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Chimney problems of all kinds can be hazardous to your life and property.  Dangerous chimneys can leak harmful gases into your home, drip creosote in between bricks, near exposed wood, and even come tumbling down upon or through your roof or onto a neighbor's property.  Chimney Sweeps in Boston and the north shore of Massachusetts have seen hundreds of thousands of chimneys that are in such disrepair, it's no wonder more regulations and mandates have not been realized over the years.

The NFPA 211 code book (National Fire Prevention Association) has changed over the years to include several safety updates, procedures, and hazards that we and other chimney sweeps must study and become not only knowledgable about but must also become expert at the diagnosis of these progressively new standards.  Not long ago, it wasn't even mandatory to install a liner in your chimney.  Now, it seems almost criminal to not have a lining system, a properly installed chimney cap and a yearly inspection service.  How do average homeowners afford all of this maintenance?

This presents a real problem.  Our business here is to solve chimney problems.  It's fairly a simple approach: If you have a chimney problem we inspect it, find the problem, document it, then propose a solution.  We give you the solution in writing with our estimates for fixing the problem.  If you don't have a chimney problem, we still inspect the chimney. The value here is that we have opportunity to keep an eye on the mortar joints, inside and out.  We realize small problems and propose to fix them before they become bigger chimney problems, saving our customers money in the long run.

These chimney problems can create other problems.  Was it the roof that caused the chimney problem or did the chimney cause the roof problem?  Well, that's like the chicken and the egg in most cases.  Fact is, chimney/roof flashing is super important.  One little thing like ice damming in the winter or some heaving in the shingles around the "not counter flashed" chimney flashing and you are risking major damage to your home.  We provide you with piece of mind through our inspection process.  The pictures we take of the inside and outside of your chimney tell a story after you've been with us for a few years and you can count on our ability to spot issues before they become huge projects.

Things you can do: 

1. Value shop for your certified chimney sweep and budget for maintenance!  

1. This means look at the services you are buying. (we inspect the inside and outside of each flue and provide you with the photos).

2. We provide you with piece of mind by physically inspecting every aspect of your chimney on a flue by flue basis.(we also insure a spotless, mess free cleaning of your chimney's flues).

3. We do not compromise our inspection process - it's your safety and your family's piece of mind. 

2. Talk to your heating specialist, the people who maintain your heating system. - We work with hundreds of local plumbing and heating specialists, we are members of several area chapters of non-profit organizations dedicated to the safe and efficient operation of your heating system.  Why do we do that? - Certified Chimney Sweeps are the only professionals actually qualified to handle the safe and efficient venting of your home's heating system.

3. Talk to your neighbors.  Who put the cap on their chimney?  Who have they used, what have they experienced?

4. You may comment below as well. 

Writing all of this down may become tedious; however, it will provide you with a basis for interviewing chimney sweeps.  On this page here, you can download a checklist that will help you evaluate a chimney sweep company's services. 

It seems funny but have you ever thought of having 1/2 a brake job or 1/2 an exhaust system replaced?  Probably for a minute, let's be honest.  Nonetheless, could you find a professional that was willing to do that work?  I don't think so.  This is why we do complete work.  We recommend fixing what's broken so that it is safe and doesn't get worse.  We recommend inspecting your chimney every year and sweeping it as necessary and we always sweep before an inspection.   We already know that soot is black, inspecting it just makes a mess.  We're interested in the chimney, once the soot is scrubbed off.

You can always call us, fill out one of our forms online and we'll assist you.  If you've visited our site before, are considering whether or not to have your chimney inspected and cleaned, please give us your business.  We will responsibly inspect your chimney, flue by flue and work with you over time to manage the results.  

Our Chimney Camera aides in the process of diagnosing potential chimney repairs in Boston.  We perform some of the most challenging chimney rebuilds in Massachusetts.  Some of them are 35 to 65 foot chimneys that have multiple bends and returns in their flue design.  How's a flashlight going to help anyone inspect that!  Chimney cameras are the only way to go if you value your safety and home.

We use our chimney camera on every sweeping and inspection to provide our customers with real answers to real chimney problems.  I don't know of any other Boston chimney sweeper who can make the same promise to their customers.  We promise to provide the most valuable chimney service at an affordable price.  When we hand you a Chimney Service Report and it says, "The National Fire Protection Association recommends each of your flues be inspected yearly and swept as necessary."  You will KNOW that your chimney is safe to use and up to code.  If our report says anything else, ask to see the pictures or better yet, stay with our technician while he is on site and watch over his shoulder.  He'll make sure you stand in a safe and "clean" spot.

We are currently in the process of rebuilding 48 fireplaces and 4 furnace flues in Brighton, MA.  This is a major undertaking to say the least and we are progressing well through each phase of the job.  Had we never used our chimney camera during the inspection process, we would not have known the extent of difficulty each situation posed for our technicians.  We knew exactly where the chimney needed to be breached, how the liners would work, what parts needed to be rebuilt, where the older breaches in the chimney were EXACTLY, and more.  The process took a while and we broke a camera and several other parts during our inspection but in the end 48 condo owners in Brighton, Massachusetts are each going to be able to enjoy their newly rebuilt brick fire place.

If you know your chimney needs to be repaired then call us today so that we can set up an appointment to properly inspect your chimney.  We are ready and able to do this work until the weather makes us stop.  It just makes sense to hire a company who has taken on the responsibility of ensuring accurate and reliable chimney inspection procedures.  Call today!