Chimney services in Mill Valley, from sweeping to rebuilds
Most visits start with a cleaning or an inspection. Sweeping removes soot and creosote. A camera inspection shows the inside of the flue, where cracks and gaps are hard to spot. From there, the work can include crown and masonry repair, new flashing, a liner, a damper fix or a new cap. Fireplaces, inserts, wood stoves and gas fireplaces are serviced too, along with the dryer vents that often get forgotten until the dryer stops drying.
Chimney inspection in Mill Valley
An inspection is worth booking before the first fire of the season, before you buy or sell a house, and after a storm or a chimney fire. A full chimney and flue inspection covers the crown, cap, flashing, masonry, damper and liner. A camera run down the flue shows what you can't see from the firebox.
Good times to schedule an inspection
- Before using a fireplace that has sat unused for a season or longer
- During a home purchase or sale, for a real estate chimney inspection
- After high winds, a fallen branch or roof work near the chimney
- When smoke drifts into the room or the fire is hard to keep going
- After any sign of a chimney fire, such as loud popping or flaky creosote on the roof
Chimney repair in Mill Valley
Water does most of the damage to a chimney, and it usually gets in through a cracked crown, loose flashing or worn mortar joints. Catching those early keeps a small fix from turning into a rebuild. If you're seeing any of the signs below, the chimney repair work we do runs from tuckpointing and crown repair to waterproofing, liner repair and full rebuilds.
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney
- Crumbling mortar, loose bricks or brick flakes in the yard or on the roof
- Rust on the damper or firebox
- A missing or bent cap, which lets in rain, leaves and animals
A missing or damaged cap is one of the simplest fixes. Installing a new chimney cap keeps out rain, nesting birds and debris. A cap with a spark arrestor screen also helps keep embers from leaving the flue.
Fireplace repair in Mill Valley
Fireplace problems usually show up as a fire that won't draw, a damper that sticks, cracked firebox brick or refractory panels, or fogged and broken glass doors. Gas fireplaces have their own set of issues: a pilot that won't stay lit, burners that light unevenly, and logs that have lost their color. We repair, service and install wood-burning and gas fireplaces and inserts, including gas logs and gas line work. If a crack or a draft problem might start above the firebox, having the chimney checked at the same visit answers that question.
Stop using the fireplace if you notice these
Smoke pouring into the room, a gas smell, or cracks you can see through in the firebox are reasons to stop using the fireplace until it has been looked at. If you smell gas, leave the house first and call the gas utility from outside.
