Chimney Cleaning and Chimney Masonry Services
Chimney Inspections (visual and video scanning):
We do two basic types of inspections. The first is a visual inspection which consists of a 21 point safety inspection where we check the overall safety and structural integrity of your fireplace and chimney. We provide you with the complete report onsite detailing the condition of your chimney before we depart. This report is easy to understand and provides you with our recommendations to remedy any problems with your chimney.
The second, is a video scan inspection. There are instances where we use this method because of what we can't see by visual inspection. This inspection lets us see the entire pathway of your chimney using a closed circuit camera so we can take a complete in depth look at your chimney.
The purpose of any chimney inspection is to make sure the chimney functions properly, meets up-to-date building codes and, above all, is safe for you and your family to use.
Chimneys should be annually inspected per the National Fire Protection Agency. Chimneys should also be inspected after earthquakes, lightening strikes, chimney fires or any unusual occurrence. Chimneys should also be inspected before the purchase of a home by a licensed chimney inspector.
Call today to schedule your chimney inspection.
Chimney Sweeping:
Why Sweep your Chimney?
When you burn wood, gas or fake logs in your fireplace soot and creosote collect and build up in your chimney. These materials are extremely flammable and can burn at up to 2000 degrees fahrenheit. There are approximately 40,000 homes a year that catch on fire due to chimney fires. This statistic could be drastically reduced with an annual chimney cleaning.
Before we sweep your chimney, we first inspect it when we arrive at your home to be sure there is enough build up to warrant a chimney cleaning. If there is, our technicians promptly clean your chimney by blocking off the chimney so as to provide no mess in your home. We then clean the flue by scraping off all soot and creosote with brushes. We also clean the damper, smoke shelf and hearth. After the cleaning is complete we provide you with any recommendation of any problems that may effect the integrity of your chimney. Your chimney should be cleaned every year if you use it regularly, and every three years if you use it rarely.
Chimney Caps/Spark Arrestors
A chimney should have a chimney cap. This cap keeps rain out that would otherwise damage the interior of your chimney's flue over time. If your chimney has metal flue pipe in it, it needs the proper manufacturer's specified chimney cap on it. All of our caps have a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
A Spark Arrestor is the mesh that is built into your chimney cap or a mesh plate that is placed over your chimeny so that any floating embers from your fire cannot escape from your chimney and land on a combustible surface such as your roof or the ground outside of your home. The spark arrestor serves a dual purpose of also preventing small animals or birds from getting into your chimney.
Chimney Dampers/Damper Repair
A chimney damper closes off the flue and works with your chimney cap to keep the weather out and keep your heat or cooling in your house. You can also use your damper to control the rate of combustion of your fire in the winter months by closing it part way. The damper is accessible by reaching into your fireplace and pulling on a lever which is attached to a chain that controls the damper. There are also bottom blade dampers which fit above your firebox. On a wood or pellet stove the damper is usually a handle on the flue pipe that you turn vertical and horizontal to control the air flow.
Some fireplaces don't have a damper and fireplace dampers can get rusted or get warped. We can help you with any damper service you may need.
Chimney Relining/Chimney Liners
Every chimney should have a liner in constant good working order. A chimney liner is the pipe or concrete layer that the hot air from your fire actually travels through and makes contact with. In a chimney there is the brick stack and then the liner which is inserted inside of it (if pipe) or layered onto it (concrete or tile). In this day and age a stainless steel liner is the safest and best way to line your chimney and prevent chimney fires.
Chimney relining is an affordable way to repair your old or damaged chimney. Older chimneys may be unlined or their liners can deteriorate to the point that they need replacing. Any chimney that has a wood stove or insert should have a stainless steel liner attached to the unit. The unit will run more efficiently and it will be much safer this way.
Masonry Repairs
We provide a full spectrum of masonry repairs. Tuck pointing (replacement of the mortar between the bricks), crown repairs/replacements (the top of your masonry chimney that slopes downward away from the flue encouraging water to run onto your roof, rather than into your flue.
We also provide the following:
- Realtor Pre-Sale inspections
- Chimney Repairs
- Firebox repointing and rebuilding
- Mortar Crown Repair
- Factory Built Fireplaces
- Chimney Rebuild/Chimney Construction
- Prefab Chimneys