For Fireplace Repairs & Services in Somerset, Highpoint Chimney Services Is the Place To Turn To
For the best fireplace and chimney services and repairs in Somerset, Franklin Township, Franklin, Franklin Park, Pittstown, New Brunswick, Edison, Hampton, Washington, Princeton, Hopewell Township, Morristown, East Brunswick, and any town or city surrounding, we’re the team to call. We make customer service and safety our number one priority – reach out today to schedule.
On days where the weather is nice in Somerset, Snyders Farm is a fun seasonal spot to visit, as is Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden. But if the local forecast predicts snow, heavy rain, or cold weather, we wouldn’t suggest doing even as much as a post office run.
So, what’s there to do when you’re cooped up inside, waiting out some storms or bad weather? We suggest lighting up the fireplace and enjoying the warm, cozy aesthetic it has to offer. If you live in Middlesex, Hunterdon, or Somerset counties, our team of certified sweeps can ensure your system is always running well and ready for use.
Turn to Us for Chimney Maintenance and Restoration Solutions
Our service list is exhaustive, ensuring any and all of your chimney or fireplace needs are covered. What can we offer homeowners in the area?
- We can thoroughly sweep creosote and buildup from your flue
- We offer two levels of chimney inspections.
- We complete masonry repairs, like tuckpointing and brick replacement.
- We offer leak repairs and prevention, including chimney cap installs, waterproofing, and more.
- We install new chimney components, such as chase covers and dampers.
- We complete relining services with stainless steel liners and HeatShield®.
- We offer smoke chamber parging services.
- We can clean out your dryer vents, reducing the risk of hazards.
- We’re able to install your new wood stove, gas stove, or insert.
- We can replace your prefab system’s refractory panels.
For more insight into all we can do, or if you have questions regarding any specifics on your system, please reach out – we’re here for you!
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Chimney & Fireplace Services & Repairs FAQs
Do you have questions regarding your fireplace, insert, stove, or chimney? We’re here to give you the answers you need. We’ve covered some of the more common questions below, but if you have any further inquiries or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to keep our customers informed and educated.
How Often Should a Chimney Be Swept?
Your sweeping or cleaning schedule will depend on a few different things, including how often you use your chimney and the type of fuel you burn. Both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend that chimneys be inspected annually, after which your sweep can suggest a sweeping if they are concerned about the amount of buildup in your system.
All that said, if your fireplace is wood-burning and it is used regularly, annual sweepings are usually the best practice for keeping things running well and operating as safely as possible. And if you use your system very frequently, two sweepings a year might be suggested. Work with your sweep to discuss the best sweeping schedule for your needs.
Why are sweepings important?
Chimney sweepings or cleanings are important because the more flammable buildup you have in your flue, the higher your risk is of experiencing a chimney fire. Chimney fires cause significant damage and seriously threaten the safety of your household. And what’s especially concerning about them is their ability to occur quietly. While some are loud and obvious, others move slowly, causing lots of issues all unbeknownst to the homeowner.
The best way to avoid harmful buildup is by having your chimney inspected annually and by having sweepings completed as soon as your sweep suggests it.
How do I know if my chimney needs cleaning?
Not sure if you need a chimney cleaning or not? Well, the best way to know for sure whether you’re due is by booking an inspection. That way, your sweep can take note and make suggestions based on the current shape of your system. They can also suggest other repair services, as needed, too.
But if you’re wondering what you, as a homeowner, can do and watch for, here’s what we suggest:
- Keep an eye out for creosote and soot buildup, both in the flue and around your fireplace.
- If smoke is backing into your home when you light fires, stop using your system and call our sweeps for an appointment.
- If you’re having trouble starting fires or keeping them going, reach out to a tech – you might have a blockage that’s causing an issue.
- Keep your ears and nose open for bad odors or strange sounds – these are indicators that animals might be living in your chimney.
- Look for any signs of damage. The more creosote builds up, the more damage it will cause, and it could be that you’ve experienced a chimney fire without knowing it.
- Know the signs of a chimney fire, and call for an inspection if you’re at all concerned that you’ve experienced one.
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Can I sweep my own chimney?
We definitely urge against this. Sweeping kits are sold online and some shops try to market things like creosote sweeping logs that encourage DIY attempts for this important service. The thing is that, unless you have extensive knowledge of chimneys and how they should best be handled, it’s easy to do this job incompletely – which means your home would still be at risk at the end of it all.
Along with this, someone unskilled could end up damaging parts of their system, or they could injure themselves in the process.
Keep in mind, too, that creosote sweeping logs should never replace a sweeping from a certified sweep. While these can help to loosen creosote (and are technically safe to use in your fireplace), they don’t actually remove any buildup. Call in a tech to ensure the job is done right and that any other issues can be promptly spotted as well.
What Do You Call Someone Who Works On Chimneys?
Well, we like to think of ourselves as your local, trustworthy, and go-to team of chimney sweeps! More officially, though, someone who works on a chimney is usually referred to as a chimney sweep or a chimney technician.
That said, be careful when hiring a sweep. The chimney industry isn’t known for being well regulated, which means no specific training or certification is required to name yourself a sweep and open up a chimney company.
To get the highest level of care possible, be sure to hire a tech that’s certified with the CSIA. Certified sweeps are trained to identify potential safety hazards, like excessive creosote deposits, damaged components, and masonry deterioration, and they can provide ways to resolve and then prevent these issues.
Here at Highpoint, we’re certified, experienced, licensed, insured, and here to offer you the highest level of care possible.
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Can You Give a Quick History Lesson on Chimney Sweeps?
The origins of chimney sweeping aren’t totally clear, but some suggest they date back to ancient Rome, where servants regularly cleaned out built-in passages for indoor fires. Others believe it began in medieval Europe when chimneys became an essential part of home heating.
Regardless, it has always been a dangerous job. And when it became more widespread in England during the 17th and 18th centuries, young boys were usually the ones tasked with scaling the narrow chimneys and cleaning out the soot, debris, and buildup – since they most easily fit in the small space. It’s a rather dark time in history with a lot of sad endings.
Eventually, the first of a series of Chimney Sweepers Acts was passed in England in 1788, setting rules for chimney sweeps and making the minimum age 8 years. As years passed and these acts were revised, the age would rise more and more until eventually no one under 21 could take the job.
Nowadays, things are, fortunately, different. Trained techs take on the job of sweeping and maintaining chimneys, using appropriate equipment and skills to get the job done safely and efficiently.
Can You Repair the Inside of a Chimney?
Definitely, especially when you trust one of our techs for the job. In fact, one of the most common ways to repair a chimney interior is by relining it. Here at Highpoint, we can reline your chimney with HeatShield® or with a stainless steel liner. Both are highly effective and long-lasting methods that will protect your home and chimney, while boosting fireplace efficiency in the process.
Other times, there’s less of an issue with damage in your flue interior and more of an issue with creosote buildup. Creosote is extremely flammable and needs to be removed on a regular basis, as does any debris buildup that might be lingering and causing blockages.
All that said, whatever issues your flue interior might be experiencing, we’re confident our techs can address it. If you’re concerned about potential damages, reach out today to discuss your options and get an appointment booked.
Can a Roofer Fix a Chimney?
Some roofers are able to perform minor repairs to chimneys. That said, we’ll always recommend hiring a professional chimney tech for your repairs and maintenance.
Why?
Well, because roofers aren’t chimney experts – we are. Chimneys are complex structures that require specialized knowledge and training to properly repair and maintain. Because of this, hiring a tech who is certified and highly experienced with working on them is always going to be your best bet for getting a quality job completed.
What about flashing services? Who should complete those?
Now, one area that is more fuzzy in terms of who to call for repairs is your flashing. Since flashing seals the area where your roof meets your chimney, it can be hard to know which tech to hire for the job. Well, if you trust us with all of your other leaky chimney repairs, we’ve got good news – we can handle this job for you too. Reach out today to get your spot booked.
How Do You Fix a Crumbling Brick Chimney?
Well-built and properly maintained masonry looks great and can work wonders in boosting the value and aesthetic appeal of your home. But if your masonry is crumbling and falling apart, the opposite is true. In fact, this can not only decrease the value of your home by spreading damage throughout the areas surrounding the chimney, it can make your system extremely unsafe for use too.
So, how is a crumbling brick chimney fixed? And how can you avoid these problems down the line?
For fixing the chimney, we’ll suggest tuckpointing services and brick replacement, both of which will restore your system to its former glory – at least when you trust our trusted and experienced techs for the job.
In addition, we suggest having the chimney inspected, cleaned, and have any repairs completed and replacement parts installed, as needed. Then, be sure to keep up with this maintenance, by booking annual inspections before the start of every burning season.
Finally, schedule waterproofing services with our team of professionals. This will seal up your masonry chimney, ensuring water isn’t able to soak in and cause later damage.
Your Chimney is in Good Hands with Our Experts – Call Today
When you hire us, you’ll get help from experts who strive to put your needs first and really know chimneys. We’re certified, take furthering our education and knowledge seriously, and we make your safety our number one priority. Whatever you need for your fireplace and chimney in Somerset and its surrounding cities, we want to be the team you hire to handle it.
Ready to get started? We’d love to hear from you. You can either give us a call at 908-864-4114 to speak with one of our techs, or reach out online and we’ll get in touch with you. Thanks for choosing us.
Highpoint Chimney Services is proud to include Lebanon in its service area, providing quality chimney and venting services year after year.