Columbus, OH & surrounding areas
Fireplace Service & Repair
Stuck dampers, crumbling firebox mortar, gas logs that won't light.
- Draft problems diagnosed, not guessed
- Damper repair and replacement
- Firebox joints rebuilt, gas appliances serviced
- 4.4 on Google
- Free in-home estimates
- Fully insured
- Warranty up to 1 year
- Free drone inspection
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Everything above the damper is the chimney. Everything below it is the fireplace, and it's the part you look at every day. Dampers seize, firebox mortar joints break down under heat, gas assemblies stop lighting, and some fireplaces have never drafted properly since the day they were built.
Signs you'd notice
- A damper that sticks, won't seal, or won't open
- Cracked or missing mortar joints inside the firebox
- A gas fireplace that won't light, or that smells of gas
- A room that fills with smoke no matter what you do
- Cold air pouring in through the fireplace all winter
What happens on the visit
- 1
Diagnose the draft, not just the symptom
Smoke in the room has four or five possible causes and only one of them is a dirty flue. Often it's negative pressure — the stack effect in a tightly sealed house, or a range hood and bath fans winning against your chimney. We work out which one you have before selling you a fix.
- 2
Repair or replace the damper
Free up and reseat what can be saved. Where the throat damper is beyond help, a top-sealing damper both seals better and stops the winter draft.
- 3
Rebuild firebox joints
Failed firebox mortar gets cut out and repointed with refractory mortar rated for direct flame. Regular mortar in a firebox doesn't last a season.
- 4
Service gas appliances
Clean and test the burner, pilot, thermocouple, and logs, and confirm the flue is clear. If we find something outside our scope, we say so instead of improvising.
Why it matters
A fireplace that doesn't draft is a fireplace that puts combustion products into your living room. A damper that won't seal is money going up the flue all winter. And firebox mortar exists to keep flame off the surrounding structure — when those joints open up, that protection is gone.
Recent work
What the work looks like
Our own photos, from real Columbus-area jobs. Tap a project to see every photo.
Questions
Fireplace Service: what people ask us
Why does smoke come back into the room instead of going up?
Usually one of four things: the damper isn't fully open, the flue is blocked by creosote or a nest, the house is too tight for the fireplace to draw air, or the flue is the wrong size for the appliance. The first two we fix on the visit. The last two are draft problems — often negative pressure, where bath fans, a range hood, or the stack effect in a well-sealed house pull harder than your chimney can — and they need diagnosing rather than guessing, which is what the inspection is for.
Do gas fireplaces and gas appliances need chimney service?
Yes. Gas burns cleaner than wood but its exhaust is acidic, and it eats away at clay tile and mortar over time. Gas-fired flues also block with nests and debris just like wood flues do, and a blocked gas flue pushes carbon monoxide back toward the house. Different failure mode, same annual inspection.
How long does the visit take, and will you make a mess?
Visit length depends on the chimney, roof access, inspection level, and amount of buildup. The office can confirm the expected scope once those details are known. Chimney sweeping should contain soot at the fireplace opening rather than spread it through the room.
Related
While we're up there
Chimney Sweeping
Creosote, soot, and blockages cleared out of your flue.
Chimney Inspections
A documented look at the whole system, firebox to crown.
Chimney & Masonry Repair
Tuckpointing, brick replacement, and rebuilds — above and below the roofline.
Caps, Crowns & Chase Covers
The lid on your chimney. Keeps rain, leaves, and animals out.
Get a free estimate on your chimney
Pick a day and a time window online, or call and talk to a person. The estimate is free, and the drone inspection is included.