Urbandale homes run the gamut, from established neighborhoods to newer construction on the west side of the metro. Whatever the age of the house, the air moving through it matters. Top Notch Chimney Sweep & Services has served the Des Moines area since 2002, and we do more than chimneys. We’re certified in air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning too, so one call can take care of the systems that move heat, exhaust and air through your home.
Air Ducts: What’s Blowing Around Your House
In Central Iowa the furnace runs most of the winter and the air conditioner runs most of the summer. All that use pushes dust, pet hair and debris through the ductwork, and some of it settles in the ducts and stays there. For anyone in the house with allergies, asthma or other breathing trouble, that’s not something you want recirculating. If moisture gets into the system during humid weather, mold can become a problem as well.
Our air duct cleaning starts with a look at your heating and cooling system. Then we set up a HEPA vacuum system and use specialized brushes to loosen buildup so it gets pulled out of the ducts instead of blown back into your rooms.
Dryer Vents: A Fire Risk Hiding in the Wall
Most homeowners clean the lint trap and never think about the duct behind the dryer. Lint still gets past the trap and packs into the corners and bends of the vent run. That restricts airflow, makes the dryer work harder, and raises the chance of a fire. It can also keep carbon monoxide from gas dryers from venting out properly.
Signs your vent needs attention:
- Loads take more than one cycle to dry
- The dryer or the clothes are very hot when the cycle ends
- You smell something burning
A dryer vent cleaning clears the line and lets us check the ducting for damage.
And Yes, the Chimney
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, plan on an annual chimney sweeping to remove creosote and anything that’s fallen or nested in the flue. Gas fireplace owners should still have the system checked, because vents can get blocked and parts wear out. We perform Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspections and use camera equipment to see the inside of the flue.
Gas Fireplaces in Urbandale Homes
A lot of homes in Urbandale have a gas fireplace or a gas log set rather than a wood fire. They’re easy to live with, and that’s exactly why they get ignored. A gas fire still makes carbon monoxide, and vented logs depend on a clear chimney and an open damper to get it outside.
During gas log service we check the installation, valves and connections, the pilot, the venting and the position of the logs. Logs that have shifted or cracked, or a firebox collecting more soot than it should, tell us the fire isn’t burning right. Vent-free units don’t use a chimney, but they still need to work correctly, and you should keep a carbon monoxide detector nearby.
Brick Chimney or Metal Flue: Different Checklists
The two main kinds of fireplaces we see across Urbandale need different things from us. On a masonry chimney we’re looking at the crown, the mortar joints, the clay tile liner, the smoke chamber and the firebrick. Cracks in any of those let in water or let heat escape where it shouldn’t.
On a factory-built unit we check the refractory panels in the firebox, the joints between metal flue sections, the chase cover on top and the cap. Prefab parts are made for a specific model, so repairs have to use matching parts. Our factory fireplace repair page covers the most common ones.
Winter Wear at the Roofline
The spot where the chimney passes through the roof takes a beating in an Iowa winter. Snow piles against the uphill side of the chimney, melts during the day and refreezes at night. If the flashing has lifted or its seal has dried out, that meltwater slips behind it and runs down the framing. Often the first sign is a stain on the ceiling next to the fireplace weeks later.
Brick near the top of the chimney gets the same freeze-thaw treatment. Water soaks in, freezes, expands and pops the face off the brick. That’s called spalling, and once it starts it speeds up. Our chimney repair work covers crowns, tuckpointing, brick replacement and flashing.
Little Changes That Deserve a Call
A chimney usually tells you when something is wrong, if you know what to watch for. Have it looked at if smoke lingers in the room after you light a fire, if the fireplace smells like an ashtray on a humid day, or if you find water or rust flakes in the firebox after a storm. Chipped brick on the roof or in the gutters, and scratching sounds inside the flue, are also worth a phone call. For the dryer and ducts, slow drying times and dust collecting around supply registers are the usual clues.
Selling or Buying in Urbandale
NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys and fireplaces, calls for a Level 2 inspection when a property is sold or transferred. A general home inspector usually looks at the fireplace opening and the outside of the chimney but can’t see inside the flue. A Level 2 adds a camera run through the whole flue, so cracked tiles, gaps and old creosote don’t turn up as surprises after closing.
We work with homeowners, real estate agents and property managers, and we explain what we find in plain language. If an Urbandale closing date is already set, tell us when you call.
Picking a Time That Works
Our off-season runs April through August, and that’s when appointment times are easiest to come by. Once the first cold snap hits, the calls pick up and the schedule fills. Booking in spring or summer also leaves time for any repair we find, like a crown or flashing job, to be finished before you want a fire. Duct and dryer vent cleaning can be done any time of year, so it’s simple to line those up with the chimney. One appointment, one crew, and the whole house is covered.
The People Doing the Work
We’re a family operated company. Our staff includes a Certified Chimney Professional and a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, and our owner served as President of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Our team has also trained in Traditional Historic Masonry Restorations at the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation. In the attic, the laundry room or at the hearth, we cover the floors, keep the dust contained and guarantee a mess-free job.
We also serve neighboring Johnston and Clive.
Want to bundle a chimney sweep with your duct or dryer vent cleaning? Call (515) 249-6337 or schedule online and tell us what you need.
