Frequently Asked Questions About Fireplaces, Chimneys & Outdoor Living

Yes. Every chimney should have a cap to protect it from water intrusion damage, keep animals out, and provide a spark arrestor to prevent any embers from igniting any combustible materials nearby.

The damage that water can do to an otherwise well-built chimney can be so severe as to require thousands of dollars in repairs, or even the need to demolish and rebuild it! This is certainly a case of an ounce of prevention being worth far more than a pound of cure.

Hearthmaster can fabricate and install a wide range of the best chimney caps and toppers available as well as being able to repair and waterproof masonry crowns, flashing and brick exteriors. We can do framing and siding repairs as well if the water damage has already taken a toll.

Dark red to reddish-brown stains are rust from the top of a metal chase cover or rain pan. If you see rust on the sides of your chimney, it is a sure bet that the rust on the top is far worse and will soon be a leak issue if that is not already the case.

Black staining on a masonry chimney is often from mold and mildew growing in the porous brick and mortar. Upon close inspection we usually find numerous cracks and gaps that are allowing water intrusion. The masonry stays very wet and allows mold and mildew to grow first. Moss is usually not far behind and in some cases even grasses and seedling trees even begin to take root. This situation will continually degrade the mortar and worsen until something is done to remove the mold and vegetation and then seal, waterproof, and cap the masonry.

Call us soon after noticing this for a free estimate. We will provide pictures of the top of your chimney and any other problem areas on the side so you have the information you need decide if you must take action soon or how else to plan and budget for a repair.

Damage to the exterior brick could be due to settlement of a foundation or improper supporting of the weight of a brick chimney veneer on roof decking.

Missing and crumbling brick is usually a lighter pink or salmon color. These are commonly seen in houses built in the 50's - 70's that were made of repurposed brick salvaged from turn-of-the-century warehouses and other buildings which were demolished to make way for more modern structures. These lighter colored bricks were never intended for exterior use and are far more susceptible to the damaging effects of rain and freeze/thaw cycles. These bricks can be replaced individually if terribly disintegrated. Any exterior brick on a chimney, especially from the roofline up, should be protected by a breathable waterproofing and perhaps some other crack sealing, crown sealing or tuck pointing of the masonry, depending on the condition of the structure.

Rusted or incorrectly fitting rain pans and chimney caps are the most common reason for this, though leaks from other places — like missing, unsealed, or ill-fitting storm collars — can allow water intrusion. Even condensation on the underside of a cap or damper can be the source of the drip.

First, make sure your damper is closed so they do not accidentally enter your home. If this occurs any time from late April to early September you're probably hearing Chimney Swifts. These small dark gray to black birds must land and nest on rough, vertical surfaces. They are physically unable to perch on branches and horizontal surfaces. With the loss of forests typical in the modern world their natural habitat has shifted from hollowed-out trees to chimneys. Chimney Swift hatchlings spend longer in the nest than most birds before learning to fly and are also amongst the loudest of young birds; you're probably hearing the baby Swifts tell their parents that they're hungry!

Fortunately, Swifts only learn to make noise in the last two weeks before they leave the nest, so by the time you hear them, they're almost ready to go.

Swifts eat huge amounts insects such as mosquitoes, so there are benefits to having a family of them around. Also, their nests are very small and create no risk of blockage or fire hazard. If you believe you have a Swift nest in your fireplace, the best thing to do is to close the damper so they can't get into the house and call us to come take measurements and give an estimate for a cap. By the time it's cold enough to build a fire, they'll have gone back to Brazil for the winter and we will be happy to come install your new cap and sweep your fireplace once they have gone.

Chimney Swifts are a Federally Protected Species. There are stiff fines and penalties associated with disturbing or harming these helpful little creatures. Hearthmaster is a Chimney Swift friendly company and will work around their schedule as well as yours to provide sustainable solutions for Chimney and Swift alike.

Chimney Swifts return to the same area to nest each year. One threat to their continued survival is, ironically, the capping of chimneys. As more are capped there are less places for them to nest and raise their young. We proudly offer a solution to this conundrum as well.

For nature lovers, birdwatchers, and homeowners who don't like mosquitoes and other nuisance insects, Hearthmaster can design, estimate and construct one or more Chimney Swift towers. Developed from research by renowned ornithologists, these towers provide suitable replacement habitat for these little creatures who spend the vast majority of their lives on the wing as they migrate back and forth from Brazil and fly about constantly ridding the skies of gnats and mosquitoes.

Towers can be constructed to be either a simple, sturdy utilitarian habitat or to be equally functional but resemble old chimneys, as from long-ago destroyed farmhouses or even medieval towers. They can match your house or blend into the woods nearby. It's up to you.

First, always close the damper to prevent any creature entering your home, for your protection and theirs!

Call us to discuss what you are hearing and seeing. We will be happy to come out at our first available opportunity to inspect. In some cases it may be simple to deal with the issues you have and not require an animal removal specialist. In other cases it may be determined that you need the assistance of an animal removal professional. Afterwards, you should have your chimney swept and inspected to remove any debris or blockage.

A chimney fire takes place when excess by-products of combustion, called creosote, that have built up in the flue and smoke chamber of your fireplace over time ignite during a subsequent fire in the fireplace or stove. This highly-combustible material can burn in excess of 2000 degrees.‍ ‍

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America:

"A chimney fire in action can be impressive. Indications of a chimney fire have been described as creating:

• loud cracking and popping noise

• a lot of dense smoke, and

• an intense, hot smell

Chimney fires can burn explosively – noisy and dramatic enough to be detected by neighbors or people passing by. Flames or dense smoke may shoot from the top of the chimney. Homeowners report being startled by a low rumbling sound that reminds them of a freight train or a low flying airplane. However, those are only the chimney fires you know about. Slow-burning chimney fires don't get enough air or have fuel to be dramatic or visible. But, the temperatures they reach are very high and can cause as much damage to the chimney structure – and nearby combustible parts of the house – as their more spectacular cousins."

‍The high temperatures at which they burn can "melt mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer masonry material". Most often, thermal shock occurs and tiles crack and mortar is displaced, which provides a pathway for flames to reach the combustible wood frame of the house. This event is extremely dangerous, call 911 immediately.

‍With prefabricated or factory-built metal chimney systems "most tests require the chimney to withstand flue temperatures up to 2100°F – without sustaining damage. Under chimney fire conditions, damage to these systems still may occur. When pre-fabricated, factory-built metal chimneys are damaged by a chimney fire, they should no longer be used and must be replaced." www.CSIA.org

‍"Wood stoves are made to contain hot fires. The connector pipes that run from the stove to the chimney are another matter. They cannot withstand the high temperatures produced during a chimney fire and can warp, buckle and even separate from the vibrations created by air turbulence during a fire. If damaged by a chimney fire, they must be replaced." www.CSIA.org

‍Too often we hear someone say, "Well, we haven't ever swept ours and we haven't had a problem yet!" or "I know we've had a couple of chimney fires and nothing happened to our house." While it is true that not every chimney fire becomes a structure fire, it is also true that every chimney fire damages the system designed to prevent that structure fire. Approximately 25,000 structure fires per years are caused by chimney fires. Why risk it?

Chimney fires are completely preventable. Simply stated: Clean chimneys don't catch fire!  

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