Service
Caps & Dampers
An open flue is a hole in your roof. A cap keeps water, nesting birds and raccoons out of it. A working damper keeps the air you paid to heat from going straight up the chimney.
Water is the single most expensive thing that happens to a chimney. It gets into the masonry, freezes, and takes the mortar apart from the inside. A stainless cap with a spark arrestor screen stops the water and the animals in one go.
If your damper does not close, or closes but does not seal, you are heating the outdoors all winter. We repair throat dampers and install top-sealing dampers that seal at the crown with a rubber gasket.
How a visit works
Four steps,
about an hour.
The same routine every time, whether it is a straightforward sweep or the start of a bigger repair.
- 01
We cover the room
Drop cloths over the hearth and the floor in front of it before any tool comes out of the van.
- 02
We sweep the flue
Rotary brushes and rods the full length, plus the smoke chamber, smoke shelf and firebox, with the HEPA vacuum running throughout.
- 03
We inspect and photograph
Cap, crown, flashing, liner, damper and firebox all get looked at. Anything that needs attention gets photographed.
- 04
We tell you what we found
In plain terms, with the photos, and with a price for anything that needs doing. No pressure to book it on the spot.
What it costs
What changes the price.
We quote before we start, and the number you hear on the phone is the number you pay unless we find something and you agree to it first.
How many flues
A house with a fireplace, a wood stove and a furnace flue is three separate jobs sharing one stack.
How much is up there
A yearly sweep is quick. Three seasons of glazed creosote takes longer and sometimes needs chemical treatment first.
Access
A single-storey ranch with a walkable pitch is straightforward. A steep two-storey roof takes longer to set up safely.
What we find
Anything beyond the sweep gets photographed, explained and quoted before we touch it. Nothing gets added to the bill on the day.
Questions
Common questions
How often should a chimney be swept?
Once a year for anything you burn regularly, or after about 80 fires — whichever comes first. If you burn unseasoned wood, or you run a wood stove as your main heat source, you may need it twice a season. Gas fireplaces still need an annual inspection even though they produce almost no creosote.
How long does a sweep take?
A straightforward single-flue sweep and Level 1 inspection is usually about an hour. Add time if there are multiple flues, heavy glazed creosote, or an animal nest to remove.
Is it going to make a mess in my house?
No. Drop cloths go down before anything else, and a HEPA vacuum runs the entire time we are working. Soot stays in the vacuum, not on your floor.
When do I need a Level 2 inspection?
When a house is being bought or sold, after a chimney fire or any event that could have damaged the structure, and any time you change what the chimney vents — a new liner, a new appliance, or a switch from wood to gas.
Also available
Other work we take on.
- Chimney SweepingFull soot and creosote removal, start to finish, with no mess left behind.
- Chimney InspectionLevel 1 and Level 2 inspections, including inspections for a home sale.
- Chimney Repair & MasonryTuckpointing, crown repair, flashing and waterproofing.
- Dryer Vent CleaningLint is fuel. Clearing the vent line cuts a real fire risk and dries clothes faster.
- Fireplace & Stove ServiceFirebox repair, gas log service, and wood stove maintenance.
Get in touch
Need caps & dampers?
One call and we will find you a date. Springfield, Nixa, Ozark, Republic and the rest of Greene County.
1823 E Republic Rd
Springfield, MO 65804