Chimney Repair and Cleaning Essex County NJ

When Was The Last Time You Had Your Chimney Cleaned?

Your chimney is often one of the most neglected systems in your house. Unfortunately, ignoring a chimney problem or forgetting to take care of your chimney places your residence and family at significant danger. By keeping your fireplace and chimney clean and devoid of creosote and having your fireplace frequently inspected, you can help keep your system burning efficiently and in an environment-friendly way. That’s why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) suggest that chimney sweeping be a regular part of your home maintenance schedule.

Basic Indications Of Chimney Trouble

Your senses are usually going to alert you to a problem with your chimney system’s proper operation. You might see or detect smoke. You might catch a musty, dank odor coming out of the fireplace or wood burning stove. Or you might notice that your once warm and toasty fire is struggling to light or hardly developing beyond a smolder.

The most frequent telephone calls from customers regarding chimney troubles include:

• A chimney emitting an odor (a properly-functioning chimney shouldn’t give off a smoky or musty odor).
• A chimney that’s permitting smoke to come into the room (a properly-drafting chimney will pull that smoke up and out, and not allow it get into your living area).
• A gas fireplace that will not light.
• Fires in your wood-burning fireplace or stove that are smoldering.
• Other uncommon sights or odors that occur when the fireplace is lit.

These problems could be indications of simple user problems that we can help you resolve, or they could be pointing toward a larger issue in your chimney system that makes repair services needed.

Types of Masonry Repair Services We Provide

Routine servicing and waterproofing solutions can help make sure that your stonework is ready to take on the rainfall year after year, but if you ever are in need of repair services, you can rely on us! We specialize in masonry chimney and fireplace repair services, and can help with the following:

• Crown Repairs – The crown of your chimney is the masonry topper that seals off the chimney and keeps rainfall and other types of debris from getting in. Unfortunately, many crowns are poorly built or poorly maintained, which leaves them extremely ineffective. If your crown is showing signs of fractures or crumbling, or if it just had not been built correctly or of correct density, we can help! Not only can we seal fractures and spaces or rebuild your crown, but we can apply a water-repellent that is going to prevent further degradation.
• Repointing/Tuckpointing/Spalling – Weather conditions, age and various other elements can cause your masonry joints to weaken prematurely, or your bricks to fall apart and crack. Although these problems can seem normal, they absolutely shouldn’t be ignored. Deteriorating brick and mortar can allow water to permeate the system and wreak havoc, and can leave you with an unusable and dangerous chimney system. If your masonry is showing signs of decay or vegetation growth, let our specialists know! We have the skills, resources and education to repair and restore your masonry!
• Firebox Repair & Rebuilds – The firebox plays an important role in the safe use of your chimney system and fireplace , and needs to always be in good working order. If you detect water, cracks, holes, corrosion or any other damage in your firebox, it‘s important that you have it expertly checked ASAP! A damaged or decaying firebox simply can’t do all it should to contain the heat and by-products of combustion.
• Smoke Chamber Repair – The smoke chamber refers to the area that links the throat of the fireplace with the flue of the chimney. When correctly designed and in good working order, it should properly usher smoke and by-products up and out of the home. Unfortunately, poor construction is pretty standard when it comes to smoke chambers, making it much more challenging for air to move up and out of the chimney. If your smoke chamber needs some work, we can help!
• Throat Repair – Similar to the smoke chamber, the throat of the fireplace works to encourage smoke and by-products up and out of the chimney. However, because of the throat’s location just above the firebox, it is under a lot of stress from heat and combustion by-products. If your throat is broken and could use some TLC, our specialists can help!

What A Flue Liner Does For Your Chimney

In the early years of chimney design and construction, chimneys were built without a lining. As advancements were made by the home heating industry (to lessen fire dangers and improve efficiency), it became clear what a poor decision that was. Not only is the draft in a chimney without a flue lining impeded by masonry imperfections, but heat and by-products can easily escape into the walls or living space of the residence. These masonry imperfections are quickly made worse by the impacts of heat, combustion by-products and moisture. To put it simply, unlined chimneys are much less effective and much more dangerous.

A chimney liner creates a smooth surface that allows gases to move up and out of the chimney much easier and even more effectively. It also gives a strong layer of protection that keeps your chimney masonry in better shape for longer, and while doing so, lessens the possibilities of fire hazards. Added up, the chimney liner is one of the most important parts of your chimney system. And having a chimney liner that’s installed correctly, sized accurately and maintained properly is key to your chimney system being in the best state possible.

Typical Reasons For Chimney Leaks

Water leaks can be extremely difficult to track down. This is where an experienced chimney Sweep can help. The most common causes of chimney leaks are:

• Rainwater coming in due to a missing or broken chimney cap
• Chimney flashing that has been broken or incorrectly installed
• Condensation: chimneys can leak from the inside out due to condensation
• Rainwater coming in due to a damaged or missing crown

Each one of the parts of the chimney system are essential, and they interact for the good of the chimney. If one of these components is deteriorating, damaged, missing altogether, or improperly installed, the entire chimney suffers and is left vulnerable. What most people typically forget is that a damaged chimney is a serious source of danger and should not be disregarded. The chimney plays an important role in the structure of the residence and should be treated accordingly.