We Tailor Our Chimney Repair Services to Meet Your Specific Needs
Over the years, we’ve come to learn that the simplest things in life tend to bring the most joy, comfort, and warmth to our hearts. Sitting outside listening to the birds sing, dipping a toe in the cool stillness of a pond, and cozying up with friends and loved ones in front of a nice home fire certainly top the list of simple, quiet pleasures. And, perhaps we’re a bit biased, but here at Mid-Valley Chimney Repair & Sweeps, we believe there is nothing better in life than the glow of a fire burning in the hearth, while making memories with the ones we love.
That’s why Mid-Valley Chimney is the way it is today – a fully certified chimney service company with highly trained technicians grown from a one-man weekend operation many years ago. We’re passionate about keeping Cincinnati, Dayton, and the surrounding areas safer and cozier when it comes to fireplace, stove, chimney, and dryer care and maintenance.
Has your chimney experienced damage recently? Are you looking for options on how to repair your old and weathered fireplace system? For homeowners in Montgomery County, OH, there is no one better than Mid-Valley Chimney Repair & Sweeps for all your chimney needs. Contact us through our website or by calling 513-727-0994. We look forward to working with you.
What Chimney Repair Services Do We Offer?
We offer a wide range of quality chimney repairs. From quick chimney cap replacements to lengthy rebuilds, there isn’t anything – big or small – that we can’t do to get your chimney and fireplace back in working order.
Check out this list of our offerings:
- Masonry Repairs: Damaged masonry hurts curb appeal and leaves your system more vulnerable to further issues. If your bricks and mortar have seen better days, we can restore them with tuckpointing services and brick replacement.
- Chimney Rebuilds: Significant damage resulting from a missing chimney cap, damaged flashing, spalling bricks, and more is all too common. We can remedy the problem by reconstructing the back walls of your fireplace, then doing everything possible to ensure it stays protected down the line.
- Chimney Relining: If your liner isn’t in good condition, your home and those inside of it could face some serious risks. We can restore your liner with HeatShield®. Ask our team about your options today.
- Chimney Leak Repair: If water is damaging your fireplace, inside or out, we can find the issue and fix it.
- Chimney Cap Installation: Chimney caps do a lot for your system. They block out water, debris, and animals, and they stop downdrafts from becoming an issue, too. For this reason, at Mid-Valley Chimney, we believe all homes deserve custom-fitted stainless steel caps, which are designed to give their system the highest level of protection.
- Chase Cover Installation: Usually found on prefabricated chimney systems, chase covers are an alternative to the concrete crown found on a traditional masonry chimney. Though chase covers are made from quality corrosion-resistant materials, they can still face damage. Ensure you’re set up right from the start by working with our crew through it all.
- Crown Rebuilds: Crowns should slant downward slightly, and they shouldn’t be experiencing any signs of discoloration or decay – this would mean repairs are in order. Regardless of the issue, your next step should be hiring an experienced team to get it rebuilt before you light any more fires.
- Chimney Waterproofing. Water and other extreme weather conditions are the number one enemy to the health of your chimney system – whether it is brick or not. Give us a call to ensure your entire chimney is properly prepared to withstand all the weather variations experienced in Southwest Ohio.
Smoke Chamber Spray Before
Smoke Chamber Spray After
What Causes Most Chimney Deterioration?
While there are many things that can cause a great deal of damage to a chimney system, the most common (and most destructive), by far, is water. Even if your chimney is properly capped, covered, and sealed, over time, water can usually find a way to permeate the structure, harming both the system itself, as well as your home. Aside from moisture/water/general weather damage, though, here are some other common causes.
- Excessive Heat/Chimney Fire. It’s a bit of a common misconception, but while chimneys are meant to withstand extreme heat temperatures, they are not designed to have direct contact with flames. Regardless of the type of liner your chimney has installed, none are inherently flame-resistant, meaning that any fire that occurs will cause significant damage to the liner. Any occurrence of fire or excessive heat production can cause your chimney to deteriorate at a faster rate.
- Ineffective or Damaged Liner. As one of the most vital components of the entire system, the health of the liner is imperative to optimal functionality of the structure. If you learn that your chimney’s liner is suffering from any cracks, gaps, separations, or other damages – or worse, it is completely unlined – you should cease using your fireplace until a professional can come out and explain your relining options. Chimney liners are necessary in that they optimize the system’s airflow and also protect the chimney chase from harsh heat, noxious gases, and accidental fires that (obviously) can cause significant damage.
- Hidden Defects. Regardless of chimney type, structure, or material, they are still largely human-made systems – even if just in terms of the installation (as in a prefab chimney). This means that, like any other appliance built or serviced by a person, they are susceptible to human error. In many instances, hidden defects may not be obvious at first or noticed at all… but eventually, without treatment or solution, they will wear down the entire system.
- Lack of Necessary Components. Chimneys appear much more simplistic and straightforward than they actually are. More than a simple vertical egress by which heat and smoke exits, a proper, well-functioning chimney requires many elements that work together to create a suitable ventilation system. Parts such as the flue liner, flashing, crown, and cap are all necessary and, if missing or damaged, the chimney is rendered unsuitable for use and thus will break down faster.
Can You Rebuild Part of a Chimney?
So you’ve noticed that part of your brick chimney appears to be damaged. Does this mean that you have to pay an arm and a leg to get the whole thing repaired, replaced, or rebuilt?
Nope! Our chimney technicians are experienced professionals who can go in and remove only the damaged section(s), so that they can replace old and deteriorating bricks with new, fresh ones. While waiting for your scheduled service date, however, you should not plan to use the system – even if it’s only a small part that needs rebuilding. This will only put strain on your chimney and could cause unnecessary issues that would exacerbate the existing issue(s).
What if I have a prefabricated chimney?
While a brick masonry chimney is relatively simple to isolate the damaged area and remove the specific bricks, a prefabricated chimney is a bit different. Unlike masonry which is built by hand and onsite, prefab systems are produced in factories and installed in homes according to manufacturer specifications. As such, depending on the part(s) or area that is damaged, it is possible that the entire chimney will need replacing.
Not sure what to do about your chimney’s damage? Looking for different options? Give Mid-Valley Chimney Repair & Sweeps a call at 513-727-0994 or schedule something with us right here online. We’d love to chat with you to figure out next steps in getting your system back up and running, no matter if it’s traditional masonry or prefabricated.
How Do You Fix the Inside of a Chimney?
Well, first, before discussing repair options, it’s important to know exactly what/where the damage is. Meaning… “the inside of a chimney” is a rather vague reference and could refer to the actual innermost walls of the system or, more likely, it might mean that something is wrong with the chimney’s liner.
Most of the time, considering liners are a requirement in operational systems, any inefficiencies caused by internal damage are usually attributed to a damaged liner. That being said, depending on the type of chimney system you have (masonry or prefabricated), you have relining options. For instance, if your chimney hosts a terra cotta flue tile liner system and has only small cracks or separations from regular use over the years, you might be able to repair it with a HeatShield® system in which a specific sealant is applied to reinforce the material of the liner.
Unfortunately, not all chimneys are eligible for HeatShield® products or other “repair” options, though, even if they utilize a clay liner. Sometimes, the damage that the liner has sustained is too great for even the most intense repair system available. In instances like these, chimney technicians will break apart the clay tiles in order to safely remove them and replace the entire liner with a stainless steel one, ensuring the flue is the appropriate size for the system..
How much does it cost to replace the inside of a chimney?
Ultimately, it depends on quite a few different factors. The kind of system, as well as its age and overall condition, all determine both the type of process required to fix the existing issues and the ultimate final cost of that service.
That said, without knowing your specific chimney – and all its history and parts – we can’t give an approximate price point, simply because each service can vary so greatly. What we can say is that here at Mid-Valley Chimney Repair & Sweeps, we strive to provide top-notch, excellent service at affordable, fair rates.
If you’re looking for an estimate for your chimney repair services, Mid-Valley is the place to call in the Dayton and Cincinnati area. For specifics on what we do and how much you can expect to pay, reach out today. Call 513-727-0994 to speak with someone, or, if you’d prefer, request an estimate right here online. We’re happy to help.
What Happens if a Chimney Crown Is Cracked?
Even if it doesn’t appear to do all that much, every single part of your chimney is vital to the entire system’s success. Be it inside your home, hidden within the walls, or one of the many external components, every single part and piece is there for a reason, and should any of them become damaged, the health and safety of your chimney – and, by proxy, your home – is at risk for various dangers.
In normal conditions, the chimney crown acts as a barrier between the outside and the open cavity of the chimney, effectively sealing it off – save for the flue, so that the smoke from the fireplace has some way to escape – and protecting against animal intrusion, water damage, entering debris, etc. Designed to be built of a concrete, cement-like mixture that is impervious to moisture, we commonly find that many chimneys feature an incorrectly installed crown formed from leftover mortar – a material that is not water resistant. Quite often we are called in to service a damaged crown that has been crudely smeared across the chimney chase, imitating the look but not the function of one that has been properly poured.
A crown constructed from mortar is much more likely to suffer from damages like cracks and pieces crumbling off because that mixture is not meant to come into direct contact with water and other moisture.
Mortar is a porous material and when openly exposed to the elements, can absorb water that will become trapped within the many air pockets. Over time and the wide change in temperatures we experience here in the Midwest, this water freezes and thaws, causing the mortar-made crown to move and shift, crack and eventually crumble. And once cracked, this leaves your chimney chase vulnerable to water, debris, and animal entry.
Definitely not an ideal situation if you’re just trying to relax in front of your fireplace!
Are Cracks in a Chimney Normal?
Not exactly, no. However, this also largely depends on where exactly these cracks are, as well as their severity. Like we went over in the previous section, a chimney crown is necessary to protect the system from water, animals, and any other debris, so if/when there is a crack, it is important to treat it right away in order to protect the safety of your fireplace system as well as your home.
A few cracks here and there in your liner, however, are a little different. Due to the fact that chimneys expand and contract ever so slightly with the temperature differences in both the air and the exiting smoke, clay liners will crack over time. This is a common problem with the terracotta tiles simply because the material does not absorb heat as quickly as it travels up the length of the chimney. However, like we discussed a bit earlier, liners with minor damage like cracks and gaps as a result of normal use are often great candidates for the HeatShield® sealant which strengthens and restores the liner permanently.
Interested in learning more about HeatShield® and if it is an option for your chimney? Give us a call. One of our talented technicians would be happy to give you more information.
Are chimney cracks serious?
Depending on location and severity, chimney cracks can be very serious.
Let’s say we’re talking about external cracks. The brickwork in your masonry system is beginning to separate slightly, or you notice an odd seam in some of your wood paneling. No big deal. It’s just a little gap, it’d probably be better to wait until it gets worse, right?
Wrong. A small crack can be just as damaging to the system as a larger one – as soon as there is easy entry for water to get to the inside of your chimney, it’s only a matter of time before the moisture begins to erode the bricks and mortar or soften the wooden siding. And with water comes various vegetation like moss, algae, and even mold.
Save yourself the hassle and if you notice your chimney is beginning to look weathered (or perhaps you haven’t had it inspected in quite some time), schedule an appointment with a professional who can come out and take a look to help you determine next steps in order to maintain a happy, healthy chimney system.
What Time of Year Is Best for Chimney Repairs?
Generally speaking, we like to tell our customers to get their chimneys inspected, swept, and repaired (if/when they need it) before every burning season, which is to say sometime in the spring or summer. That way, you can be sure to enjoy every second of the chillier months knowing that your fireplace and chimney are functioning optimally.
That being said, life often has a funny way of not always moving in the direction that we originally intended. It is never out of the realm of possibility that you might find yourself in the darkest days of winter when your perfectly functional chimney is, all of a sudden, no longer functioning. In that case, we recommend that you give us a call at your earliest convenience so we can get someone to come out and diagnose the problem so you can continue enjoying your fireplace.
If, at any time, you notice your fireplace acting strangely or differently from normal, as much as it pains us to tell you… you must stop using it. No matter the issue or its cause, damaged chimneys are dangerous and could put you and your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, chimney fires, and other hazards.
Who Is Responsible for Chimney Repairs in Montgomery County?
Why, a professional chimney services and repair company, of course! Do you live near Dayton or Cincinnati and find yourself in need of such a crew? Check out the team here at Mid-Valley Chimney Repair & Sweeps.
Why us? Other than our many years of experience, dedication to learning and using the latest technologies, and our specifically tailored services, Mid-Valley Chimney only hires the best technicians in the industry. All of our sweeps are certified with the most highly revered organizations in our field in order to provide you with the safest, most accurate, and up-to-date services possible.
Book a service with us online or by calling 513-727-0994. We look forward to working with you.
Our comprehensive chimney services include chimney leak repairs to keep your chimney and home dry and your masonry from deteriorating.