Many of us believe that chimney sweepings are only for homes. However, there are a number of businesses that also need to have their chimneys swept – and not just businesses with fireplaces!

If you own a restaurant or business that has a pizza oven, it’s chimney may need to be swept. While it may seem odd to sweep the chimney of a pizza oven, burning wood or other fuel sources produces the same byproducts of combustion as any other fire. Because of this, we recommend that business owners have their pizza oven chimneys swept at least once per year – if not more.

Does my pizza oven’s chimney really need to be swept?

Have You Considered an Outdoor Pizza Oven - Royal Oak MI - Fireside Hearth and HomeWhether it is a small oven at home or a much larger commercial one in a restaurant, a wood fired pizza grill creates a one of a kind pizza experience that is absolutely delicious to eat. However, it begs the question: does my pizza oven’s chimney really need to be swept?

In one word – yes. Most of us do not associate restaurants with chimney sweepings. However, any time there is a fuel burning the fire the chimney needs to be swept at least once per year. The number of times your chimney is swept during the year can be influenced by how often it is used; pizza ovens that are used more frequently with high volumes of food may need to be swept sooner and more regularly than those that are sporadically or intermittently used.

According to the National Fire Protection Association Standard 211, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that chimneys are swept any time they reach 1/8 of an inch of soot.

Is sweeping a pizza oven different?

Sweeping a pizza oven is both similar and different from sweeping a regular fireplace. First, pizza ovens are much larger than residential fireplaces; this means that they take longer to clean and may require special brushes or additional manpower. The much larger fuel loads, longer burning periods, and presence of food particles can all necessitate longer sweepings.

Next, pizza ovens are cleaned much more frequently than residential fireplaces. Because of how long and frequently pizza ovens are left burning they may need to be swept as soon as every six weeks; burning 12+ hours every day up to 7 days a week – along with much larger fuel loads – can cause rapid soot, ash, and creosote accumulation.

Don’t forget about your business when you’re scheduling chimney services. Commercial fireplaces – and even pizza ovens – need to be swept and inspected on a regular basis to make sure they remain in good condition and are burning safely and efficiently. For more information on sweeping chimneys for pizza ovens, contact New Buck Chimney Services today.