How often should I have my chimney cleaned and inspected?
The NFPA 211 standard, as well as IRC regulations require annual service and inspection of chimneys service gas, oil, wood and other types of flues as well. Click here to book your appointment now.
Is there anything I should do prior to your technician arriving to service my chimney?
For the most part we can take care of everything for you. There are a couple areas to take note of, though. Ensuring the work area is clear and walkways are free of ice or other obstacles is certainly welcomed.
Gas fireplaces and stoves should be off 8 hours prior to our arrival to ensure the unit is cool to the touch. All wood burning appliances, however, should not be used for a minimum of 48 hours prior to our arrival. All ashes should be removed and placed in a metal bucket with a recessed bottom designed to create an airspace between the ashes and the surface the bucket is set on, as well as a tight fitting lid.
We cannot work on fireplaces that have been operating, even if the ashes are removed, since the heat still radiating from the interior surfaces of your flue can damage our service equipment.
It’s also important to note that hot embers can survive for as long as 7 days, sometimes longer, with the breathable insulating factors provided by ash. Such embers can permanently damage our vacuums.
If we arrive and the flue has been used and is still hot, and especially if there are still hot embers in the fireplace, you may need to reschedule your appointment, you could be charged a service call if the technician comes out and has to reschedule.
I have changed the batteries in my remote, but my unit still won’t work, what should I do?
Due to variations in units the best answer is to call for service, during the service they may be able to resolve the issue without any added labor fees. If additional labor or parts are needed, we will discuss it with you prior to performing any work.
I smell a burned wood smell from my fireplace in the summer when I’m not using it. What can I do to fix this?
Often times a standard service and inspection is enough to remedy this. Schedule your service at the end of the season, in the March-April-May-June region as opposed to the start of the season in September-October-November. This will remove much of the odor causing material and prevent it from absorbing ambient moisture in the air. At the very least it will reduce the odor quite a bit even if it doesn’t eliminate it. The service also gives us a chance to thoroughly inspect the system and determine if more can be done.
The difficulty here is that there are a lot of variables that can contribute to odor in the home. Some of them can’t be controlled, such as outside air conditions. Obscure things like trees being removed, homes being built nearby can all impact your draft as well. Sometimes the home itself acts as a chimney as hot air rises to the peak of the roof and competes with the flue serving your fireplace. This phenomenon results in air being pulled into the home through the flue, bringing the odor with it.
Without seeing your specific home, its layout, the surrounding area and other factors, it’s difficult to diagnose. Click here to schedule a cleaning and inspection. At the very least the service will help to reduce the odor, and give us a chance to help guide you in the appropriate direction.
I see paint sagging on my wall near my chimney, is this a problem? What can I do?
It’s difficult to say for certain without seeing it first hand, but often this is a sign of moisture penetration. There are many avenues that water can infiltrate from so it’s important to have an in depth review prior to choosing which corrective action is appropriate for you. Once we can determine the source we can determine the solution, or at the very least point you in the right direction toward rectifying it.
I have a discontinued factory built fireplace, not a masonry fireplace, and the metal chimney coming out of the roof is rusting through, can this be fixed?
We have relationships with several aftermarket companies that often buy up whatever available parts are left when a manufacturer discontinues a product or closes business. Chances are good we can get you the parts you need and get you back to optimal performance.
We do not repair metal chimneys that have carcinogenic residues by OSHA standard so a service is required prior to evaluating for repair. The service also helps us to determine the true scope of the repair to limit unexpected aspects arising. It also reduces odor and allergens in the home.
