Chimney Sweeping (Maintenance)

Although chimney tools have changed over the years, chimney sweeping is still done the traditional way with brushes and rods.

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The flue is visually inspected using recommendations from the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Fire Protection Association to determine if sweeping is required and what sort of brush is required.

A drop cloth, vacuum, and further dust control, as needed, are used to prepare the inside area.

A semi-flexible rod is attached to the brush and inserted past the damper area, with additional rods added until the peak is attained.

Because there are several phases of creosote, a visual check is required before using brushes to decide whether a basic sweep is required or whether more aggressive methods are required.

Learn more about chimney sweeping.

Chimney Liners

Aluminum – An aluminum liner can be used to vent category 1 gas appliances with A.F.U.E. of 83% or lower.  Aluminum liners are commonly used to downsize and vent orphaned water heaters when the main heating system is vented elsewhere, improving the performance of the appliance.

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Stainless Steel 316 alloy (most common)– Stainless steel liners can be used to reline existing chimneys or to construct new ones. During the heat up and cool down periods, the corrugated architecture allows for expansion and contraction. For typical heating flues and fireplace flue installations, this liner would be used.

AL294-C is a stainless steel alloy that can only be used with natural gas or propane appliances in categories II, III, or IV. Modern high-efficiency boilers are frequently chimney vented.

Plastic venting, such as polypropylene/PVC, may be an option for venting certified condensing boilers. If plastic venting is correct for you, you should check the manufacturer’s specs.

Learn more about chimney liners.

Snow Removal

Boston’s Best Chimney is now offering residential snow plowing and snow removal services to our clients!

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Among the services we provide are:

  • Plowing of driveways
  • Shoveling of sidewalks and walkways
  • Snow removal from the roof
  • Application of de-icing salt

Every winter, Boston receives an average of 48 inches of snow, making shoveling exhausting. Don’t get caught off guard; our knowledgeable and pleasant staff will make sure your walkways, driveways, and parking lots are clear so you can get back to business. (If you’re interested in one of our limited contracts, please inquire.)

Chimney Repair

At some point during your home-ownership, your chimney will likely need some sort of repair. Brick chimney repair can range from very minor spot pointing, to full rebuilds, but what most people don’t know is, repairs can also be a combination of the two!

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If you find tiny cracks or loose bricks in your chimney, rather than waiting for more major damage to occur, now is the time to undertake necessary brick chimney repairs. We can repair damage before it worsens and make recommendations to keep your chimney from deteriorating further. Consider waterproofing your chimney once it has been fixed to help prevent the problem from returning.

Learn more about chimney repairs.

Chimney Pointing

When a chimney is starting to deteriorate, but the bricks still appear in to be in good shape, chimney pointing may be your solution.

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Pointing is when the mortar joints between the brick are partially ground out and filled back in with new mortar. The mortar in between the brick can become soft and crumbly even though the brick are still in tact, removing the old mortar and replacing, can add new life to the chimney, stop water leaks and save thousands in rebuilding costs.  After your chimney has been re-pointed, consider waterproofing to protect your investment.

Learn more about chimney pointing.

chimney rebuild

Chimney Rebuild

When the mortar and brick have crumbled, a chimney rebuild is needed. Our chimney rebuilds include tear down of the existing structure and debris disposal of the old decayed brick.

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The chimney will next be rebuilt with new bricks and mortar, and the crown and wash will be applied. To give your chimney a fresh new designer look, talk about brick color, mortar color, and decorative corbel style alternatives.

Learn more about chimney rebuilding.

Chimney Cap

A Chimney Cap sits on top of the chimney and has several functions. The first is to keep debris, leaves, branches and most animals from entering the chimney potentially causing the flue to become blocked.

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By-products of combustion will not be able to depart the flue properly if the chimney is blocked, and if they enter the dwelling, they can be dangerous.

Chimney caps can also minimize the quantity of rain that enters the chimney through the peak, slowing the rate of degradation when compared to a chimney that is not protected from the elements.

A chimney cap can also serve as a spark arrestor, preventing sparks from escaping and landing on your roof.

A properly sized and well-made chimney cap completes the look of your chimney and adds value to your property.

Learn more about chimney caps.

chimney cap

Gas Fireplace Installation – Insert & Gas Logs

Gas fireplaces are making a major comeback. Let’s consider a fire that needs no tending, requires minimal cleanup, and provides heat for you home.

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With today’s gas fireplaces, you get exactly that. Modern renditions are remarkably accurate. They have dancing and flickering crimson embers and tall orange-yellow flames around ceramic-fiber logs modeled from the genuine thing. To find out which option is best for you, call for a consultation.

Learn more about gas fireplace installations.

Chemical Cleaning

Creosote is a natural by-product of burning wood. When this creosote is left untreated, it will undergo pyrolysis from continued exposure to heat and change form to bubbly deposits or a shiny tar-like appearance.

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When this happens, sweeping alone will not be enough to break down the creosote, and chemical treatment(s) will be required. Our creosote remover is specifically developed to dissolve baked-on, third-stage creosote glaze, removing baked-on resins without the need of heat. The application of this liquid after abrading the glazed surface with a flat wire brush will reduce the creosote to easily brushable ash.

The amount of creosote accumulated inside the chimney is affected by a number of factors. Smoke density, average flue gas temperature, and residence time are some of these variables.

A properly sized and well-made chimney cap completes the look of your chimney and adds value to your property.

Learn more about chemical cleaning.

Smoke Chamber Repair

The Smoke Chamber is that area just above the throat area in a fireplace.

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The purpose of the smoke chamber is to gently compress the byproducts of combustion into a smaller space (the chimney) without causing back draft and should be parged smooth to minimize turbulence and allow for circulation. When a chamber contains exposed brick and mortar, a parge coat application can be applied to achieve the desired finish.

Learn more about smoke chamber repairs.

Class A Chimney Stack (All Fuel Chimney)

Don’t have a masonry chimney, no problem! Boston’s Best Chimney also installs and replaces metal chimney stacks!

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A new stack can be erected to vent a variety of appliances, including heating equipment, fireplaces, wood stoves, and even pizza ovens, and is an excellent choice where there is no chimney or if the chimney is already being used by other appliances.

Learn more about class A chimney stacks.

chimney cap

Smoke Problems

Smoke problems are a major source of complaints from homeowners. With a thorough inspection, we can offer solutions to assist with negative draft.

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Potential Solutions

Smoke Guard

When a fireplace smokes, it’s usually because the box’s opening is too large. If this is the case, a metal plate can be put along the top side of the fireplace to minimize the opening and encourage smoke to exit through the chimney rather than into the room.

Vacu-Stack

A Vacu-Stack is an excellent solution for a down draft caused by wind in a chimney. The coiled metal parts direct wind around the cap rather than through it, which can create a positive draw and cause fireplace smoke to rise.

Enervex Fan

When a chimney’s performance deteriorates, a mechanical fan can be added at the chimney’s peak to suck the smoke up and out. Many fireplace down draft concerns can be solved with a chimney fan:

  • Avoid spills from the fireplace’s aperture.
  • To keep a perfect fire going, provide a suitable draft.
  • Downdrafts should be avoided.
  • Facilitate the lighting of a fire
  • Reduce your carbon footprint.
  • To save energy, keep the chimney closed when not in use.

Learn more about smoke problems.

Video Scan of Chimney

There are instances when a visual inspection simply won’t do.   In such circumstances, we use a closed-circuit camera device to gain access to the areas we normally cannot see with a visual inspection.  This is what we’ll be looking for:

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Chimney Inspection Level II

This is the degree of inspection that MUST be completed in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association regulations for real estate chimney inspections.

Access

All parts of the chimney’s exterior and interior that can be accessed are included.

Accessible attics, crawl spaces, and basements are all included.
Parts of the appliance that are accessible, as well as the chimney connection. Inspection of the chimney by video scanning or other means is required.

What We Do

  • Examine the parts of the chimney and venting systems that are easily accessible
  • Get on the roof to look for damage that isn’t obvious from the ground. (Some factors, such as weather, roof pitch, and chimney height, may prevent us from doing a rooftop chimney inspection)
  • All sections of the chimney that are accessible are inspected: crawl spaces, basements, and attics
  • Chimney interior is scoped with a chimney camera

Learn more about video scans of chimneys.

chimney repair

Dampers

A damper is a lever or pulley activated door within your chimney and must remain open while the fireplace is in use.

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There are two types of throat dampers: traditional throat dampers that sit directly above the firebox and top sealing dampers. Top-sealing dampers are mounted on the top of the chimney and have a rubber gasket to seal them. For access, a cable travels down the flue and connects to the firebox. Top-sealing dampers are popular because they can help you save money on heating and cooling while also preventing drafts.

Learn more about chimney dampers.

Firebox Repair (Minor)

Firebox repair can range from a simple lintel seal to a masonry revamp. Boston’s Best Chimney is happy to assist with cracks and minor brick spalling repair, but if it’s an entire firebox that’s needed, we would refer out.

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To determine what kind of repair is needed and to give an accurate estimate, we will need to send a technician out to evaluate the different options.  Our estimates are free of charge.

Learn more about chimney firebox repair.

chimney repair
chimney repair

Flashing Repair

The chimney flashing is the transition piece, likely made of lead, rubber or copper, that meets the roof with the brick structure, When the chimney is leaking, the flashing is one of the first areas assessed to check for breaks and/or voids.

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It allows the elements, particularly rainwater, to penetrate the property and cause harm if it is not correctly fastened. Repairing flashing might be a simple task at times, but at other times, more substantial labor is required.

Learn more about flashing repairs.

Waterproofing

Chimney bricks are like sponges! When water strikes the surface of the brick, it slowly penetrates to the interior, causes the brick to weaken, and eventually, crumble.

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You can have your chimney waterproofed to prevent further damage. Boston’s Best Chimney offers a professional-grade waterproofing compound that is 100 percent vapor permeable, allowing water vapors to escape rather than being trapped, which causes rapid spalling, scaling, degradation, and freeze-thaw damage if left untreated.

Waterproofing is one of the strongest defenses you can give a newly repaired or rebuilt chimney. Make sure that any chimney repair includes waterproofing!

Learn more about chimney waterproofing.

chimney repair
chimney repair

Clay Pots

Very often homeowners will place clay chimney pots atop the chimney of their home to give their home that simple touch of elegance and distinction.

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It’s crucial to remember that the chimney pot needs to be the right size to work with the chimney’s typical use. A chimney pot has the extra benefit of providing more height to a chimney, which can help in instances where the draw is inadequate.

Learn more about clay pots.

Chase Covers

The top part of a wooden chimney chase has a metal protective covering on top.

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We frequently discover this piece to be composed of galvanized steel, which rusts over time. We may replace the chase cover with a new stainless steel one that will safeguard the top of the chimney for the rest of its life.

Learn more about chase covers.

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