Expert, Local, Cobb Chimney Contractor

The chimney is one of the most underestimated parts of a house. Every chimney tends to not receive the care or the concern usually directed other hazardous household systems. Chimneys perform several imperitive functions and their simple appearance misrepresents their complex construction and performance requirements. Regular chimney maintenance is paramount to prevent problems, deterioration & future dangerous, high-cost chimney restorations.

Each year there are thousands of cases of carbon monoxide poisonings due to carelessly lined chimneys.

A plethora of masonry chimney elements (except for genuine stone) suffer accelerated deterioration as a result of prolonged contact with water.

A stone chimney acts & seems to be like a brick chimney and it may also be protected from the effects of water penetration.

Chimney caps have long been recognized as an important chimney safety & harm-prevention feature.

Defective mortar joints or the use of weak mortar or brick likely greatly increase the tendency to absorb & pass water to the interior of the masonry chimney.

Caps and dampers keep out the weather, all animals and most debris – all while keeping sparks from leaving the chimney which might ignite nearby combustibles like your roofing shingles, siding or nearby trees.

For a metal, brick or fabricated chimney repair consultation call or text our team at 631.388.7555.

One of the least expensive parts of the chimney venting system is the one that will prevent some of the most immoderate problems. If you don’t have a chimney cap on your chimney, stop reading right now and call our trusted team for an estimate now! Every chimney pro knows that a safe chimney cap is a must.

Many chimney caps today are built from aluminum, galvanized steel or decorative metals.

Some caps may actually help facilitate the updraft function of the chimney as well by virtue of their special design.

Chimney dampers might help prevent water penetrations, heat loss and keep you warm & saving you money.

This damper attaches to the top of the chimney’s flue tile liner, providing a tight, gasketed fit that seals in heat and seals out weather, insects, birds & animals.

Sometimes it’s hard to think how resourceful animals and birds often be over the summer crafting a wonderfully cozy nest right inside your chimney.

Metal fireboxes, liners and dampers all could suffer rust and deterioration. Chimney liner tiles & mortar may crumble and crack, leading to serious leaks. The chimney cap cover deflects rain & the side mesh prevents pests & leaves from entering. A properly fitted chimney cap or guard may slow wear-and-tear on your chimney and lining, saving you from costly repairs.

Our technicians will come out & recommend the best option for you & provide a written estimate to install a new chimney cap, damper, or guard.

Water causes more damage than any other element. It soaks into porous bricks and erodes the mortar. It’s a common problem: raccoons, squirrels, birds and bats try to make their home in your chimney.

Chimneys may block correct ventilation and even allow pests to enter your house, potentially spreading disease & causing havoc. Our strong mesh and lids can keep even the most determined animals out!

Your fireplace may send sparks onto the roof or nearby flammable materials. Stray sparks can be stopped by the mesh cover that is a component of all our chimney caps.

Cobb Chimney Caps & Top Dampers

The method recommended for your chimney may depend on the type of deposits. A flue lining in a masonry chimney is defined as “a clay, ceramic, or metal liner.” A lining cleaning is cost-effective and ideal for fireplaces & chimneys serving gas, oil, wood, or coal appliances.

It conforms to any chimney size and shape, becoming a corrosion-proof, flame- and heat-resistant, airtight system with steel-like rigidity. A stainless steel chimney liner is air- and water-tight.

This alloy resists acids from gas appliances and extreme temperature cycles.

The liner protects your house from heat transfer to nearby combustibles. NBS tests showed that unlined chimneys let heat move so quickly that adjacent woodwork caught fire within 3½ hours.

If flue gases penetrate brick and mortar, the chimney’s lifespan is drastically reduced. As mortar joints erode, heat transfers more quickly to combustibles & gases like carbon monoxide may leak into the home.

The chimney not only vents combustion products but also supplies draft for combustion air. An incorrectly-sized liner can cause creosote buildup in wood stoves and increase carbon monoxide risks.

Our aim is to provide recommendations that might improve the safety and efficiency of your appliance and venting system.

Chimneys should be cleaned when soot & creosote accumulations approach or exceed 1/4 inch. Glaze build-up over 1/8 inch may be removed. Our technicians employ multiple cleaning systems to remove chimney deposits. Frequent (at least annual) chimney inspections are the only way to know when the chimney needs repairs.

 

Several of the usual chimney cleaning techniques we provide include:

Standard Sweep. This is the standard cleaning method & uses brushes to clean the flue. A powerful, well-filtered vacuum prevents soot and creosote from entering the property. This cleaning is effective for soot & light creosote deposits but has little effect on glaze build-up.

Mechanical Sweeping. Mechanical cleaning uses wire brushes, plastic cables, or special chains rotated at high speed by an electric motor. It is often employed to remove hard creosote or glaze deposits. In rare cases where it is impossible to sweep the flue by standard or mechanical methods, chemicals may be used to loosen & dissolve heavy deposits.

A thorough chimney sweep should remove soot, creosote and blockages from the flue liner, smoke chamber and shelf, firebox & damper. Heat, moisture, creosote & gases might be removed, repaired, or relined with a UL-listed liner system or other approved product that may resist corrosion, softening, or cracking from flue gases at temperatures appropriate for the class of the chimney job.

Chemical Cleaning: This needs two trips — sometimes 3 if necessary. Our chimney pros can usually complete the job in a couple of hours and ensure your house stays clean and undisturbed. Our technicians pride ourselves on “no mess,” top-notch job with minimal interruption to a homeowner.

What do other property owners say about Expressway’s chimney team? Check our Google reviews here. We are proud of them.

Our contractors give you a free consultation, no-obligation quote and the chimney report to use as your family wishes.