OK, so I opened the damper to test the draft in my fireplace a few weeks ago, when the chill finally started to hit this desert of ours, and a ton of soot and a dead bird fell out. It was disgusting.
I figured I should have the fireplace cleaned BEFORE burning anything and called A Arizona Chimney Sweep.
I'm giving them 3 stars because I don't really know HOW you clean a chimney nor what I should be watching for... From a lay-person's perspective, they brought in a sheet to ensure the area stayed clean in front of the fireplace, wheeled in a big shop vac of some sort and vacuumed my fireplace (including up into the chimney area).
I am partially inclined to bump them up a star because the woman who scheduled the job was superb! She recognized I was interested in having someone come as soon as possible and let me know that if the guy got ahead of schedule, she would try to send him by that same day. In the meantime, she scheduled an appointment for a few days later to ensure I was on the books. He did finish up early and she did send him by. I was thrilled to be able to have a fire as planned!
I'm not bumping them up a star because: I'm not sure HOW the bird got in there. They never got on the roof to see if there was a problem up there.
But, they cleaned my fireplace and I guess that's what I hired them to do.
Solid 3 stars, A-OK!