Your Local Full-Service Chimney and Hearth Specialists
For the best and most complete chimney and hearth care, The Chimney Doctors are the ones you can trust to get the job done right and safely. From annual maintenance and servicing to major and minor repairs, or if you’re remodeling or building new, we are your local professional chimney and fireplace experts. When your chimney is ill, it’s time to call in the doctors! The Chimney Doctors! Call 731-424-0217 for all your chimney needs – cleaning, repairs, servicing, and custom hearth products. Or stop by our showroom today and talk with one of our specialists.
Sweep & Clean
At the Chimney Doctors, we can help you keep your chimney clean, and safe to use! The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that your chimney be swept as often as each cord of wood burned.
How do you know if your chimney needs sweeping? These are just a few indicators that may or may not be present:
- Burnt wood odors coming from the fireplace when it’s not being used.
- Fires that seem to burn poorly or that allow smoke spillage into the room.
Don’t let your chimney get cluttered with dangerous soot and junk, click the button below and get on our chimney sweeping schedule!
Inspections
Get top notch chimney inspections with The Chimney Doctors!
Our team of Chimney Doctors will come to your home and assess your chimney’s health from your front lawn. During a Chimney Assessment, our team will evaluate your fireplace and chimney to determine if you need Maintenance or Repair Service.
To learn more about the different kinds of inspections we offer, please click the button below:
What Happens During Inspection?
If you are ready to book and appointment for inspection – click the button below to get on our schedule.
Chimney Maintenance:
Just like other appliances in your home, this service is recommended annually to keep your home safe and to maintain the efficiency and safety of your fire appliance. Services include chimney sweep and clean, cleaning cobwebs from the equipment, checking for rodent nests, testing the pilot (for gas appliances), cleaning the glass and changing the batteries in your remotes.
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Chimney Repair:
We will perform a repair on your chimney if after inspection we find damage to the chimney or fire appliance. The damage can be due to a variety of reasons including water/rain, age, animals or insects and even human error. In these cases, we may need to repair and (sometimes) replace parts such as the chimney flashing, chimney caps, chimney liner, chase cover, masonry or other appliance equipment.
There are three levels of inspections. Below are the definitions according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Call us today to learn more.
Inspection Levels:
Level One Inspection
If your appliance or your venting system has not changed and you plan to use your system as you have in the past, then a level one inspection is a minimum requirement. A level one inspection is recommended for a chimney under continued service, under the same conditions, and with the continued use of the same appliance.
In a level one inspection, your chimney service technician should examine the readily accessible** portions of the chimney exterior, interior and accessible* portions of the appliance and the chimney connection. Your technician will be looking for the basic soundness of the chimney structure and flue as well as the basic appliance installation and connections.
The technician will also verify the chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits.
Level Two Inspection
A level two inspection is required when any changes are made to the system. Changes can include a change in the fuel type, changes to the shape of, or material in, the flue (i.e. relining), or the replacement or addition of an appliance of a dissimilar type, input rating or efficiency.
Additionally, a level two inspection is required upon the sale or transfer of a property or after an operation malfunction or external event that is likely to have caused damage to the chimney. Building fires, chimney fires, seismic events as well as weather events are all indicators that this level of inspection is warranted. A level two inspection is a more in-depth inspection than a level one inspection.Â
When a level one or level two inspection suggests a hidden hazard and the evaluation cannot be performed without special tools to access concealed areas of the chimney or flue, a level three inspection is recommended. A level two inspection includes everything in a level one inspection, plus the accessible portions of the chimney exterior and interior including attics, crawl spaces and, basements.
It will address proper clearances from combustibles in accessible locations. There are no specialty tools (i.e. demolition equipment) required to open doors, panels or coverings in performing a level two inspection.
A level two inspection shall also include a visual inspection by video scanning or other means in order to examine the internal surfaces and joints of all flue liners incorporated within the chimney.
No removal or destruction of permanently attached portions of the chimney or building structure or finish shall be required by a level two inspection.
Level Three Inspection
A level three inspection addresses the proper construction and the condition of concealed portions of the chimney structure and the flue. Removal or destruction, as necessary, of permanently attached portions of the chimney or building structure will be required for the completion of a level three inspection.
A level three inspection includes all the areas and items checked in a level one and a level two inspection, as well as the removal of certain components of the building or chimney where necessary. Removal of components (i.e., chimney crown, interior chimney wall) shall be required only when necessary to gain access to areas that are the subject of the inspection.
When serious hazards are suspected, a level two inspection may well be required to determine the condition of the chimney system.
Inspection Definitions
*Accessible: May require the use of commonly available tools to remove doors, panels or coverings, but will not damage the chimney or building structure or finish.
**Readily Accessible: Exposed, or capable of being exposed, for operation, inspection, maintenance, or repair without the use of tools to open or remove doors, panels or coverings.
Call us today for chimney inspections!
Ready to book your chimney inspection?
Click the button below to get on our schedule, or give us a call during our operation hours.
Repair & Water Leaks
Most chimney issues are caused by unwanted moisture entering the chimney. To help combat this – we offer repair and water leak services to help keep your chimney safe and usable!
How Does Moisture Damage Chimneys?
When a chimney is exposed to rain, snow, sleet, and ice – overtime it begins to wick in excessive moisture and could begin to develop the following symptoms:
- Cracking, staining, molding, eroding, and or flaking/spalling.
Additionally, mildew, fungus, and algae can form on the brick and in the mortar joints. All of this damage can make an otherwise strong chimney look worn down, and can significantly shorten the service life. By keeping up with your annually scheduled chimney inspections – you can help prevent your chimney from needing extensive repairs, or to be completely replaced. Click the button below to schedule your appointment.
Chimney Relining
General wear and tear, age, and chimney leaks can cause spalling, flaking flue tiles, cracks, eroded mortar joints, gaps between tiles, and corrosion, rust, and holes (if the liner is metal) — and all of that damage can affect the overall safety and performance.
The lining of the chimney is meant to protect the masonry against the intensely hot temperatures, corrosive gases, and other byproducts produced by fires when using your fire appliances. It’s also meant to provide a smooth, airtight surface that prevents heat from transferring to framing and insulation in nearby walls (which could spark a fire), and that streamlines and speeds up the path for byproducts to exit the chimney. When damage is present, the liner can’t effectively do its job. As a result, you may be at greater risk of house fire and carbon monoxide poisoning, and your heating appliance could be wasteful and damaging to your home.
To help prevent further damage from happening to your chimney, click the button below to schedule your chimney relining appointment.
Chimney Caps, Chase Covers & Screens
Chimney caps, chase covers and screens all help to keep the internal structure of your chimney protected from unwanted factors that contribute to damage and other issues in your chimney. It may seem like a decorative topper to your chimney, but the chimney cap is actually one of the most important parts of your entire system. It is the primary piece (other than the crown) that protects your flue from moisture, debris and animal entry. Similarly to adding chase covers and screens – A chimney chase cover is a piece of metal that is used to protect the top of a prefabricated or factory-built chimney. This helps to protect your chimney from water damage and pests. Screens also help to keep out unwanted pests such as squirrels, raccoons, birds, and more.
Flashing & Crown Repairs / Replacement
Flashing Plays An Important Role For The Life Of Your Chimney. The place where your chimney comes together with your roof is very vulnerable and prone to leaks. To combat this – flashing is placed in the spot where the chimney comes out of the roofing to help prevent leaks! Since no roof is angled the same, flashing is customized per each home. Flashing consists of several overlapping layers of metal (step flashing and counter flashing) which cover the roof and continue a quarter of the way up the chimney. The step flashing will go under the shingles and will be nailed into the roof. Counter flashing should be counter sunk or ground into the chimney and then either caulked or mortared into place, for a long-lasting seal.
Click the button below to book your flashing and crown repair today.
Preventative Maintenance
One of the best ways you can take action toward preventative maintenance for your chimney, is to get your chimney inspected annually! Annual maintenance prevents fires from creosote buildup and saves money on repairs. Our cleaning service includes inspections of the interior and exterior of the chimney and appliance. These inspections can help prevent unwanted fires, and further damage from happening to your chimney!
By keeping up with your annually scheduled chimney inspections and maintenance procedures – you can help to keep the life of your chimney last long, and avoid other damage from happening such as water damage, or chimney liner damage,
Click the button below to schedule your annual maintenance appointment.
