Get It Cleaned!
Chimney Cleaning
Brad Stocks takes the safety of your family very seriously and the care and quality invested in every chimney he cleans reflects that. Using the latest tools and techniques Brad thoroughly cleans your chimney to release built up creosote deposits and other debris that accumulates in chimney flues.
Chimney Inspections
The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspections on all chimney flues. Even flues that are not used on a regular basis should be inspected for safety concerns. Many issues can degrade the safety of a chimney flu, and the issues can be spotted and resolved with an annual inspection. Don’t assume that because your fireplace hasn’t been used since Christmas eve 2011 and was cleaned in the spring of 2012 that it’s ready for burning this winter. Schedule a chimney safety inspection to ensure that there has not been any abnormal shifting due to settling, or that mama and papa raccoon haven’t decided to make a home in your nice warm smoke chamber.
Make it stand out.
Chimney Cap Installation
Chimney caps are manufactured in countless shapes, sizes, colors, styles, and designs. A good quality professionally fitted and installed chimney cap will provide a dry critter free flu.
A chimney cap is a stainless steel or copper addition to a flu liner with many benefits that include a mesh cage to prevent wildlife from entering your flu. A solid lid will prevent excess amounts of water from entering you chimney flu and causing moisture damage.
Since chimneys come in all shapes and sizes as well as chimney caps our pricing is dependent on the specifics of your home. Please feel free to call or email with any chimney cap questions.
Chimney Liner Installation
Installation of a new stainless steel chimney liner can be one of the best investments you make in your chimney. Stainless steel liners have a list of benefits that make them an easy choice for new installs and relining projects.
A round stainless steel liner can be more closely sized appropriately to the appliance it is venting. This increases efficiency of the appliance, and save you money.
Stainless Steel liners can often be installed in existing chimneys with minimal demolition reducing overall project costs.
The stainless steel liners we install are spiral welded which provides the appliance with a seamless path to exit the house.
Today’s stainless steel liners have a higher tolerance for heat than traditional clay flu tiles. A stainless steel liner is capable of flexing to handle greater temperature variances without cracking like traditional clay tiles.
The stainless steel liners we install have a lifetime warranty on all components.
Give us a call or email with any questions about stainless steel liners and the benefits of a new chimney liner.
Waterproofing
Waterproofing is another very important maintenance procedure that drastically improves the life span of your chimney. Having a qualified professional seal your chimney on a regular basis can prevent costly repairs down the road. Waterproofing or sealing your chimney applies a breathable coat of protection to your chimney that prevents water from absorbing in while allowing the chimney to “breath.” A chimney needs to breath just like your house, during temperature changes water vapor will form on the inside of your chimney in the form of condensation, if there is no air traffic then this condensation can be very destructive.
In the photo to the right you will notice a very common chimney problem called spalling. This happens when moisture gets into the masonry through any number of paths like direct absorption through the face, intrusion through cracks in the joints’ face or crown, or excessive condensation. Once enough moisture is contained in the masonry and is subjected to multiple freeze thaw cycles the constant expansion and contraction these temperature cycles create cause the surface of the masonry to “pop” off and further expose the chimney to moisture problems.
A good quality routinely applied sealer can go a long way toward preventing this and other types of moisture problems in your chimney.
Another very common moisture problem in masonry is called Efflorescence, this is caused when excessive or persistent moisture is present in masonry structures like chimneys. The moisture present on the interior of the chimney and masonry dissolves calcium components of the masonry and transfers them to the surface as the moisture seeks a way out of the masonry. Once on the surface the water portion of this solution evaporates leaving behind that white stuff on your chimney. Efflorescence is sometime very difficult to remove once it forms, and can be frustrating when it reforms after extensive efforts to clean it off. The solution starts with fixing the moisture problem and sealing your chimney may be all it takes.