Mount Dora was founded in 1880 on Lake Dora; 19.7% of homes predate 1970 and 39.1% date from 2000 or later. That shapes what a sweep here involves.
Soot and creosote, stage by stage
| Deposit | What it looks like | Handled by |
|---|---|---|
| Soot | Fine black powder | A routine sweep |
| Stage 1 creosote | Flaky, sooty coating | A routine sweep |
| Stage 2 creosote | Crunchy, tar-like flakes | A sweep with firmer brushing |
| Stage 3 creosote | Shiny glaze on the liner | a dedicated creosote-removal service |
Sweeping Mount Dora’s mixed-age fireplaces
Older brick flues are swept with brushes sized to the clay tile, and the swept flue is checked for cracked tiles and open joints before the next fire.
Signs the flue is due for a sweep
01Smoke at the opening
- What you may notice
- Smoke rolls into the room when a fire starts.
- How it’s confirmed
- The flue is checked for buildup narrowing the draft.
02Tar or campfire smell
- What you may notice
- A smoky smell in the room, worse on damp days.
- How it’s confirmed
- Deposits in the flue and on the smoke shelf are checked.
03Black flakes on the damper
- What you may notice
- Crusty flakes falling onto the firebox floor.
- How it’s confirmed
- Creosote stage and thickness are judged along the flue.
When sweeping isn’t the whole job
- Heavy soot, a strong odor or years of disuse: soot removal and full flue cleaning
- Glazed creosote: removal of hardened creosote
- Cracks, gaps or water found once the flue is clean: an inspection of the clean flue
Mount Dora and neighboring cities
- In the city: We sweep throughout the city, from Mount Dora Historic District and Loch Leven to its newest streets.
- Want it inspected too? Book the inspection with the sweep
- Nearby: flue sweeping in Eustis, chimney sweeping in Tavares and Apopka sweep visits
- Everything else for the house: everything we do for Mount Dora homes
For the full background, see how professional chimney sweeping works and how to recognize a chimney fire.
References (2)
Figures for Mount Dora and the references used on this page.
