Chimney inspection that starts with your question in Palm Grove

Inspecting a framed chase and its cover

A factory-built fireplace commonly vents up through a framed chase that hides its metal chimney. The chase has siding or stucco outside and a metal cover on top. We look at the cover for rust, standing water and gaps around the chimney pipe.

We also look for water stains, soft siding or damaged trim that suggest water has reached the framing. The framing itself is usually concealed, and we say so. Chase cover and chase repairs are separate items with their own estimates.

Chimney inspection terms worth knowing

An inspection names parts you may not have heard of. Knowing a few makes the findings easier to follow.

We are glad to show you where each part sits while we are there. Once you have seen the crown or the smoke chamber, later conversations about them are much simpler.

• The crown is the sloped top surface of a masonry chimney
• Flashing seals the joint between chimney and roof
• The liner is the inner surface of the flue
• The smoke chamber sits between the damper and the flue

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.

Who inspects your chimney

The inspection is carried out by our family team, and the findings come from the same people. The team that looked into your flue explains what it saw before the visit ends, while you can still point to anything you want to see again.

As a locally owned company, we would sooner go over a finding again than let it stay confusing. If a question needs more thought or a manual we do not have on hand, we say so and come back with the answer.