Wood burning fireplace repair in Roosevelt Park

A fire that struggles to draw

A fireplace that draws well pulls smoke up and away from the opening. One that struggles leaves the fire smoldering, the face darkening and the room smelling of smoke. EPA guidance says a smoldering fire is unsafe and wasteful in most appliances.

Weak draw has a handful of causes on the fireplace side. The damper may not open all the way, the passage above the firebox may be partly blocked, the wood may be wet, or an outside air control on a factory-built unit may be shut. Other causes sit higher up and belong to chimney work.

Our crew checks the fireplace-side causes first, because they are quick to confirm and often quick to fix. Where the answer lies in the chimney, the estimate says so and points to the right service, so you are not paying for fireplace parts that will not change anything.

Three feet of clear space around the fire

NFPA heating safety tips say to keep anything that can burn at least three feet from heating equipment, including the fireplace. The U.S. Fire Administration gives the same advice. That covers furniture, curtains, rugs, holiday decor, stacked firewood and the kindling basket.

Rooms change over time. A new sofa, a bigger rug or a decorated mantel can creep into that space without anyone noticing, and a fire that sat well clear last year may sit closer to things that burn this year. Garlands hung from the mantel for the holidays are one example.

During a fireplace service call in Roosevelt Park, our technician points out anything inside that three-foot area and suggests where it could go instead. It is quick and costs nothing, and the note goes onto your written record with the rest of the visit.

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 Roosevelt Park 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

Same-day fireplace visits when the schedule allows

Some fireplace problems cannot wait for a slot next week. A damper stuck closed before a planned gathering, a door that has come off its track or a hearth tile that has broken loose can make the fireplace unusable at a bad moment.

When the schedule allows, we offer same-day visits for those calls. Small faults, such as a slipped handle pin, a loose knob or a door off its track, can sometimes be put right on that first visit rather than on a return trip.

Anything that needs a model part is ordered once you approve it. The free inspection, the written estimate and 10% off work booked within 72 hours apply the same way on a same-day visit in Roosevelt Park, and nothing is rushed because the visit was quick to arrange.