Chimney Cleaning
A dirty chimney is not good for your home or your health. When your chimney gets too dirty, it can negatively impact your home’s air quality, not to mention creating a fire hazard. Your fireplace needs less than a single cord of wood burning to produce enough soot to warrant cleaning. For this reason, Our expert technicians recommend that you have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually.
Chimney Cleaning with Dux Service Pro
When it comes to chimney cleaning, Dux Service Pro has you covered. We’ve been cleaning chimneys since 2005.
Our technicians are trained and educated to the standards set by the National Chimney Sweeps Guild, so you can rest assured that the work done in your home will be safe, efficient, and professional.
Chimney Sweeping & Cleaning Process
We will brush your chimney using the appropriate equipment, which includes special rods, chimney brushes, hand brushes, and a high speed vacuum. Using these tools, we will remove all of the brushable soot and creosote without damaging your fireplace or causing a mess in your home. We use drop cloths, rug runners and tarps to protect your furniture and floors. Using a high-speed vacuum, we remove all the brushable soot and creosote as quickly as possible so that your home stays clean and mess-free. Our technicians use a very careful process to treat your home with respect and make sure to leave it in excellent condition when your chimney cleaning is complete.
During your cleaning, our technicians will also inspect the fireplace and chimney and report any concerns to you. Every Dux Service Pro technician has the expertise to diagnose your fireplace problem and make recommendations regarding the care and maintenance of your fireplace.
A clean fireplace will burn more efficiently, save energy, and increase the value of your home. Call Dux Service Pro today to schedule your cleaning.
A thorough chimney inspection will tell you if there are any additional issues that need attention, so take advantage of the service we provide and put your mind at ease.
Chimney Inspections
You should have your chimney inspected:
• When you purchase a home with a chimney.
• When there has been an incident or natural disaster that may have caused structural damage.
• When you make changes to your heating appliance or ventilation system.
• Before you make any system repairs or upgrades.
Before you burn anything in your fireplace, you need to know it’s safe. A chimney fire can quickly cause widespread destruction in a home. However, most chimney fires can be prevented with proper care and maintenance of your chimney.
If our inspection reveals a problem with your fireplace or chimney system, trust our expertise to repair, replace or rebuild. Our training and experience make it all part of our fireplace and chimney services.
Chimney Cap
A chimney cap, also known as a chimney crown or chimney cover, is a protective device placed on the top of a chimney to serve several important functions:
Why you need to make sure you have a chimney cap fitted with a flue. The first reason is to keep water away from flues and appliances. Most are made of masonry that breathes and absorbs water and metal, which will rust if water is allowed to reach it. You might not think that a simple hat could be so important, but it is.
The other thing the cap does is act as a spark arrestor to keep sparks and embers from escaping the flue. This helps contain fires in trees, leaves, and canopies and keep the fire where it belongs.
If you think you need a chimney cap or just need it inspected, we can do it for you. This is always part of our annual inspection process. Just call Dux Service Pro today!
Masonry and Brick
Almost every chimney or fireplace has some type of brick or stone masonry inside and outside. It is durable and beautiful, making it functional and enjoyable. However, over time, these masonry materials can develop problems that will eventually need to be addressed.
Chimney Chase Cover
Chase covers are designed to cover the top of a prefab or brick chimney. You can get these in galvanized steel and aluminum, but to get the lifetime warranty, you’ll have to stick with stainless steel or copper. The cost difference is minimal and if you need to replace yours, you already know how easily galvanized steel can rust and aluminum can be damaged. Our stainless steel chassis covers have a lifetime warranty against rust, corrosion and manufacturers defects and we will return and replace if necessary.
Chimney Crown
The crown of a chimney is one of the most exposed areas of your chimney system. It sits at the very top of the chimney and is sealed in concrete.
If you have read the information about freeze/thaw and how severe this natural process is on all parts of the chimney above the roof line, you will understand that this is one of the most repaired parts of the chimney. why is We commonly see the crown loosen around the edges, allowing water to seep into the inner walls of the system.
Another problem we often see are fine cracks that work themselves into concrete like sidewalks and driveways. And, just like these surfaces, most of them grow grass, flowers or weeds. You can imagine the damage this can do to your chimney top if not dealt with before the top cracks and falls.
Chimney Damper
If you look at the anatomy of a fireplace, notice that the damper is found at the top of the firebox. This is the metal (usually cast iron) that you move up and down with a lever on the top of the firebox.
The purpose of the damper is to open the chimney to the outside to allow smoke, gases and debris to escape up the chimney flue and into the atmosphere. The chimney is closed when not in use to prevent the air from entering the chimney to the outside and to prevent air from coming down the flue and into the house.
Chimney Repair
Having your fireplace repaired is the best way to extend its life and ensure that it is safe for you and your family. This is not a task to be trusted to novices. Dux Service Pro chimney technicians are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Fireplace Institute. We know how your fireplace works, and we know how to fix it properly and safely.
Chimney Waterproofing
Water penetration is one of the biggest causes of chimney damage. Midwestern climates are hard on chimneys. Rain, snow and freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on a masonry chimney, causing cracks in the mortar and structural damage. All masonry chimneys are susceptible to water damage. In fact, moisture is always present in a masonry fireplace. For this reason, we recommend that you treat your fireplace with a water repellent.
Masonry Repair
A fireplace is only as good as the masonry that makes it. Built to last for many years, eventually, chimney masonry will begin to show signs of aging. Bricks may become loose, mortar may begin to crack and fall, and large sections of masonry may fall from the structure. In all of these cases, water now has an easy way to enter the system and start a cycle of further damage. Trust our certified technicians to diagnose the problem and fix it quickly.
Chimney Liner Repair
Whether your chimney liner is made of cast masonry, clay tiles, stainless steel or aluminum, it can begin to suffer after years of intense heat from a fire. When the chimney liner is compromised, excess heat and condensation begin to attack the internal structure of the chimney. Moisture will corrode bricks and mortar, and heat can come into contact with the home’s construction materials and cause a house fire. Our experienced chimney inspectors will assess the condition of your chimney liner and make any necessary repairs. In case of severe damage, we will install a new liner for you.
Chimney Chase Top Repair
A chimney chase top provides an extra layer of protection for your flue opening. These flat components are usually made of galvanized steel, stainless steel, copper or aluminum and are prone to rusting over time. It doesn’t take long for rust to corrode parts of the cheese top and open a path for water. Our technicians can assess the damage to your fireplace chase top and recommend repair or installation of a new top.
Chimney Cap Repair / Replacement
No chimney should be operated without a strong chimney cap over it. Chimney caps prevent rainwater and melting snow, as well as obstructions such as leaves and twigs and animal nests, from ending up in your chimney and creating airflow obstructions. Chimney caps also prevent flying embers from escaping the top of your chimney and landing on your roof. If your hat is damaged, we can fix it. If not, we can install a sturdy new chimney cap to keep your chimney safe and fully functional.
Chimney Crowns Repair
The layer of cement at the top of the chimney that opens most of the flue is the chimney crown. Solid and strong, fireplace crowns are built to last. Eventually, however, cracks can begin to form, allowing moisture to build up in the cement, where it will freeze and expand, causing continued damage. In some cases, cracked chimney crowns can be coated with a waterproof sealant. In other cases, partial or complete reconstruction is required to protect the structure of your chimney.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Old chimney flashing often deteriorates and separates from the roof or chimney masonry, leaving a gap for rain and snowmelt. Because infiltrating water seeps into the home’s interior construction materials, possibly from the attic to the basement, homeowners usually don’t notice it until severe damage has occurred. We can repair or replace your fireplace flashing and perform a thorough inspection to determine if the damage needs to be repaired.