Reline or Repair? How to Decide What Your Chimney Actually Needs
Repair works when liner damage is limited to one section and confirmed by video inspection. Relining is needed when damage spans multiple sections, the chimney has no liner, or you’re switching heating appliances. A Level 2 video inspection is the only reliable way to know which one your chimney needs. A cracked chimney liner puts […]
Chimney Draft Problems: Why Smoke Blows Back Into the Room
Chimney draft problems happen when hot air cannot pull smoke safely up the flue. Common causes include creosote buildup, bird nests, cold flues, negative air pressure, wind downdrafts, a short flue, or a closed damper. Most issues can be identified during a professional chimney inspection and resolved with cleaning, repairs, or improved ventilation. Chimney draft […]
Does Homeowners Insurance Require a Chimney Inspection? What GA & NC Homeowners Need to Know
Does homeowners’ insurance require a chimney inspection? Most policies do not name it outright, but maintenance clauses make it a practical requirement. Insurers use inspection records to decide if damage was sudden and covered or gradual and denied. Without documentation, claims are often rejected. You file a claim after a storm damages your chimney. Your […]
Chimney Inspection Before Buying a Home in Georgia: Why It Can Save You Thousands
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. If that home has a fireplace or chimney, there’s one important step many buyers overlook: a chimney inspection before buying a home in Georgia. While a house may appear perfect during a general home inspection, hidden chimney problems can lead to expensive repairs, […]
How to Tell If an Animal Is Living in Your Chimney: 7 Warning Signs
You can tell if an animal is living in your chimney by listening for scratching or scurrying, checking for strong odors, spotting nesting material, and noticing droppings or noise in your chimney at night, especially near dusk and dawn. A scratching sound at night, a strange odor, or debris in your firebox usually means one […]
How Often Should You Have Your Chimney Cleaned? (The Complete 2026 Guide)
The answer to how often you should have your chimney cleaned is: at least once per year for all chimney types. Wood-burning fireplaces used three or more times per week need cleaning every six months. Gas chimneys require annual inspections even without visible soot. The NFPA and CSIA both recommend this minimum schedule. Chimney fires […]
How to Install a Chimney Cap: A Step-by-Step Guide from Georgia’s Certified Chimney Pros (2026)
To install a chimney cap, measure your flue, choose a stainless steel cap, safely access the roof, clean the flue surface, set the cap in place, and secure it with stainless self-tapping screws or anchor bolts. Most single-flue installs take 30 to 60 minutes. Georgia winters crack masonry. Atlanta’s humidity rusts unprotected metal. If you […]
How Much Does Chimney Repointing Cost in Georgia? (2026 Pricing Guide)
Chimney repointing in Georgia costs $700 to $2,500 for a standard residential chimney in 2026. Per-square-foot rates run $8 to $30. Larger or harder-to-access chimneys can cost up to $5,500. The average homeowner pays around $1,450. Chimney repointing in Georgia is a repair most homeowners need every 20–30 years. Knowing the cost upfront helps you […]
Why Is My Chimney Leaking? 7 Causes & How to Fix Each One
A chimney leaks because of one or more of these seven problems: a missing or damaged chimney cap, a cracked chimney crown, failed flashing, porous or spalled brick, condensation from an oversized flue, cracked flue tiles, or lack of waterproofing. Each cause has a specific repair. Your chimney is leaking, and you need answers fast. […]
HOW WINTER FREEZE-THAW CYCLES DESTROY GEORGIA CHIMNEYS (And What to Do Before Spring)
The answer to winter chimney damage in Georgia is: freeze-thaw cycles cause water to enter porous masonry, freeze, expand by 9%, and repeatedly crack the structure from the inside out. The most common results are spalling bricks, chimney crown cracks, deteriorated mortar joints, failed flashing, and damaged liners. Georgia chimneys do not need extreme cold […]