Chimney inspections and repairs for Dover Manor homes

The first cool evening of the season is when a fire sounds best. Dover Manor is one of Orlando's official neighborhoods, and the easiest way to have the fireplace ready for that evening is to book the sweep and inspection before the weather turns, while the schedule has room. A fireplace that has sat unused through a long, humid summer can collect more than soot.

Leaves, nesting material from birds or small animals and bits of mortar can gather on the smoke shelf and damper. Creosote left from last season can hold moisture and odor. None of that shows from the room. NFPA 211 sets a yearly inspection for chimneys, with a cleaning whenever that inspection shows one is due, and the routine makes sense even for a fireplace lit only a few times a season.

A sweep removes soot and creosote from the flue, the smoke chamber and the firebox. We protect the floor and furniture around the fireplace, and we check the damper, the firebox walls, the cap and what we can see of the liner along the way. If something needs repair, you hear about it with a written price, and the sweep is not held up by a decision you are not ready to make.

A few things help before the first fire. Burn dry, seasoned wood, as the EPA's Burn Wise program recommends, because wet wood smokes more and leaves more deposits. Open the damper before lighting and make sure it stays open. Keep the area in front of the hearth clear of anything that can burn. Our company is local and family owned.

The inspection in Dover Manor is free, the sweep and any repairs are priced in writing with no hidden fees, and you receive a 10% discount on work booked within 72 hours after the visit. Call early and ask for a time that suits you, and same-day visits are possible when the schedule allows.