Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on how much you burn and what you burn. A common recommendation is to have the chimney inspected once a year and swept when soot or creosote has built up. Fireplaces used often, or used with damp wood, usually need sweeping more often.

Creosote is a tar-like residue that forms when wood smoke cools inside the flue. It is flammable, and a thick layer can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Professional creosote removal clears it before it builds up that far.

Usually the chimney isn't drawing well. Common causes are a closed or broken damper, a blocked flue, a flue that's too small or short for the fireplace, or a house that is short on air. Our fireplace draft repair starts by finding which of these is the cause.

Most chimney odors come from creosote deposits, moisture getting into the masonry, or debris or animals in the flue. The smell is often stronger in humid weather or when air flows down the chimney into the house.

Yes, you can remove cold ash and sweep out the firebox yourself. Wait until the ashes are completely cold, and store them in a metal container with a lid. Cleaning the flue and smoke chamber, and checking for cracked firebrick, is a job for a professional.

A top-mounted damper is a sealing plate at the top of the flue that you open and close with a cable from the fireplace. Because it seals the top of the chimney, it can keep out rain, animals and outside air better than a throat damper.

Most working chimneys need a sound liner. The liner protects the masonry from heat and corrosive gases and keeps the flue sized correctly for the appliance. A cracked or missing liner is usually found during an inspection.

Tuckpointing replaces worn mortar joints when the bricks are still solid. A rebuild is needed when bricks are loose or spalled, or when the chimney leans. The comparison of rebuilding and tuckpointing covers how to tell which applies.

Yes. Gas fireplaces still need regular service. The burner, pilot, logs, glass and venting should be checked and cleaned so the unit lights reliably and vents properly.

Common signs include clothes taking longer than one cycle to dry, a dryer that gets very hot on the outside, a burning smell, or little airflow at the outside vent cover. If you smell burning, turn the dryer off and unplug it until the vent is checked. Lint buildup in the vent is a fire risk, so these signs are worth acting on.

Yes, it's a good idea. A general home inspection may not look inside the flue. A chimney inspection for a home sale checks the liner, masonry and connections, so you know what you're taking on before closing.