What’s the Best Time of Year to Get Your Chimney Cleaned?

Jun 2, 2025

Let’s face it—chimneys aren’t something most people think about until it’s cold outside, and suddenly the fireplace becomes the star of the house. But when it comes to getting your chimney cleaned, waiting until you’re ready to use it isn’t always the best move.

So, when is the right time to schedule a chimney cleaning? Here’s what you need to know.

Off-Season is the Smart Season

We’ll cut right to it: late spring through summer is hands-down the best time to schedule chimney maintenance. Here’s why:

It’s Easier to Get an Appointment

Fall is the busiest time of year for chimney professionals. As soon as the temperature drops, everyone remembers they have a fireplace. Booking during the off-season means you won’t be stuck waiting weeks for an opening.

You’re Ready Before the Cold Hits

No one wants to find out there’s a blockage, a bird’s nest, or a crack in the flue on the first chilly night of the season. Getting it checked ahead of time means when you want to light that first fire, you’re good to go.

It’s Safer for Everyone

A dirty chimney can lead to poor airflow, smoke backup, or worse—chimney fires. Having it cleaned and inspected regularly keeps things in working order and your home protected.

Fall Isn’t Off the Table, But…

Yes, fall is still a fine time to get your chimney serviced, and it’s when many people do it. But keep in mind, appointments fill up fast, and if repairs are needed, you might be cutting it close. You don’t want to be told you have a cracked liner or a heavy creosote buildup and then have to wait even longer to get it fixed.

Think of fall as the “deadline” for chimney cleaning, not the starting point.

What About Winter?

In most cases, winter isn’t ideal. Not because chimneys can’t be cleaned in the winter—they can—but it gets trickier. Wet weather, freezing temps, and access issues can slow things down. Plus, if you’re already using the fireplace daily, it might mean putting it out of service while repairs or cleaning are done.

If you forgot to book earlier, don’t worry—call anyway. It’s better to take care of it late than not at all. But if you can plan ahead, aim for spring or summer.

What If Everything Seems Fine?

It’s easy to assume your chimney’s working just fine if you haven’t noticed any issues. And in many cases, it might be. But like any part of your home, it needs regular care to stay that way.

Birds can build nests in the flue. Moisture can get in and slowly damage the structure. Over time, soot and creosote build up—even if you don’t use your fireplace that often. And if you have a gas insert, you might still have venting that needs to be checked and cleaned.

Catching small issues early can help you avoid more expensive repairs later on. 

Make It Part of Your Home Routine

Think of chimney cleaning like you would servicing your furnace or getting your car’s oil changed. You don’t wait for a breakdown—you get it done so a breakdown doesn’t happen. And just like those regular check-ins, chimney service is quick, straightforward, and a smart move that pays off in peace of mind.

If you’re reading this in the warmer months, great. You’ve got time. If you’re reading it in October, call now. And if it’s already mid-winter? It’s not too late, but don’t wait any longer.

At Chimney Clean Company, Inc., we’ve been helping South Bay Area homeowners stay safe and ready for fireplace season for years. We’re local, we’re thorough, and we treat your home like it’s our own. Call us todayto schedule your cleaning.

We clean your chimney before it becomes a danger to your home

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Smoking back

There are many fireplaces that seem to smoke back into the house no matter what is done. In our experience, the most common cause is that the fireplace simply needs to be cleaned. This is especially likely if the fireplace has gotten worse over time, that is, the smoking back is worse now than it used to be.

Several other possible causes of smoking back are problems with the damper, chimney cap, grate, firewood, or structural problems with the chimney itself. At Chimney Clean Company, we do a full inspection with every cleaning, or we can also do just the inspection if the chimney doesn’t need to be cleaned. This inspection is designed to reveal any causes of smoking back.

Broken chimneys

In the Bay Area, many chimneys were broken in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Usually, these chimneys are broken at or near the roof line, although sometimes they can be broken further down, even at the ground level.

We are fully licensed masonry contractors. We rebuild broken chimneys. If they are broken at the roof line, this usually entails taking the chimney part of the way down brick by brick, installing steel reinforcing bars, getting an inspection from a city inspector, then rebuilding the chimney back up around the steel rebar.

Missing mortar or damaged bricks

Over time, many chimneys develop places that are missing mortar between bricks, or damaged bricks, either inside the firebox or on the outside of the chimney. These areas can usually be repaired, either by replacing the missing mortar or replacing the bricks themselves. Items such as these can be dangerous because they can allow flames, sparks or hot gases to enter the structure of the house.

Water entry

Sometimes the metal that seals the chimney at the roof, called “flashing”, will come loose or develop leaks. In this case, water sometimes comes into the ceiling of the room and causes water spots and stains on the sheet rock. This flashing should be repaired before the water causes more damage.