Our Company Blog

Chimney Relining and Repair Services

You may be finished with your fireplace for the season, but now is no time to forget it. In fact, completing necessary chimney work during the spring and summer is a smart idea. Once it’s finished, you will be ready for the first fire this fall and can spend the rest of your summer hassle free. At Chief Chimney Services, we frequently see masonry damage this time of year, and we cannot stress enough the importance of getting repairs completed sooner rather than later.

Waiting for Repairs

If your chimney masonry has damage, even minor damage, It will get worse with every day that passes. Water penetration damages chimneys from the inside out. Damaged masonry allows water in, causing spalling, deterioration, rust, stains, and eventually malfunction of the system. The liner will become damaged, and the next time you use your fireplace, the liner will not offer the proper protection to the masonry. It can lead to a house fire that puts your property and your family at risk. Don’t wait to make repairs. Schedule your chimney inspection, so we can start planning for repairs now. Start now, and you won’t have to wonder if the chimney is ready for fall. Start now, and you’ll avoid more costly repairs later.

Chimney Relining

One of the most common repairs we see this time of year at Chief Chimney Services includes the largest part of the system, and one the homeowner can’t reach — the liner. A flue liner may become damaged over time due to neglect and water damage, or suddenly because of animal intrusion or a natural disaster. This is why it’s important to call a professional if you’ve had an animal in your chimney, even if it left on its own. Before it left, its claws could have left scratches in your liner. Likewise, if the area you live has experienced an earthquake or storm with strong winds, you should call a professional for a chimney check-up. It is also necessary to call a professional and have your liner checked out if you suspect you had a flue fire — even if it extinguished on its own!

Once we get a look at your chimney, we may determine that the liner can be repaired using HeatShield Cerfractory Flue Sealant products or you may need a complete new liner. If you need a new liner, you can choose from aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum liners are less expensive, but stainless steel is stronger and longer-lasting. If you’re burning wood, it’s important to use stainless steel or HeatShield for a safe chimney.

Chimney Repairs

Other chimney repairs we see at Chief Chimney Services are masonry and firebox repairs, crown repair, and leak repairs. Our chimney sweeps are master masons with the expertise and professionalism required to not only fix your chimney but do it to your liking. Don’t put your trust in any other company when you can choose from Chief Chimney Services and our staff of CSIA-certified chimney sweeps.

Call us today at 631-863-2460 or schedule online.

Chimney Liner Repair

When most people think about damage to their chimney they think about crumbling mortar and chipped bricks on the exterior of the chimney structure caused by age and weather erosion. While this is something to be concerned about the most common (and the most dangerous) chimney damage happens inside the flue where it cannot be seen without a proper inspection. Cracked and damaged chimney liners are more common than people realize and can put your home and family at great risk if not properly repaired.

How Can I Tell If My Chimney Liner Is Damaged?

The best, most effective way to tell if you have a damaged chimney liner is a proper inspection by a CSIA certified chimney technician [https://chiefchimney.com/]. A certified tech will run a camera up your chimney so that they can see exactly what state your entire chimney liner is in. If you have a clay tile liner (the most common among older chimneys) the tech will be looking for cracked, broken, or missing tiles.

When you burn a fire the chimney heats up and cools down rapidly causing stress on the clay tiles. Over time these tiles will fracture and break and can even fall off completely. When this happens it leaves a gap in the liner exposing the masonry structure to the heat and combustible byproducts of a wood burning fire. This can cause major structural issues for your chimney and can create a potentially hazardous situation for you and your family.

If My Liner Is Damaged What Are My Options?

If your chimney liner is cracked or damaged your chimney sweep will know what to do next. Depending on the severity of the damage a relining job [https://chiefchimney.com/chimney-repairs/chimneys-relined/] might be necessary. In many cases this is the best option regardless. If your chimney liner is starting to show signs of wear and tear it will eventually have to be replaced. It is better to have that done at the first sign of an issue otherwise you are simply prolonging the inevitable and spending money on small repairs in the process. Your specific chimney system will dictate what type of liner to have installed but in most cases HeatShield is the way to go.

What is HeatShield?

HeatShield [http://cecurechimney.com/heatshield-system.html] is a Cerfractory Flue Sealant product that is used to either repair or completely replace your chimney liner. It is one of the most trusted products in the chimney industry and comes with a 20 year material warranty. There are 2 methods of using HeatShield to repair a damaged chimney liner.

Resurfacing – If the damage to a chimney liner is not too extensive the chimney sweep may recommend using the HeatShield resurfacing system. This process is performed in several steps. The first step involves a “tie-coat” that cleans the interior of the chimney liner of dust and debris and acts as a primer for the final HeatShield application. Once this primer has dried the HeatShield material is applied into the flue at ¼ inch thickness. After this is all finished a camera is run up the length of the chimney to ensure that there are no gaps left in the liner.

CeCure Sleeve Relining – If the chimney liner is extensively damaged or missing all together your chimney sweep may recommend completely relining your chimney. This is where the CeCure Sleeve Relining system comes in. When installing a CeCure Sleeve Relining system the first step is to coat the interior of the chimney with a coating of HeatShield Cerfractory Flue Sealant and a drying accelerator. Next a custom fitted CeCure Sleeve is lowered into your chimney and secured to the top of your system. This sleeve provides ceramic insulation and is reinforced with stainless steel fabric. Once this is in place another coating of the Flue Sealant is applied and another camera is run to ensure that everything is in place properly.

How Do I Schedule A Chimney Inspection?

If you have a fireplace and chimney you should have a chimney inspection performed annually by a CSIA certified chimney technician. Call Chief Chimney Services today to schedule your appointment or visit us online at chiefchimney.com.