Fireplace inspection and chimney check in Brownsville
We check the lining, damper, crown, cap and flashing and explain how each affects safe use.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs that call for a chimney check
- Water stains near the chimney
- A smell from the fireplace after rain
- A fireplace sealed by a previous owner
- Rust stains running down the chimney
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What our chimney inspection looks at
White deposits on the chimney masonry
A white, powdery deposit on brick or mortar usually means water has moved through the masonry and left minerals behind as it dried. BIA technical guidance explains that this efflorescence forms when water carries salts to the surface, and that it is usually not harmful in itself. It tells us water is getting in somewhere.
We note where the deposits appear and look for the water path above them. The crown, cap, flashing and mortar joints are the usual suspects. Cleaning the deposits off without fixing the water path only means they return.
Inspecting a fireplace that has sat unused
A fireplace left unused for a long time can change without anyone noticing. Water may have entered through the top, animals may have nested in the flue and the damper may have rusted in place.
The inspection looks at each of these before the fireplace goes back into use. We check the top, the flue and the damper and explain what they need. You then know whether a cleaning, a repair or nothing at all comes before the next fire.
How house air can affect the chimney
Exhaust fans, clothes dryers and closed interior doors change the air pressure in a house. A chimney can end up as the path air uses to get back in. Smoke and odor then come down the flue instead of going up.
If problems appear when fans run or doors close, tell us. The inspection considers the house as well as the chimney. The findings explain whether the cause is in the flue, in the house, or both. Some fixes are as simple as changing which window or door is open while a fire burns.
Cracks in the wall around the fireplace
Cracks in plaster or drywall around a fireplace can come from ordinary settling, from heat or from movement in the chimney. Their shape and position help tell them apart. A crack that grows, reopens after patching or runs from the corner of the opening deserves attention.
We note where the cracks are and look at the fireplace and chimney for related signs. The findings say which explanation the evidence supports. Where the cause cannot be confirmed from the surface, we say so and explain how it could be watched or investigated.
What we check on a fireplace inspection
- Mortar joints on each reachable face
- Metal liner top plate and cap
- Hose water test where the job needs it
- Signs of animals or nesting
Common questions about chimney checks
Do you go up on the roof during an inspection?
When the roof can be reached and walked safely, yes, because the crown, cap and flashing are often where problems start. If it cannot, we look from the ground or a ladder and say what that view could not show.
Should I have the chimney inspected after roof work?
It is a sensible step. Roof work disturbs the flashing and can leave debris or tarps on the chimney top. We look at the top, the flashing and the flue for anything that changed.
Can the inspection trace an odor coming from the fireplace?
It aims to. Tell us when the smell appears. We look at deposits, water in the masonry, debris on the smoke shelf and air moving down the flue, then explain which source the evidence supports.
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Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.
Call Now (645) 465-4171We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo