Straight-talk chimney guides for Philadelphia homeowners covering sweep-or-wait, flue safety, caps, masonry, and vetting a contractor.
An honest look at how long does a chimney inspection take for Philadelphia homes, from a local chimney crew.
Read more →The open wind that sweeps across the airport corridor does more to a Southwest Philly chimney than homeowners realize. Here is how exposed-site wind works on a masonry stack and what to do about it.
Read more →Many Southwest Philly rowhomes share a chimney stack with the house next door. Here is how party-wall flues work, why a crack in one can become the neighbor's problem, and what to do about it.
Read more →A chimney's job is to carry combustion gas safely out of the house. When a flue is blocked or cracked, that gas can come back inside. Here is how carbon monoxide gets in and how to prevent it.
Read more →The chimney is one of the easiest systems to overlook when buying a Southwest Philly rowhome, and one of the more expensive to fix after the fact. Here is what to check before you close.
Read more →Crumbling, flaking brick on a chimney is not just cosmetic. Here is how the freeze-thaw cycle spalls the brick on Southwest Philly stacks, what it leads to, and how to stop it.
Read more →A fireplace that pushes smoke into the living room instead of up the flue has a draft problem, and there are several common causes. Here is how to figure out why your fire will not draw.
Read more →Thinking about your chimney? Our Philadelphia crew gives you one honest assessment and photos of every job, and quotes the work before we start, licensed, insured, and clear.