Fireplace repair for Aloma homes

Smoke drifting out of the opening

EPA wood-burning guidance says a properly installed, correctly used wood-burning appliance should make very little smoke, and that if you regularly see or smell smoke, you may have a problem. A fireplace that puffs smoke past the screen deserves a look.

If smoke starts filling the room, take everyone outside and dial 911 from there, without staying to fan the smoke or tend the fire.

Once the room is clear and the fireplace is cold, the causes are checked in order. The damper may not open fully, the passage above the firebox may be smaller than the flue, the wood may be wet, or a change to the opening, such as new doors or a narrowed opening, may have altered how air moves. Our technicians go through each one and write down which it is, with the repair that fixes it.

A sweep before the first fire after repairs

Fireplace repairs fix what can be seen and reached from the room. The flue above still needs its own attention, and NFPA 211 calls for chimneys and fireplaces to be inspected yearly and cleaned when needed. If the fireplace has been idle or the flue has gone a long time without sweeping, a sweep before the first fire makes sense.

Repair work can also disturb what sits above. Work on the damper, the throat or the firebox can loosen soot and debris, and it is better cleared before a fire than drawn back down during one.

Our chimney sweep service can follow the repair on the same visit or soon after. The sweep appears as its own line, so you can choose it or skip it if the flue was cleaned recently.

Bringing a long-unused fireplace back into service

A fireplace that has sat unused for years can hold surprises. A damper may have seized, a grate rusted, debris collected in the throat and earlier repairs may be hidden under paint or behind a decorative screen.

Lighting a fire to see what happens is the wrong first step. The fireplace should be checked cold, from the firebox up to the damper, and the flue inspected before the first fire, in line with the yearly inspection NFPA 211 calls for.

Our crew in Aloma works through that list and writes up only what is needed. Some fireplaces need very little, and you will hear that too.

• Damper freed and run through its full travel
• Firebox and joints checked for damage
• Hearth, face and lintel looked over
• Flue checked or swept before the first fire

What the free fireplace inspection includes

The inspection is free, and it is a real look at the fireplace, not a sales call. It starts with naming the type and reading any label, then works from the grate up to the damper and out to the hearth, face and trim.

We ask when the problem started, what fuel you burn and whether anything has changed around the fireplace, such as new floors, doors or a mantel. Then our technician explains what was found in plain words, points to the parts involved and writes it all down. If the fireplace is factory-built, the label details go on the page so parts can be ordered without a second trip.

You keep that written estimate to compare and decide on in your own time. Homeowners in Aloma can request the visit by phone or through the form, and same-day inspections are offered when the schedule allows.