Nearby Sands Point Freestanding Chimney Inspections

The chimney is one of the most undervalued parts of a building. Every chimney tends to not receive the attention or the concern usually afforded other worrisome household systems. Chimneys are far from the quiet, passive black holes that are ‘just there’ that most homeowners assume them to be. Weakened or deteriorated flue liners of masonry chimneys could become soft, cracked or otherwise leaky – such that it/they no longer have the ability to control and contain the life-threatening by-products of combustion.

The issue is that hundreds of masonry chimneys were not designed to handle the venting requirements of modern high-efficiency heating appliances burning natural gas & oil.

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

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

Chimney caps have long been recognized as an important chimney safety & deterioration-prevention element.

Defective mortar joints or the use of faulty mortar or brick might greatly increase the tendency to absorb and move water to the interior of the masonry chimney.

Our technicians will advise the owner in your own subjective situation what is best for you.

For a metal, brick or fabricated chimney repair assessment call or text Expressway’s chimney experts at 631.388.7555.

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

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

Chimney caps also come with spark screens to prevent stray airborne particles that are still burning from exiting onto your roof.

Our chimney sweeps will recommend the best solution for your chimney.

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.

It is hard to realize how destructive animals & birds can be over the summer crafting a wonderfully cozy nest right inside your chimney.

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

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

Water causes more leaks than any other element. It soaks into porous bricks and erodes the mortar. A chimney cap that covers all flues can protect you from expensive repairs.

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

Sands Point 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.” Thermocrete has UL Listing and is approved for gas & oil.

A composite chimney lining system is inflated into the flue, then hardened with steam pressure, forming a tough liner. A stainless steel liner locks in moisture & gases, keeping them out of your home.

Stainless steel liners are UL tested under extreme conditions, including simulated chimney fires over 2100°F, so you’ll sleep soundly knowing your home is safer.

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. Liners also provide a properly-sized flue for efficient appliance performance.

The chimney not only vents combustion products but also supplies draft for combustion air. Our main role is to remove flue deposits and evaluate the overall chimney system.

Our objective is to provide recommendations that could improve the safety & efficiency of your appliance & venting system.

Chimneys should be cleaned when soot & creosote accumulations approach or exceed 1/4 inch. Glaze build-up more than 1/8 inch can be removed. We employ multiple cleaning systems to remove chimney deposits. Frequent (at least annual) chimney checks are the only way to know when the chimney is in need of 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 & creosote from entering the house. 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 clean the flue by standard or mechanical methods, chemicals may be used to loosen and dissolve heavy deposits.

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

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

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

Sands Point’s chimney experts offer free estimate, no-obligation quote and the chimney report to use as your family wishes.