How often do I need to have my gas chimney cleaned?

Every year, I ignore frequent, high-pressure calls from a commercial chimney sweep service who are looking to sweep the flue for my gas boiler for $50 (discounted from $100 because I’m a “good customer” despite having never used their service). Part of their pitch mentions a NYS requirement, but I haven’t hung on long enough to find out what specifically they’re talking about.

I am wondering, however, how often I should or am required to have the gas flue swept. Is there a state requirement for 4 unit buildings? Gas is, to my understanding, clean, so, aside from a collapse of the lining, there should be very little to clean out, right?

Any insights are appreciated.

reagan9000

in General Discussion 8 years and 8 months ago

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reagan9000 | 8 years and 7 months ago

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Much appreciated

Master Plvmber | 8 years and 8 months ago

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Have it inspected, and sure, cleaned, every 6-8 years if it is a masonry chimney. If it is a metal-lined chimney, 10 years is fine.

slopefarm | 8 years and 8 months ago

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I am so sick of those calls. They are not only high pressure, but misleading,. they pretend to be your regular chimney sweeps and when you balk they pressure you about the fire risk. So even if you are overdue, use someone reputable, not those guys. One caller even called me an a***ole after I accused him of making misrepresentations in trying to get my business. They never give their company name and like to pretend they are just doing you a service. One even pretended he had a contract from the NY Fire Department to remind people of the need to sweep. I know that is not true and I threatened to report them and he hung up. I worry about how many little old ladies they frighten into doing business with them,

We put in a new metal liner for the boiler and hot water heaters when we renovated in 2006. We had them swept for the first time this year by A&A, and there was very little build up at all. We probably waited too long because there could have been a build up, but if the chimney is metal, well-vented at the top, and the only thing going up is exhaust f rom burning gas (boiler, hw), it ought to stay pretty clean.

We got the A&A recommendation here, and I would recommend them as well.