Local prefab fireplace repair for Harlem Heights homes

Why chimney parts from different makers stay apart

One maker's warranty states that certain of its products are listed for use only with specified chimney systems, and that using chimney components other than those specified in the product manual voids the warranty.

Pipe sections from different makers can look alike and still differ in diameter, joint design and spacing between walls. We match every replacement section to the system already in your house by brand and series, and tell you if the existing chimney is itself a mix.

• Same maker as the existing system
• Same series and diameter
• Same joint design
• A note if the chimney is already mixed

Metal chimneys inside a framed chase

Many factory-built chimneys run up through a framed chase, a boxed enclosure that can look like a masonry chimney from outside. The chase has its own top cover, and in one maker's system its own chase-style termination.

The chase itself is house framing and siding, and the chase top cover is a separate job priced on its own line. The prefab repair covers the fireplace, the pipe and the parts of the listed system inside the chase.

When the house pulls against the fireplace

A fireplace needs replacement air for what goes up the chimney. One maker's manual explains that exhaust fans, range hoods, clothes dryers and other household equipment can create negative pressure in the room and pull combustion by-products back into the home.

The same manual suggests opening a nearby window with the fire burning to see whether the smoking stops. If it does, the fix lies in the house air, and we explain the options before touching the fireplace.

• Exhaust fans
• Range hoods
• Clothes dryers
• Air handling near the fireplace

Parts for older and discontinued models

Factory-built fireplaces outlive their production runs. One maker states that it provides replacement parts, where practicable and if available, for a set period after the last date of manufacture of a model, which means some older parts do run out.

We check availability before scheduling the work, so your fireplace is opened only when the parts are in hand. When a part is gone for good, we explain the options, including replacing the fireplace as a separate installation.