficiently, opt for a chimney inspection at least once a year. We can also prevent deterioration (and fix certain safety issues) by hiring professional services to apply ceramic coatings to our chimney.

How Do Ceramic Coatings Make Your Chimney Safer?

Applied inside a chimney, the ceramic coating seals any gaps or cracks. It covers an even ceramic layer that allows smoke and dangerous chemicals to escape straight out of the chimney’s crown. It also inhibits further acid corrosion and prevents damage that might result from it. This not only ensures that the chimney will continue to function properly but also gives us peace of mind knowing that no expensive repairs will sneak up on us.

Other Benefits of Ceramic Coatings

Lengthens the Chimney’s Lifespan

Ceramic coatings are designed to restore and repair the flue while protecting it against future damage. The heat-resistant, water-resistant, chemical-resistant ceramic surface decreases dangerous heat transfer that would otherwise damage an unreinforced fireplace.

Helps Prevent Chimney Fires

Poorly maintained flues and chimneys are one of the common causes of home fires. When creosote, a combustible byproduct of incomplete combustion, builds up in the flue, it can ignite and cause a dangerous chimney fire. Ceramic coatings help to prevent these types of fires by sealing and protecting the flue and preventing the buildup of creosote. The ceramic coating also makes it easier for the chimney sweep to clean the chimney!

Eco-Friendly and Cost-Effective Choice

Ceramic coatings are a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to protect a chimney. They are manufactured from recycled and natural materials, and are much more economical than rebuilding a chimney! Because the ceramic coating seals all the cracks and gaps in the chimney, often an increase in energy efficiency is noticed – which means we save money on our energy bill.

Our highly skilled experts offer a 20-year warranty on ceramic coatings. The coating will not crack or chip due to temperature changes and is highly resistant to water penetration, so you won’t have to worry about repair costs for a long time!

To learn more about the many benefits of ceramic coating, contact us today!

How Much Does Dryer Vent Cleaning Cost?

How often should you have it done? These are questions that many homeowners ask. The answer to both questions depends on a variety of factors, including location and climate. In this blog post, we will discuss the average cost of Oakland dryer vents cleaning as well as some things to consider before having it done. Keep your home safe and your energy bills low by keeping your dryer vent clean!

Why Do Oakland Dryer Vents Need Regular Cleaning?

A clothes dryer is a major appliance in your home and should be treated as such. Just like you would have your oven or refrigerator cleaned on a regular basis, you should also have your dryer vent cleaned. A clogged vent can cause several problems, including:

  • A fire hazard due to the build-up of lint
  • Increased energy bills due to the dryer having to work harder to get the job done
  • Poor drying performance: clothes are hot and smell burnt when they come out of the dryer

The bottom line is that a scheduled dryer vent cleaning needs to be part of your regular home maintenance routine. 

How Much Does Oakland Dryer Vents Cleaning Cost?

The average cost of dryer vent cleaning is $80 to $185. This price range includes having the vent cleaned from both the inside and outside of your home. There are a few things that can affect the final cost, such as whether or not the dryer duct runs through the attic or roof. Roof dryer duct cleaning usually costs between $150 and $300. If there is a bird’s nest in the vent, that may add an additional cost of $120 to $250. 

You can save money on vent cleaning costs by sticking with one company. Often, companies will reward their loyal customers with special discounts! For example, we charge $295.00 for a dryer exhaust cleaning with a PPE fee of $35.00.  If you are a returning client, we charge $265.00 plus the PPE fee. 

It is also important to note that the cost of dryer vent cleaning may vary depending on your location. If you live in a colder climate, for example, there may be more lint buildup due to the fact that clothes take longer to dry in cold weather.

How Often Should You Have It Done?

How often you should have your dryer vent cleaned depends on a variety of factors, including:

  • Location: if you live in a humid climate, you will need to have it cleaned more often than someone who lives in a drier climate
  • The number of people in your household: the more people there are, the more lint will be generated
  • The type of clothes you usually dry: if you tend to dry heavy fabrics like jeans and towels, there will be more lint buildup than if you only dry lightweight materials
  • The number of people in your household with long hair
  • The number of animals in your household

The recommended interval for air duct cleaning is every three to five years. However, it is important to speak with a professional about the specific needs of your home.

Schedule an Oakland Dryer Vents Cleaning Today

The Irish Sweep specialists can get deep into your vent system where most household cleaning methods can’t reach, so you can enjoy a safer and more effective system for years to come. Our top priority is safety and we customize our services with our client’s best interest at heart. Enjoy clean Oakland dryer vents now! To schedule an appointment with an expert, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here.

5 Crucial Facts On How To Clean Dryer Vent

Do you NEED to clean dryer vents? Clean dryer vents are not only important for the environment and your home, but also for your safety. Dirty dryer vents can do a number of different things to harm you, from overheating clothes to catching on fire. Keeping the vents clean is cheap and easy, so why wouldn’t you do it? In this post we’ll discuss 5 crucial facts about dryer vents that will convince you to call the cleaners right away!

Do you NEED to clean dryer vents?

Yes – otherwise we wouldn’t be writing this article! It is imperative to get your dryer vents cleaned at least once a year – and more often if you notice its function start to decline in between. Dirty, dusty vents can decrease the efficiency of your dryer, costing you more in electricity bills. Not to mention it’s just plain dangerous to have a clogged vent – lint is highly flammable and can easily cause a fire next to the hot dryer.

5 Facts About Dryer Vents

As promised, here are five key points about clean dryer vent that will make you want to get them cleaned as soon as possible:

  1. 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.
  2. Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.
  3. More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January.
  4. Without a screen, all the lint goes directly into the ventilation lines, increasing the risk of fires. Never use a dryer that has a broken, loose, damaged, or missing lint-catching screen.
  5. Cleaning your dryer vent system at least once per year can save a typical household 30% on clothes drying costs. An efficiently-operating dryer means less cycles and time are required to dry your laundry.

It is clear that keeping your dryer vents clean is a total win-win. Not only do you save money and energy, but you also avoid damage to your clothes, unsafe conditions, and house fires. So don’t wait – call your local dryer vent cleaning crew near me today!

Signs Your Dryer Vents Need Cleaning

There are a few signs you should watch out for when assessing your dryer:

  • Does the vent become clogged during use?
  • Are your clothes or the dryer itself noticeably hot to the touch at the end of a cycle?
  • Are there any black marks or discolorations on your vent walls, ceiling and floor?
  • Have you noticed an increase in static electricity during or after use?
  • Does it take longer than one cycle to dry your clothes?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to call in the experts! Save your home – and yourself – from potential danger by ensuring that your dryer vents are clean and clear. 

Can I clean the dryer vents myself?

When it comes to cleaning, there are some things that people feel they MUST do themselves in order to save money. Unfortunately, this is not one of them. Clean dryer vent is a task that should be left to the professionals. Not only will it save you time and energy, but it will also keep you safe from potential hazards.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Near Me

Our Irish Sweep Bay Area dryer vent cleaning services are affordable, thorough, and experienced. You can rest easy knowing that we will do exactly as promised: our cleaners have years of experience in the dryer cleaning business so they know what it takes for a successful job.

How Often Do You Need a Chimney Cleaner/Sweep?

A favorite pastime of so many of us is sitting and telling stories around a crackling fire. When the fire dies down and the embers go out, though, there’s ash and soot to be swept up. That same soot can build up in the interior of your chimney and cause problems if ignored for too long. This points to the question: how often do you need the best chimney cleaner or chimney sweep? 

The National Fire Protection Association Recommends: 

Standard 211 of the National Fire Protection Association states that, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” This once-a-year national safety standard is the recommendation that most chimney sweeps will give you. 

What If I Don’t Use the Fireplace Often?

It’s easy to assume that you can leave your fireplace and chimney alone if you’re not lighting fires. However, chimney damage can occur from other external factors such as earthquakes, storms, and moisture. Without an annual inspection, you might be accidentally ignoring worsening conditions that may ultimately damage the structure of your home. 

  • Structural Damage: Wet weather can weaken the joints of your chimney, leading to cracks or structural shifts. It can also let unwanted moisture into your home. If not repaired in a timely manner, damage may become so severe that the chimney collapses.
  • Pests: An unused chimney can be the perfect warm, dry place for insects and animals to settle into. Squirrels, birds, spiders, and even mice can crawl and nest in your chimney, wreaking havoc on its masonry. 

Creosote Buildup Requires The Best Chimney Cleaner

If you use your fireplace every so often during the colder months, you may have noticed a black, tar-like, shiny or fuzzy substance on the interior walls of the chimney. This substance is called creosote, a highly flammable chemical byproduct of burning wood. If you notice creosote buildup, call a chimney sweep before you light another fire, otherwise you might be looking at a fire a little larger than you anticipated. 

5 Surprising Benefits of a Clean Chimney 

  1. A safe and efficient fireplace 
  2. Reduced smoky odors
  3. Discover chimney damage before a costly repair is necessary 
  4. Prevent corrosion of chimney walls due to creosote buildup
  5. Prevents carbon monoxide inhalation and poisoning 

The Irish Sweep Makes Chimney Maintenance Easy

An annual cleaning by the best chimney cleaner like The Irish Sweep is an imperative step to proper chimney maintenance. Our technicians are proud of our 40+ years of experience servicing the Bay Area, and there’s no chimney problem we haven’t seen before! We can inspect the inside and outside of your chimney in detail to deep clean, discover damage, and recommend any repairs. 

Schedule Our Best Chimney Cleaner  Now 

Our services at The Irish Sweep can help maintain and enjoy a wood-burning chimney and fireplace all winter and for years to come. We take great pride in offering our Bay Area chimney cleaning services to the resident community and the local Bay Area.

To schedule an appointment with our team, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here.

Here is a little known fact about creosote: It oxidizes.  Creosote that was not able to be removed at the time of the last service appointment will actually change chemical composition, rendering it a substance that can now be removed. It’s never too late to schedule a chimney cleaning! 

How Much Does it Cost to Hire Bay Area Chimney Cleaner/Sweep?

Looking to Hire a Local Bay Area chimney cleaner Expert? Chimney maintenance is a task that often flies under the radar, but it’s extremely important to preserving the structural integrity of your home and reducing flammable buildup in the chimney’s interior. When shopping for a reputable chimney sweep in the Bay Area, here’s how much you can expect to pay for the highest quality services. 

What Sets a Chimney Cleaning Company Apart? 

There’s no industry-wide standard or regulation for chimney cleaners or chimney sweeps. As a layperson, it can be difficult to know whether or not you can trust a chimney cleaning company or not. After all, a chimney is a structural element of your house: an improperly inspected chimney could be secretly harboring cracks, buildup, and damage that could compromise the safety of your home. 

Licensing and Certification 

The Irish Sweep proudly holds a masonry contractors license issued by the State of California and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). CSIA-certified companies receive top education and training in the field, and also sign a code of ethics promising only excellent service. A CSIA license and certification is a guarantee that you are working with seasoned experts in chimney safety. 

Qualities of Reputable Chimney Cleaners/Sweeps

  1. Excellent customer reviews or testimonials 
  2. Licensed and insured 
  3. Decades of experience 
  4. Transparency about pricing 
  5. Prompt service 
  6. Professional advice about continued chimney maintenance 
  7. Range of comprehensive services 

How Much Does a Bay Area Chimney Cleaner/Sweep Cost? 

Expect a wide range of prices when searching for a Bay Area chimney cleaning service. Since pricing may vary from company to company, it’s a good idea to check out the licensing and certification status, client reviews, and real-world indicators of top-notch service providers. 

  • A basic chimney checkup and cleaning from a CSIA-certified company typically ranges between $200 and $300.
  • More intensive services, such as a thorough inspection with a chimney camera, may range from $100 to $500.
  • If your chimney has weathered significant damage, such as from a recent earthquake or storm, you need a detailed inspection to check for and resolve structural damage. This service may range from $1,000 to $5,000.

What Else Affects Chimney Cleaning Costs? 

Any manufacturer will tell you that maintenance is key to reducing costs long-term. An annually cleaned, inspected chimney will last longer and function better than a neglected chimney. If you can’t remember your last chimney cleaning, it’s probably time for one. Otherwise, a good rule of thumb is to schedule your appointment once every 75 fires or per every cord of wood burned.

We are your local Bay Area chimney cleaner with 40+ years of experience. 

Schedule a Chimney Cleaning Today

Our services at The Irish Sweep can help maintain and enjoy a wood-burning chimney and fireplace for years to come. We take great pride in offering our Bay Area chimney cleaning services to the resident community and the local Bay Area.

To schedule an appointment with our team, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here.

Enjoy a crackling fire this Holiday season with the knowledge that your chimney is clean and safe.

Signs You Need Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

Read on to learn more about telltale signs that it’s time for a professional dryer vent cleaning.

Clean dryer vents are underrated. When the ducts and vents in your dryer are clean and lint-free, your clothes dry better and faster – plus you avoid several common risks. Not only are clogged dryer vents a fire hazard, they also decrease the lifespan of your dryer, use up to 30% more energy, hike up your energy bill, and invite animals to nest in the warm, soft lint in the ducts. Not exactly desirable! Luckily, keeping clean dryer vents is easy if you know the right tips, tricks, and signs to look for. 

You Might Need a Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning if…

Clothes take longer than usual to dry.

How long does it take to dry your clothes? If your usual timer goes off and your clothes are still damp, then you might be wondering why your dryer’s performance has started to decline. Longer drying times are one of the first signs that there’s lint buildup in the vents or ducts. The more you continue to use your ineffective dryer, the more you increase your energy usage (and your utility bill). 

It smells like something is burning.

If unusual smells are emanating from the laundry room, particularly musty, moldy, or burnt odors, stop using the dryer immediately. When clogged ducts prevent heat and moisture from properly venting, mold and mildew may begin to grow in your dryer. Burning odors coming from the dryer usually indicate that lint has begun to spark somewhere in the dryer vents or ducts, which is a serious fire hazard. No need to throw out the whole dryer – a good cleaning can remove lint from the ducts and resolve these issues. 

Excessive lint appears in the lint trap after each cycle.

Lint doesn’t just disappear. When clogs appear, lint that should be pushed through the vent line may build up instead. Lint can accumulate in spaces throughout the system and laundry area, remain on your clothes since the dryer has nowhere to dispose of it, or bunch up behind the dryer and in the door seal. So much trapped lint is a fire waiting to happen. 

It’s been a year since your last professional dryer vent cleaning. 

For best performance, dryer longevity, and maximum safety, dryer vents and ducts should be professionally cleaned annually. Most professional cleaners use a special brush with a vacuum extension to get deep in the nooks and crannies of the dryer vent system. Between annual cleanings, make sure to regularly clean out the lint trap and lint screen – and never overload your dryer. 

Hire Our Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

The Irish Sweep specialists can get deep into your vent system where most household cleaning methods can’t reach, so you can enjoy a safer and more effective system for years to come. Our top priority is safety and we customize our services with our client’s best interest at heart. Enjoy clean dryer vents now! To schedule an appointment with an expert, call us at (510)521-4088, or use this simple contact form by clicking here.

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