Chimney reline to address cracks and hazards in the flue

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Cracks-and-voids-in-a-flueThere are several methods available.  The method we use has several advantages.  It is less expensive than a metal liner and the spray on solutions some companies use.   It is very strong and durable and cannot be brushed out with steel wire brushes.

Another advantage is that the HeatShield® system does not significantly decrease draft like a steel liner does.  A decrease in draft might cause the combustion gases to spill into the house.  HeatShield® is a specially formulated “Cerfractory®” sealant material that restores the integrity of your chimney’s flue to vent hazardous flue gases from your home. It eliminates the dangers in your chimney caused by gaps, cracks, and spalling for years to come. By using either the Repair System or the CeCure® Sleeve Relining System (depending on the defects found) your chimney will be restored to its original peak level of safety and efficiency.

What a Home Buyer Needs to Know About Chimneys and Fireplaces

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The National Fire Safety Institute recommends that all chimneys and fireplaces be inspected when a property is sold.

Rachel Ray Home Chimney FireOne of the major causes of home fires in the winter are fireplaces and it is reported that there are about 15,000 house fires caused by fireplaces and chimneys in the U.S. every year.  In 2020 Rachael Ray, TV Host, had her large home burn down, reportedly due to gaps or cracks in the chimney.  This was despite getting the chimneys swept regularly.

Many people, including some chimney sweeps, think that just dropping a handheld mirror down the chimney will detect hazards.  In most cases it will not.  We have been to properties where a chimney sweep had been there before and said the property was safe, but there were major cracks and gaps in the flue which are a severe fire hazard. Read more

Old hazardous masonry chimney

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This is an example of an old, hazardous masonry chimney. This is a severe fire hazard if the fireplace is used to burn wood or gas fires.

old-hazardous-masonry-chimney

What are Pre-Cast Fireplaces and what does a homeowner need to know about them

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There are a number of types of Pre-Cast Fireplaces and Chimneys.  The one that is most common in this area is the Rampart General Pre-Cast Fireplaces which were built in Santa Ana from the mid 1960’s to the early 1990’s.  They are often located in neighborhoods with hundreds of these tract homes.

Pre-Cast FireplaceThe chimneys and fireplaces were built at a factory and dropped off at the building site.  They often look like a light tan or off-white painted brick, but that is just the color of the cement.  Sometimes homeowners have painted them for various reason, including to cover cracks.  Sometimes it will look like an antenna has been added, but this is sometimes to stability the chimney. Read more

Chimney Caps Installed

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Here is a chimney caps install we recently did. See the below before and after photos.

caps-before-after

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