Fireplace inspection and chimney check in Kendale Lakes
We look at the fireplace, flue and chimney top together and tell you what we found in plain words.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs that call for a chimney check
- A smell from the fireplace after rain
- A rusted or stuck damper
- Sounds of animals in the flue
- Plans to add an insert
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Chimney safety inspection, step by step
Debris that keeps falling into the firebox
Pieces of tile, mortar, brick or rusted metal in the firebox come from somewhere above. Their material tells us where to look. Tile points to the lining, mortar to joints or the smoke chamber, and rust flakes to the damper or cap.
Keep a few pieces for us to see. We match them to their source during the inspection and explain what is failing and why. The repair estimate then addresses the cause, not only the debris. Until then, keep the fireplace unused, because falling pieces mean something above is failing.
When a hidden area needs more access
Sometimes the answer to your question lies behind a finished wall, under a hearth or above a bend in the flue. The free inspection cannot open those areas. We tell you what we suspect and why.
If more access is needed, we describe what it would involve, such as removing a panel or pulling an insert, and what it would cost. It becomes its own scope that you approve or decline. Nothing is opened up without your agreement. If the extra access turns up nothing, we say so and the record shows it.
A chimney safety inspection in Kendale Lakes
A safety inspection in Kendale Lakes focuses on the conditions that affect whether the fireplace can be used. Those include the lining, clearances to combustible material, the damper, deposits in the flue and blockages at the top.
Each finding is marked by whether it affects use now. If something must be fixed before the next fire, we say so and put it in writing. Other items are explained so you can plan them at your own pace. A safety inspection does not replace the rest of the findings, and we list those as well.
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.
What we check on a fireplace inspection
- Damper operation and seal
- Signs of water entry inside and out
- Cleanout door or ash dump condition
- Chimney height relative to the roof
Asking about an inspection in Kendale Lakes
How do you decide which repairs come before others?
We rank findings by their effect on safe use, then by how quickly they will worsen. A fault that lets heat reach combustible material comes before a cosmetic one. You get the reasons with each item.
What happens if you find an animal in the chimney?
We stop before anything is disturbed. Some species and active nests are protected, so the next step may be a wait, a referral or an animal removal visit. The entry point is noted for repair once the flue is empty.
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.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney RebuildRebuild the affected chimney section with the retained structure, roof connection and passage included in the plan.
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
Proudly American
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