FAQ

Q: Do you do rebuilds of chimneys or masonry work on the chimney exteriors?
A: Our masonry season usually runs through the Spring, Summer and Fall months (March through September), and we do not do most exterior chimney work through the Winter months due to the weather being too cold for most materials to cure properly. We do not do full chimney rebuilds and we do not do masonry repairs on anything but chimneys. We can give a referral for a general mason if you need a larger rebuild or other masonry repairs done.

Q: Do you service gas fireplaces?
A: We sell and install RH Peterson and Grand Canyon gas fireplaces as well as service other brand gas fireplaces. A gas log service consists of removing the logs/media, cleaning up firebox, blowing out pilot line, testing thermocouple, thermopile, pilot control, etc. Putting in new media and changing batteries, cleaning the logs and reinstalling them and lighting the pilot and burn testing the unit.

Q: When is the best time to have my fireplace cleaned/inspected?
A: As you can imagine, the busiest months for a chimney company are the colder months of the year. Our busy season usually runs from October through January, so we recommend getting on our schedule early or in the “off season” (April through September) to avoid long waiting periods for an appointment. In fact it is ideal to have your chimney cleaned in the Spring after you are done burning for the season to remove any soot that may cause odors on humid days in the summer.

Q: When should I have my oil flue or woodstove/pellet stove cleaned?
A: Some stoves and most oil flues must be accessed from the roof to be cleaned. Therefore, it is best to have these done in the warmer months of the year when there is no snow/ice/frost on the roof. These cleanings are usually weather dependent as well, so instances of extreme temperatures or even rain may cause a delay in completing these cleanings. Again, the ideal time would be Spring.

Q: Do you have weekend hours?
A: We no longer offer any Saturday/weekend appointments

Q: How often should I have my wood-burning fireplace, gas fireplace, wood or pellet stove, or oil flues cleaned/serviced?
A: -Standard wood-burning fireplaces should be cleaned after every 1 cord of wood or every 3 years, whichever comes
      first. A cord of wood is approximately 30-35 fires. Make sure you are using good, seasoned hardwood.
      -Vented gas fireplaces should be serviced every 1-2 years depending upon use. Vent free gas fireplaces should be
      serviced annually.
     - Wood and pellet stoves should be cleaned annually. Oil flues should be cleaned every 1-2 years
      depending upon the severity of the season and usage.

Q: We have birds in our chimney. Can you remove them?
A: We cannot remove animals from your chimney. Your safest bet would be to contact an animal control company or your township for animal removal. Once the animal(s) have been removed, contact us about having a chimney cap installed to prevent future animal instrusion. Note that birds that nest in a chimney are often Chimney Swifts. Chimney swifts are a protected species of bird that nest in chimneys. Please be aware that the breeding season of chimney swifts runs approximately from May to July. If there is an active presence of these birds in the chimney, installing a cap may be prohibited until the swifts leave the chimney in the fall. Your animal control officer will let you know if that is the case. You can find more information about this from the Humane Society website at https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-chimney-swifts

Q: Do you install gas logs or woodstoves that have been pre-purchased from another company?
A: No. We only install gas log units and woodstoves that we have sold. We sell the RH Peterson and Grand Canyon logs sets. Both companies manufacture their log sets in the United States and have a wide range of features/looks for any room.

Q: Do you have a showroom where we can see your stock of gas log sets and woodstoves?
A: The showroom is at 2343 West Darby Road in Havertown and is open through the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons by appointment only. It is located on the corner of West Darby and Eagle Roads. (If you Google our name, you will get the office address which is not the showroom address.) Once we have come out to determine if your chimney is safe to have a system installed and we have taken measurements, we will gladly set you up with an appointment to come to the showroom and see the units.   Evening and weekend appointments are typically available.