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The NFPA
(National Fire Protection Association) recommends that homeowners
have their chimney inspected at least once a year.
F. Scott Davis Chimney Sweep, Inc. offers a full line of chimney and venting system services. Whether
it’s a wood stove or fireplace, we understand the intricacies of these venting systems in your home. We are
trained and equipped to address all of your maintenance and safety needs. Our services include but are not limited to:
Chimney
Sweeping and Inspection
We use state-of-the-art
equipment to sweep and inspect chimneys of all kinds, including wood and gas-burning. We check to make sure that all aspects
of a chimney system are up to the industry standards under which it was built. We look for any problems that may prevent proper
performance and recommend what is needed for your system to be used as safely as possible. Remember! A fire within
the confines of any structure can never be 100% safe.
We use a digital video inspection camera to examine the hidden parts of the flue.
Examination with a flashlight is woefully inadequate. With a video camera we can accurately
determine the true condition of the interior (flue) of your chimney. This video scan is a part of our basic Level
I (National Fire Protection Association) 211 Standards Inspection www.nfpa.org and is included with every sweep of a masonry fireplace. We encourage homeowners
to watch as this scan is performed. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have. Other chimney sweep companies
charge an additional fee for a video inspection, so please be aware of what it is that you are paying for.
First,
we are inspectors!
If we do find issues with a chimney, a complete report is generated that reflects
the nature of all issues found. This report includes the documentation (pictures) of any abnormalities along with a complete
narrative explanation. This report is issued at no additional charge to you. We will not automatically include
an estimate of repair with our findings. There are a number of companies that can perform chimney repairs!
We are there to sweep/inspect and then report to you the condition of your chimney. If you would like an estimate of repair
for deficiencies that we may find, you will need to request one.
Repair
Water Penetration Issues
One of the most damaging elements to a masonry chimney is WATER!
Water penetration can wreck havoc on brick and mortar and severely shorten a chimneys useful lifespan. Water will penetrate
the crown (top) of the chimney and infiltrate the structures interior. Moisture may cause mold and mildew. Water may be
a large part of why your chimney may smell so bad in the warm weather months! It could be as simple as installing a chimney cap to keep the inside of your chimney dry or an improperly installed or damaged chimney crown could be the culprit.
Prefabricated,
or factory built fireplaces may have water enter through the chase cover or top. It has been our experience that the #1 reason prefab chase covers leak is largely due to not being
properly installed when the home was built! Construction did not include any sort of “bracing” under the cover
to prevent it from sagging. This lets water “pond” on the cover and not drain away after a rain. This in turn,
will prematurely deteriorate the metal and it will begin to rust without abatement. Do not kid yourself! Rust is
a cancer and will not just “go away”. Chase covers in this area will last 10-15 years before you notice water
dripping into or around your fireplace or see the stains flowing down the outside!
We Install Chimney CapsA chimney cap will keep water out of the chimney
flue. Water is the #1 enemy of a brick chimney! Water will erode masonry and mortar joints and is a factor in the
early demise of most fireplace dampers.
A chimney cap will prevent bird and animal intrusion. Raccoons live
and breed on a fireplaces smoke shelf! An uncapped chimney is a death trap for any many unfortunate animals. There is
a certain bird (chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica) that is able to nest inside of your chimney. It is protected under Federal law and if it is in your chimney, we
can not disturb it! More info at www.chimneyswifts.org
A chimney cap is protection from airborne sparks and embers escaping from the flue. Just like you have a screen
in front of a roaring fire in your fireplace to prevent sparks from entering the room, a chimney cap can prevent sparks from
landing on your roof or nearby vegetation i.e. pine straw!
We
fix or replace fireplace dampers
We can fix or replace any fireplace damper! Check
out this video to get an idea of what we can do for you. Locktop Damper.
Request Service
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