Chimney safety inspection for fireplaces in Glenvar Heights
Every repair we suggest comes with its reason and its own price, and you decide which to take on.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What prompts a fireplace inspection
- A fireplace you have not used yet
- Pieces of tile in the firebox
- A rusted or stuck damper
- A house sale or purchase underway
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Inspecting the fireplace and chimney together
Checking the firebox walls and floor
The firebox takes the direct heat of the fire. We look at the firebrick or panels for cracks, missing pieces and open joints. Gaps in a masonry firebox can let heat reach the material behind it. The Florida Building Code's fireplace section sets how firebox walls and their joints are built.
Soot patterns inside the firebox also tell a story. Smoke marks on the face above the opening, or streaks running down from the damper, can point to a draft or water issue further up. We note each observation and link it to what we find above.
Identifying each flue during the inspection
One chimney can hold several flues, and each serves a different opening or appliance. We match every flue to what it serves before describing its condition. A crack in one flue does not mean the next one is cracked, and the reverse is true as well.
The written record lists the flues by what they serve. If a flue appears to serve nothing, we say so. Unused flues still need their tops protected, or they become a path for water and animals.
Stains on walls or ceilings near the chimney
A brown stain on a ceiling or wall beside the chimney usually means water has traveled from the roof line or the chimney into the house. The stain may be some distance from where the water enters.
Tell us when the stain appeared and whether it grows after rain. We look at the flashing, crown and masonry above it and at the attic if it can be reached. The findings explain the most likely path and how to confirm it.
What the smoke shelf reveals during inspection
Behind the damper in many masonry fireplaces sits a flat smoke shelf. Whatever falls down the flue tends to land there: soot, bits of tile, mortar, leaves or nest material. It is one of the most useful places to look during an inspection.
We look at what has gathered on the shelf and match it to its likely source above. Tile fragments point to the lining, and leaves point to an open top. The findings link the debris to the part that needs attention, and clearing it is priced as cleaning.
Parts checked during your inspection
- Free written estimate for any work
- Findings ranked by effect on use
- Metal liner top plate and cap
- Hose water test where the job needs it
What people ask before an inspection
Do you inspect factory-built fireplaces too?
Yes. We look for the listing label and the model, check the panels, firebox, damper and visible chimney sections, and compare them with the manual. Repairs have to use the manufacturer's listed parts.
Is a chimney that serves a gas appliance included?
Yes. We identify the flue and look at its condition and the top as far as access allows. The appliance itself is a separate gas service matter, and we tell you when it needs that visit.
What can you tell about a chimney that was sealed shut?
We look at what can be reached from the opening and the top and explain what we found. If the seal has to come off to answer your question, that is agreed as a separate step with its own price.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Damper Repair and ReplacementRestore a usable damper mechanism after checking the plate, frame and control linkage.
- Chimney RebuildRebuild the affected chimney section with the retained structure, roof connection and passage included in the plan.
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Chase Cover ReplacementReplace the chase top with a properly planned cover and clearly defined pipe connections.
We 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