It’s fall – yes, even here in Katy – and soon the cooler weather and holiday spirit will have local residents firing up their fireplaces to add warmth and festive ambiance to their homes as the time to hang those stockings approaches.

But is it safe to do so?

That chimney may need to be cleaned first.

And despite advances in modern technology – there are some things that still need to be done the old-fashioned way.

That’s why Craig Dornak became a chimney sweep and eventually started his own company, Viking Chimney Solutions, LLC, to handle residential and commercial fireplace needs.

The El Campo native grew up on a farm and started working at an early age. He has lived in Sugar Land for almost 20 years, working in various roles including being a handyman, doing commercial construction, and even becoming a massage therapist.

“I decided to become a chimney sweep almost four years ago,” Dornak told the Katy Times in an email interview. “I was working at Home Depot and was looking for something more challenging and fulfilling.”

Dornak prepared for his new profession through hands on training and online classes as well as traveling to Oklahoma for gas appliance training and certification. “It has taken a couple years to obtain the knowledge to be a chimney sweep,” he said. “I am certified which is important for customers to find actually Certified people in our industry.”

But he wanted more. “I was tired of seeing all the bad repairs from uncertified companies that I had to fix,” he said. “I started my own company three months ago after working for another company in Houston. I travel all over the greater Houston area, [although] my home is in Sugar Land.” Dornak said that he markets primarily through social media and word of mouth.

The company offers fireplace inspection, fireplace sweeping, repairs, replacement, gas appliance maintenance and repairs. “From the opening to the exit, I can and will inspect and repair it all,” Dornak said. “Winter and hurricane season are definitely my busiest seasons.”

A typical inspection is $175.00 and an additional $75.00 if a sweep is needed. “It's very important to inspect the fireplace first,” he said. “I actually use a camera to inspect the entire flue system to make sure it us safe to sweep without causing damage.”


A chimney/fireplace should be inspected every year and swept as necessary, Dornak said. The dangers of neglect can range from a chimney fire to water leaks to deterioration of the system.

“Readers should understand the importance of fireplace inspections by a certified chimney sweep,” Dornak said. “Saving a few dollars in the beginning can cost a lot more down the road. Fixing small problems the correct way now can avoid costly repairs later.”

“The best part [of my job] is helping people and not knowing what I will be doing from day to day,” Dornak said. “There is always something new to figure out. The worst part is finding fireplaces with years of no maintenance and neglect that need major repairs that people are not expecting.”

We had to ask if customers ever sing “Chim Chim Cher-ee” – from the 1964 film “Mary Poppins” -- to him as he works. “I have had more than a handful of Dick Van Dyke jokes,” Dornak said. “But my favorite was a little girl whose favorite movie was Mary Poppins. She watched me the entire time. It was awesome!”