Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Ridge Chimney Sweeping is a registered Washington contractor with a masonry specialty (WA Contractor # RIDGECS746PL), and we’re insured. We’re working on our Oregon license now.

We’re based in White Salmon and serve the Washington side of the Gorge: White Salmon, Bingen, Underwood, Husum, Trout Lake, Lyle, Dallesport, Stevenson, Carson, and North Bonneville. Oregon towns are coming soon. Not sure if you’re in our area? Just ask.

Fill out our quote form (it takes about a minute) or call or text us. With a few details — what you burn, how many flues, and roughly how tall the house is — we can usually give you a firm price without a visit.

For a chimney sweep or anything inside, yes — or someone who can let us in. For outside-only work like a cap or crown repair, just make sure we can get to the chimney.

Once a year for most homes that burn regularly — the national fire safety standard (NFPA 211) calls for a yearly inspection, with sweeping as needed. Heavy burning or wood that isn’t fully seasoned can mean more often.

Late summer and early fall, before the first cold snap. Once the first chilly week hits, everyone remembers their chimney at once — booking early gets you the date you want.

No. We lay down drop cloths, seal off the opening, and run a HEPA vacuum the whole time so soot stays out of your home.

Yes — please don’t burn for at least 24 hours before your appointment so the firebox and flue are cool and the ashes are out.

Open wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves, fireplace inserts, and pellet stoves. Gas fireplaces need less attention, but their venting should still be checked every year.

A sweep cleans the creosote and soot out. An inspection is a careful look at the chimney’s condition — inside, outside, and on the roof. We look things over on every sweep, and a full inspection goes further. More about inspections.

Smoke coming back into the room, a strong campfire smell when the fireplace isn’t in use, black flakes in the firebox, fires that are hard to start or keep going, or water stains near the chimney.

Every year or two for most homes. Big families, long vent runs, and vents that go up through the roof need it more often.

Loads that take longer than they used to, a dryer or laundry room that gets hot, a burning smell, or lint collecting at the outside vent. More about dryer vents.