Pyramid Masonry & Chimney Lining Company

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How often should you have your chimney cleaned?

2. What factors have an effect on creosote build-up?

3. What is creosote?

4. Why is creosote a problem?

5. How can I check my wood stove or fireplace for creosote build-up?

6. Your fireplace smokes. What can you do?

7. Your fireplace smells, especially in the summer. What can you do?

8. You heat with gas. Should this chimney be checked too?

9. Is routine cleaning and inspection necessary for your gas log fireplace/chimney?

10. Do you need to be home?

11. Will the cleaning process make a mess in your home?

12. What can be done about water leaking into your fireplace or staining the walls and ceiling around your chimney?

13. You have cracks and openings in the walls of your pre-manufactured fireplace. Does Pyramid Masonry install replacement parts for pre-manufactured fireplaces?

14. Does your fireplace or chimney or both need tuck-pointing and/or rebuilding? How do you know?

15. Can Pyramid Masonry do anything about the appearance of water on the floor near your recently replaced furnace or water heater?

16. What can be done about a whitish stain on the outer surfaces of your chimney?

17. Can Pyramid Masonry help you when your clothes aren’t drying as well or as fast as they used to, and you’re certain that the problem is not the dryer?

Q. How often should you have your chimney cleaned?

A. The national safety standard is the best way to approach the problem. "Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. All cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary" according to The National Fire Protection Association standard 211. Keep in mind that even if you have an unused or infrequently used chimney, animals can nest in the flue. Also, other problems could make your chimney unsafe to use.

Considering the variety of factors involved, there really isn't one answer for these cases. Each wood burning fireplace, stove, or furnace is different. Frequent checking is important for safe and efficient wood burning. If you are losing heat or you notice smoking/back drafting, you should check for creosote build-up without delay. The Chimney Safety Institute of America suggests that open masonry fireplaces be cleaned at 1/4" of sooty buildup, earlier if glaze present in the fireplace. Pre-manufactured fireplaces should be cleaned as soon as any significant buildup occurs. Significant build up means enough of a creosote buildup to cause a chimney fire, which could damage the chimney or spread to your home.

Q. What factors have an effect on creosote build-up?

A. Below is a list of a few things that affect how fast and how much creosote can build-up:

Amount of moisture in the firewood
Type of firewood burned
Type of fire burned
Type of stove or fireplace
Efficiency of your stove. (Strangely enough a more efficient stove cools the smoke to a lower temperature causing more creosote build up. Less efficient stoves may not heat your house as well, but they cause less creosote build up.)
Frequency of use
Location of flue

Q. What is creosote?

A. Wood never burns completely. The smoke is partially made up of unburned gases and tar-like liquids, which can form condensation along the sides of the chimney flue and stovepipes. This condensation can become a combustible crust called creosote.

Q. Why is creosote a problem?

A. Creosote can cause many problems for the wood burner. Creosote is corrosive to common chimney materials such as mortar and steel. When Creosote builds up it insulates and reduces the efficiency of your fireplace/wood stove. Most importantly, creosote is extremely flammable and poses a likely fire hazard.

Q. How can I check my wood stove or fireplace for creosote build-up?

A. First, you should open the damper very carefully. Always wear eye protection (goggles are best, but safety glasses may be used), and then, using a flashlight, carefully look up the chimney flue for the black-colored creosote build-up along the walls. If a build-up of 1/4" or more is present, cleaning is needed. Stovepipes can be checked by first allowing the stove and pipes to cool and then carefully removing them from the thimble in the wall or the back of the stove. This process can be messy, so beforehand you should cover the immediate area with a drop-cloth before you remove the pipe. Again, if a build-up of 1/4" or more is present cleaning is needed.

Q. Your fireplace smokes. What can you do?

A. This topic is fairly extensive. Please see our Smoking Problems section.

Q. Your fireplace smells, especially in the summer. What can you do?

A. Creosote deposits in the chimney are the cause of this odor. When the air conditioning is turned on and the humidity is higher during the summer the smell is usually stronger. Thoroughly cleaning the chimney will help but more often than not doesn't fix the problem completely. You can try commercial chimney deodorants that generally work well, and many people try putting baking soda or kitty litter in the fireplace. The reason behind this problem is air being drawn down the chimney from outside by a lower air pressure inside the house. Try introducing another source of air into your home somewhere else. A top mounted damper which seals tightly can also reduce this flow coming from the chimney.

Q. You heat with gas. Should this chimney be checked too?

A. Yes! Even with a gas furnace debris or animals that decide to move into a new home inside it can block your chimney. The new generation of furnaces can also cause problems because your chimney flue may be configured for older furnaces.

Q. Is routine cleaning and inspection necessary for your gas log fireplace/chimney?

A. Cleaning is necessary because your gas logs will deposit carbon to your fireplace and chimney. You should also have inspections performed to check for gas leaks.

Q. Do you need to be home?

A. Yes, the staff of Pyramid Masonry will need access to both the inside and outside of your home in order to perform a proper inspection and cleaning.

Q. Will the cleaning process make a mess in your home?

A. The staff of Pyramid Masonry will take all necessary steps to insure that your property remains as clean or cleaner than it was when we arrived. We guarantee it.

Q. What can be done about water leaking into your fireplace or staining the walls and ceiling around your chimney?

A. Pyramid Masonry is equipped to handle these problems. You may need a chimney cap or top-sealing damper to prevent water from running down your chimney. Masonry repairs such as repairing or replacing the crown wash on top of your chimney, tuck pointing deteriorated mortar joints, removing and replacing damaged bricks, or rebuilding a portion of your chimney may be necessary. The solution could also be as simple as resealing the flashing where your chimney meets your roof or the outside wall of your home.

Q. You have cracks and openings in the walls of your pre-manufactured fireplace. Does Pyramid Masonry install replacement parts for pre-manufactured fireplaces?

A. Pyramid Masonry can install replacements parts for pre-manufactured fireplaces. We simply need to inspect your fireplace and find out the manufacturer in order to obtain the right parts for your fireplace.

Q. Does your fireplace or chimney or both need tuck-pointing and/or rebuilding? How do you know?

A. All you really need to do is look at your chimney or fireplace for a few signs that a repair is needed. Are there missing or crumbling bricks? Is the mortar between the bricks uneven, deteriorated, or missing? Are visible cracks present in the bricks or mortar? Any of these things would be good reason to call Pyramid Masonry to provide an estimate for the necessary repairs. If you looked and still aren’t sure, just call us. We would be happy to inspect your chimney and fireplace.

Q. Can Pyramid Masonry do anything about the appearance of water on the floor near your recently replaced furnace or water heater?

A. The source of this problem is most likely an incorrectly sized flue liner being used to vent your new furnace or water heater. One possible solution is the installation of a properly sized liner, which will prevent the gases inside the flue from cooling enough to allow condensation.

Q. What can be done about a whitish stain on the outer surfaces of your chimney?

A. Pyramid Masonry can recommend a solution for these stains specific to your chimney upon inspection. This problem may require us to tuck point the mortar joints, install a new liner, or if necessary, rebuild the chimney. Efflorescence, the whitish stain, is generally found on a chimney which serves your furnace and is caused by gases escaping the chimney flue through cracks or gaps in your chimney lining.

Q. Can Pyramid Masonry help you when your clothes aren’t drying as well or as fast as they used to, and you’re certain that the problem is not the dryer?

A. Yes. Dryer ducts can become clogged with lint or debris from animal nests. Pyramid Masonry can use specialized equipment to clean the ducts