Frequently Asked Questions

Our main service area includes but is not limited to King and Pierce Counties; from Olympia to Everett: Auburn, Bellevue, Bonney Lake, Bothell, Buckley, Burien,  Edgewood, Enumclaw, Everett, Federal Way, Fircrest, Graham, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lacey, Lake Forest Park, Lakewood, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Olympia, Puyallup, Renton, Sammamish, Seattle, Shoreline, Spanaway, Steilacoom, Sumner, Tacoma, Tukwila.

The National fire Protection Agency (NFPA link) recommends inspection and cleaning of your fireplace/chimney annually. If you’ve burned this past season we strongly recommend a chimney inspection and cleaning if necessary.

Pricing for chimney inspection and sweep are dependent upon service area and the type of chimney system in your home (i.e. open fireplace, free-standing wood stove, lined insert or unlined insert). Please contact us for a direct quote at 1-888-979-3377

Yes we do require our customers to be present during the inspection and sweep to assure quality service. In order to perform a thorough chimney inspection and sweep, our technician needs interior access to the firebox. We also like to discuss the process and any recommended repairs with our clients while making ourselves available to answer any questions.

The first thing we do is greet our customers and enter the home to lay our drop cloths, shut the damper and inspect the firebox

• We then go to the roof and inspect the top half of the chimney and sweep it down
• Then we go back inside with a vacuum and a throat brush
• Next we open the damper and brush out the throat and the smoke shelf, the damper housing and fireplace walls and firebox
• After the inspection and cleaning are complete we pick up our equipment, write out our inspection report and go over the details of the report with our customers.
• The inspection and sweep typically takes about 35 minutes; it can take longer if there is an insert or if the chimney is exceptionally dirty

Our skilled technicians use an 18 point chimney evaluation when performing chimney inspections:

Type One

Fireplace:

• Hearth  Protection
• Firebox/Grate
• Ash Container
• Damper
• Smoke Chamber
• Spark Screen/Doors

Chimney:

• Height
• Brickwork/Mortar
• Flue Tiles
• Flashing
• Crown/Wash
• Water Resistance
• Chimney Cap/Spark Arrestor

Woodstove:

• Stove Pipe Condition
• Factory Chimney
• Stove Gasketing
• Installation/Thimble/Clearances
• Approved Flue Connection

Type Two

Our type two chimney inspections are necessary when there has been structural damage to the chimney (i.e. earthquake damage) or there has been a chimney fire. With this type of inspection our knowledgeable technician drops a camera down the chimney to get a better look at the interior. Our video inspections are upon request and are $325.00+tax. We do work with insurance.

Of course not! Our technician’s value and respect our customers, their property and are equipped to provide our quality service in the cleanest possible work space.

We do collect at the time of service; we happily accept cash, check, Visa and Mastercard.

Tuckpointing is the process of filling in missing, cracked or deteriorated mortar joints in the masonry. In this process the installer removes the damaged mortar with a diamond blade, then installs fresh pointing mortar into the open mortar joint by ‘tucking’ or pushing it in. Solid mortar joints are important for strength and keeping water from entering the chimney.

Most likely this is caused by moisture and weatherization over time.  When a chimney or crown becomes water logged, freezing temperatures can expand the water and cause freeze thaw, damaging the mortar and concrete. Preventative maintenance is the key here. Fixing existing damage and water sealing the chimney with a quality product will ensure that water doesn’t penetrate the exterior and give your chimney years of life.