Chimney Fireplace Repair Cost Guide. Fireplaces are aesthetically pleasing and they provide an economical way to heat your home during the winter. They also last a lifetime if cared for properly, but they need to be repaired from time to time. If you are noticing water in your fireplace, smoke not filtering through the chimney correctly, or any other oddity with your fireplace, do not continue to use it as it could be a fire hazard. Depending on the type of repair needed, your costs can vary greatly. On This Page Sweeping. How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' title='How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' />Hydrofire offers the best fireplaces in Cape Town with top quality flues, central heating both built in and free standing braais. The MAD anti downdraught chimney cowl prevents downdraft and rain entry all in one. A birdguard is fitted to this aluminium cowl as standard please remove the. Cracks. Water Leaks. Crown Repair. Other Common Fireplace Repairs. Other Common Chimney Repairs. Questions to ask when youre buying a chimney cap. Whats the warranty A good stainless steel or copper chimney cap will have a lifetime warranty. US Stove Wonderluxe CoalBurning Circulator This efficient stove circulator has a cooking surface with a lift top lid and TRIAIR induction for a hotter fire as well. Pratts Professional Chimney Service helps clients with professional chimney sweep cleaning and repair in Kenosha and Racine WI, as well as Antioch and Glencoe. How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' title='How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' />Common Wood Stove Repairs. Signs You Need to Call a Pro. In Conclusion. Chimney Sweeping 1. Sweeping your chimney is necessary to reduce the risk of a devastating fire. Fires can occur when a build up called creosote gets too thick. Creosote resin is what gets left behind in your chimney as you burn wood. Chimney%20flue%20cap.jpg' alt='How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' title='How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' />This resin is flammable and must be cleaned out regularly. Creosote is a wood preservative used to cure beech wood and other common burning woods. Burning a log releases creosote resin with the smoke which collects in your chimney This oily substance, creosote, can re ignite from sparks rising in the chimney. Therefore, its important to keep these walls free of creosote build up. If you have wood that is burning slowly or not burning at all, you may need to clean out the creosote in the chimney flue. Routine cleaning can keep the creosote from building up to dangerous levels. A way to test to see if you need to have your chimney swept is to shine a flashlight up the chimney and scratch at the build up on the walls. If its an eighth of an inch or thicker, you need to have your chimney swept by a professional. If its a quarter of an inch thick, you need to have it cleaned immediately. Creosote can affect any kind of wood burning appliance, so even a wood stove needs to be inspected and cleaned out at least every year. Return to Top. Maintenance Tips. While a proper sweeping of your chimney should be done by a professional, there are a couple of things you can do to help make cleanings easier Citrus or Potato Peels Burning citrus or potato peels can help keep your chimney safer. Citrus peels are said to prevent creosote build up while potato peels are said to form a chemical reaction that dries out the creosote and helps keep it from bursting into flame. While this is a safety measure, it doesnt replace a professional cleaning. The creosote will still build up and clog your chimney, causing smoke and carbon monoxide to begin flowing into your house. How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' title='How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' />Cleaning Logs Chimney cleaning logs release a chemical that loosens creosote and tar and causes it to fall away from your chimney walls. Of course, this means it is falling either into your fire or onto any ledges in your chimney. While it can keep your chimney safer, it doesnt do the same kind of job a professional cleaning will do. Cleaning logs cost about 1. DIY The truly ambitious might decide to clean their own chimneys. Many products for this job are available and affordable, and cost around 2. However, you would also need to buy a chimney brush about 1. The process is labor intensive and time consuming, and doing it yourself doesnt include a professional inspection to identify cracks or other damage. When to Call The best time to call for a chimney sweeping and inspection is during the off season, between April and September. Prices are often lower and it will give you time to remedy any situations discovered during the inspection. Hire a Local Fireplace Repairman Today. Return to Top. Cracks 1. Masonry joints expand and contract with seasons and temperature fluctuation. Copying A Program To Cd. This can lead to cracks forming and allowing smoke, carbon monoxide, and sometimes even stray embers to get between your walls our out of the chimney and onto your roof. Cracks will most often form at corners before they form anywhere else. However, cracks in the middle of the back of a fireplace arent uncommon. If found early enough, simple brick mortar repair can resolve the issue. If left untreated, they can lead to structural damage, increased risk of fire, and can cost upwards of around 3,0. If all you have are some cracks to be repaired, you can expect to pay around 1. A complete rebuilding of your chimney from the crown to just below the roofline can cost 1,0. If the entire chimney all the way down to the fireplace needs to be replaced, it can cost around 1. Return to Top. Water Leaks 1. Water can get in through cracks see above and cause damage in the form of mold and wood rot. These cracks are usually at the roofline when flashing and sealers fail and allow rainwater to seep inside. Also, the water is acidic and when it combines with creosote, dampers can get rusted and fail. The water can destroy existing mortar and damage wood near the fireplace, such as ceilings and floors. Repairing this part of your fireplace can be either DIY or a professional job. Depending on the height and slope of your roof, you may want to leave it to a contractor. However, if you have a head for heights, replacing the flashing and resealing the cracks can cost about 1. Return to Top. Crown Repair 1. The crown of your chimney does more than just keep rain from coming down the flue and into your home. It protects the brick and mortar of the chimney as well as keeping pests out of your home. Not only does it keep things out, it also keeps things in, preventing sparks from flying out of your chimney and landing on your roof. The crown is like a cap that should extend past the bricks of the chimney and over the chimney flashing. It should slope away from its center to ensure that water drains off of it, like an umbrella. The covered cage part that you often see atop chimneys is the spark arrestor. It keeps sparks and embers from going out of the chimney and landing on your roof, possibly starting a fire. Cracks that form in the crown can be particularly costly if left unrepaired. Water can get into the cracks and cause significant damage to mortar, bricks, and even the wooden frame of your house. If it freezes, it will expand and cause the cracks to get larger and to create even more cracks. Eventually, these cracks will compromise the integrity of your whole chimney and fireplace, requiring it to be replaced or removed altogether. This can cost thousands of dollars. Return to Top. Other Common Fireplace Repairs. The place in fireplace refers to what is known architecturally as the fire box. This is usually made of brick or stone due to the heat retaining qualities of these materials. Sometimes a firebox will be metal, thanks to its resistance to cracking. But a fireplace isnt limited to being a built in firebox. Other forms that a fireplace can take include an outdoor fireplace different from a fire pit due to the presence of a chimney structure or a fully operational wood stove. Brick and stone fireplaces have a lot of the same common repairs needed, most frequently requiring mortar repair. Cracks are most prone to form at joints and corners and should be repaired as soon as possible to avoid costlier repairs later. However, excessive moisture can be absorbed by bricks and porous stone, causing these materials to break themselves. The acidic combination of water and creosote can also cause a breakdown of the materials if cracks are not seen to and chimneys are not properly maintained.