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| Go To Home | The Labrosse Bros. | Your Chimney Experts | Your Masonry Experts | Our Technical Library | Related Links |
1. I need my chimney cleaned, what is your policy?
We will come to your home and inspect your chimney first. Best practices dictate that we inspect your chimney to make sure that it can or should be swept. But wait! If we do sweep your chimney, you will only be charged for a sweep. If you only receive and inspection, you will only be charged for an inspection, not both.
Chimneys are not cleaned, they are swept. Cleaning a chimney, by definition, would entail bringing it back to new condition. This is not practical or possible. In most cases, a standard sweeping removes excess creosote buildup which is a major cause of chimney fires. If your chimney is connected to a fireplace or a woodstove, please DO NOT use the stove or fireplace the night before our visit.
2. Why can't you just sweep my chimney, why do you have to inspect it first?
Inspecting your chimney permits us to determine if you have any issues which would preclude a proper sweeping and potential hazards. Examples would be: loose bricks, missing mortar in joints, obstructions, or cracking of the masonry. If someone swept your chimney without inspecting it first, they could damage your chimney! For more information see Chimney Inspections Explained.
2a. My house is brand new, there cannot be anything wrong with my chimney, the house passed all of the building inspector's requirements. Why should I have it inspected already?
Did your building inspector climb onto your roof and inspect your chimney for the correct expansion joints on the crown? Did he/she put a light down the flue and check for correct alignment of the flue tiles, was refractory cement used between the tiles or regular mortar? Was the correct chimney height verified? Is the mantel far enough away from the fireplace face? Is the hearth extension long enough? Chances are NO. Verification of these items are not a normal part of a building inspectors job. Building inspectors are a valuable resource. But they are not chimney experts and will tell you so.
Do you actually know how much clearance there is between your chimney and nearby combustibles? Do you even know who built your chimney? Did they follow all State, Local and Federal Codes and Standards?
By having a Certified Sweep inspect your chimney, you will get a good idea of how your chimney was constructed. Ask your Sweep to video or photograph the inside of your chimney so you can see for yourself, the condition of your flue on the inside.
How many people know or care what the inside of their chimney looks like? Irreputable masons make their living betting that you don't know or care. After all, who checks their work? It may be years down the road before you have a incident. As stated above, most masons do not know how to properly construct a chimney! Be sure to read The Facts About Chimney Fires.
2b. I don't want an inspection, I just want an estimate of what I know needs fixing and I want it fixed, will you do that?
Do you tell your dentist you don't want your teeth cleaned first? Cleaning your teeth will help the dentist discover any cavities, right? You may know what needs fixing, but do you know what actually caused the damage or deterioration? Why replace or repair something if the cause of the damage is not addressed? Be aware of the consequences of "band-aid" repairs if you choose this path. Manufacturers state specific requirements for installations in order to protect the consumer with a warranty. If operating outside of these parameters is not illegal, it certainly may compromise your warranty of the product.
3. Why does my fireplace or woodstove smoke excessively?
Frequently, it is found that your chimneys are constructed without proper consideration for correct draft.
It is a common practice to think that bigger is better, but this is not true when it comes to chimneys and the appliances to which they are attached. Sadly, most chimneys are constructed to look pretty. Very few masons possess adequate education in chimney dynamics. In these instances, the homeowner may suffer excessive and costly fuel consumption, chimney fires or hazardous carbon monoxide levels inside their home. For more information, see 100 Reasons Why Your Fireplace Doesn't Work as well as Anatomy of Your Fireplace.
Another common issue can be operator error or lack of education on how their appliance should actually perform. A properly operating unit should emit clear or white smoke. Black smoke indicates you are sending unburned fuel up your chimney. Unburned fuel equals wasted money.
For example, if you are following a vehicle on the highway which is spewing black smoke from the tailpipe, you easily notice that vehicle has engine problems. The exhaust from a vehicle should be hardly noticeable, right? The same holds true for your chimney.
4. How can I tell if my chimney is constructed or sized correctly?
One of the easiest conditions for the homeowner to notice, is the height of their chimney. Your chimney must be a full two feet above any surrounding object located on your roof within 10 feet. It also must be at least 3' tall at the lowest point it breaks through or by the roof.
Do you have the proper clearances between your chimney and any combustibles? There must be at least 2 inches of clearance between combustibles, when the chimney is located in the house or breaks through the house.
Most people do not know that your exact furnace, woodstove or other heating appliance is what determines the correct size for your chimney flue. Appliances do get replaced, but do chimneys get replaced every time a new appliance is installed? No. A normal solution to this issue is to install a properly constructed and correctly sized liner inside your chimney to meet your appliance's requirements.
It is imperative to follow appliance manufacturers installation recommendations for flue sizing. For more information see How Your Chimney Really Works.
5. I have water leaking down my chimney inside my house, what is causing this?
Some common reasons for this might include, missing mortar in the masonry joints, incorrect flashing technique, cracked crown, missing bricks, clogged gutters, inadequate pitch of connector piping, cracked masonry, excessive condensation due to poor combustion problems or improper landscaping. For more information, see Water and Your Masonry Chimney from the CSIA website.
5a. Now I understand that water can cause my bricks to crack, and I have alot of cracked bricks. Can you just replace them?
Maybe yes, maybe no. Every chimney is different. In some cases, the bricks have full thickness cracks. If there are only a few, in separate areas, this may be an option. But, if the cracked bricks are numerous and close together it would not be wise. Bricks hold considerable weight from above and sometimes are interconnected or weaved with fellow bricks. If you remove large areas, the weight that those bricks were bearing has to shift somewhere else. Once the brick is removed, the weight has shifted; it cannot be convinced to return to original position no matter how nicely you ask.
6. Should I have my furnace flue inspected or swept as well?
Absolutely. As many newer furnaces/boilers operate at a higher efficiency, there is a likelihood of a higher moisture content present in exhaust gases. This moisture, combined with the sulfuric acid from the fuel will deteriorate your flue from the inside out. Be sure to read this article on Annual Service of Your Oil-Fired Appliance Chimney.
7. I just had my furnace/boiler serviced, didn't they clean the chimney?
No! Heating and cooling techinicians are not customarily Chimney Sweeps. They are not obligated nor educated to inspect or sweep your chimney. A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep will possess the credentials for your chimney inspection and sweep.
8. Why should I hire LaBrosse Brothers?
In most states, including Rhode Island, there are limited requirements for Chimney Sweeps to be licensed. Anyone can open a Chimney Sweep or Masonry business. All someone needs is previous experience and liability insurance. There is no state examination or testing of anyone calling themselves a Sweep or a Mason. Certified Sweeps, as we are, must pass rigorous examinations and continually earn educational credits to retain their licensures. LaBrosse Brothers is also licensed to install chimney liners, woodstoves as well as fireplace inserts under the Decorative Appliance licensing authority.
The LaBrosse Brothers first and foremost goal is to ensure that your chimney is performing to its intended functions. We will inform you of the status of your chimney and heating appliances and may provide written and photographic documentation.
Properly constructed chimneys and appliances which are allowed to perform to design intent WILL SAVE YOU MONEY. A malfunctioning heating system costs you money. Unburned fuel going up your chimney is wasted fuel.
When additional work is requested, you will receive an estimate via common mail or email or fax. All of the work perfomed for you shall be of the highest quality craftsmanship and materials, conforming to NPFA Standards, State and Local Codes and Manufacturer's specifications.