Chimney questions, answered honestly

Yes. In multi-family houses one stack often carries several flues for different apartments and appliances. We check every one and tell you what each serves, because the flue nobody thinks about is often the one with the problem.

Often, yes. Modern gas appliances vent cooler, wetter exhaust than the oil systems most older chimneys were built for. That moisture breaks down clay tiles and mortar from the inside. A stainless liner sized to the appliance is the usual fix.

Yes. A Level 2 inspection — a camera run up every flue plus a check of the accessible parts of the chimney — with a written report and photos you can give to your attorney, inspector or insurer.

Yes. We cover the Connecticut side of the Byram River — Byram, Greenwich, Cos Cob and Old Greenwich — as well as Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye, Harrison, Purchase, Mamaroneck and White Plains.

NFPA 211 calls for a yearly inspection, with sweeping when the inspection shows it’s needed. Wood-burning fireplaces used through the winter usually need a sweep every year. Gas-only flues still need the yearly check for blockages and moisture damage.

No. Drop cloths go down, the fireplace or appliance opening is sealed and a HEPA vacuum runs throughout. Clean-up is part of the job.

It depends on the building. A single fireplace and a three-flue stack serving three apartments are very different jobs, so we quote after seeing it. The quote comes before the work and doesn’t change afterwards.