NH Chimney Sweep And Inspection Services

A level one chimney inspection as defined by the NFPA 211 is the inspection of all readily accessible portions of the chimney system. During a level one chimney inspection, by definition, we should not have to use any tools, or a ladder. However, we generally go above and beyond these expectations when performing a level one chimney inspection, and we try to get on the roof during every chimney inspection.

We feel that our customers deserve the peace of mind that comes from an in depth chimney inspection performed by a certified chimney sweep at a reasonable price. For that reason, we go above and beyond what is expected of us during a level one chimney inspection.

What you can expect from Anything Chimney during a level one chimney inspection:

1. Cleanliness.

Inspecting chimneys can be dirty work, but we do our very best to make sure our customer's homes stay clean and tidy by using either boot covers or drop-cloths to protect the floors and carpets when we are working.

2. Attention to Detail.

Anything Chimney will leave no stone unturned when it comes to inspecting your chimney.

3. A Safety Oriented Company.

At Anything Chimney, your safety is truly our first priority, and when we perform a level one inspection, that is our primary concern. We want to make sure that your chimney is safe, and that there are no major safety defects.

4. Experienced Chimney Technicians

Our technicians are all fully certified and ready to answer any questions you may have regarding your chimney.

5. An Organized Report

Upon the completion of a level one inspection a comprehensive chimney inspection report will be prepared for you while we are on site. The report will then be sent to you paperlessly via email.

6. A competitive estimate when necessary

Sometimes we discover problems over the course of a chimney inspection. When this is the case, we provide you with a very competitive estimate to repair the defective areas of the chimney.

Want to know more about level one chimney Inspections? Feel free to call us at +1 (603) 716-5977. We would be happy to discuss any questions you may have about level one chimney inspections.

The reason it is important to hire a certified chimney sweep is simple: A certified chimney sweep knows what to look for when it comes to inspecting your chimney and making sure it is suitable for further use. A certified chimney sweep also knows how to repair any potential safety hazards your chimney may have.

Hiring a non certified chimney sweep can have terrible consequences.

When it comes to the inspection, cleaning and repair of your chimney, trust a certified chimney sweeping and repair company. Trust Anything Chimney.

A woodburning chimney should be swept after every cord of seasoned wood that is burned.

An oil burning chimney should be swept about every 3-5 years, or if there is an over firing issue with the boiler or furnace. (black soot coming out of the chimney)

The National Fire Protection Association requires that all chimneys be inspected annually.

Remember to only trust a certified chimney sweep when it comes to the inspection of your chimney system!

Certifications in the chimney field that require extensive knowledge regarding chimney inspection are: C.S.I.A and C.C.P.

Always ask your chimney professional what certifications they hold before hiring them.

The lead chimney sweeps at Anything Chimney collectively hold both the C.C.P and the C.S.I.A Certifications.

A level two chimney inspection is a form of chimney inspection where everything that is accessible in regards to the chimney is inspected. A level two chimney inspection is far more in depth than a level one chimney inspection, and shall take place in the following situations per NFPA 211 standards:

1. You are buying or selling a home.

2. You had a chimney fire.

3. There was some form of natural disaster that could have caused damage to the chimney.

4. A new appliance is being installed into the chimney.

What makes a level two chimney inspection different from a level one chimney inspection is that during a level two chimney inspection we run cameras through the chimney flues to check every inch of the chimney liner for potential safety defects, we must get on the roof of the home to inspect the chimney above the roofline, and we must inspect all other areas of the chimney that do not require demolition in order to inspect.

A lot of our clients end up with increased creosote build up in their flue systems due to burning "green" firewood that they believe is "seasoned" firewood. Burning green firewood can put you at an increased risk of having a chimney fire. The way that you can tell if you are burning "green" firewood is by purchasing a MOISTURE METER from a local hardware store. Moisture meters have two prongs that penetrate the wood in question and give you an accurate moisture content. The moisture content of seasoned firewood is 15-20 percent. All cord wood that is burned in either a fireplace or woodstove should show about a 15-20 percent moisture content. If your firewood reads substantially higher than that, it should not be burned.

It depends. Anything Chimney does provide free estimates in some situations, but not all. An example of a time where a free estimate would be provided would be if you wanted an estimate on having a chimney liner installed and have had a previous inspection done in the last 12 months by either ourselves or another company. Proof of Inspection would be required and can be sent via email. An example of when a paid inspection would be a better choice would be if you wanted to know the condition of your chimney liner. Estimates are provided when you already know what's wrong and want to fix it. Inspections are provided when we are trying to get to the bottom of a problem. A leaky chimney would be another good example of a time where a chimney inspection would be the better option. If we perform a chimney inspection we can provide you with all potential points where water could be entering your chimney and give you an estimate to fix all of them. If you call us for a free estimate for a chimney cap because you think a chimney cap will fix your water problem, the sad truth is that the chimney cap very well may not fix the water problem. The water could be coming in from the chimney flashing, the chimney crown, saturated bricks, or a defective chimney liner venting a highly efficient furnace or boiler. To sum it up, free estimates will be provided if you already know what is wrong with your chimney and are looking for alternative quotes to fix it. Inspections are provided when you know there is a problem, but you are not sure where or what is causing it. The reason being is that it takes us much more time to diagnose a problem than it does to type out a competing quote. Not sure if you need an inspection or just a free estimate? Give our office a call and we would be happy to discuss it with you!

When burning a woodstove or fireplace, it is important to remember to burn the appliance hot and to not choke down the damper or air intake. Many people do choke down on these things in order to achieve what is known as a "slow burn." Using this slow burn method will lead to an increased creosote buildup and an increased risk of a chimney fire. We do not recommend choking down the damper, or the air intake.

We install only insulated lining systems for all solid fuel burning appliances and fireplaces. The benefits of using an insulated lining system are:

Reduced creosote buildup, increased efficiency, (burning less wood) and gaining clearances.

Because of all of the practical and safety benefits of insulated lining systems, we will not use uninsulated liners to vent solid fuel.

A lot of homeowners tend to not pay any mind to where their oil furnace or boiler vents. Many times it vents into the chimney. Oil burning appliances produce many nasty chemicals as by-products of burning oil. These products include carbon monoxide and sulfur. Sulfur is dangerous because when it mixes itself with the moisture in the air it develops into a sulfuric acid. This sulfuric acid is usually what causes oil furnace and boiler liners to become compromised. And once the liner is compromised, there is an increased risk of carbon monoxide finding it's way into the home. The replacement of oil furnace and boiler chimney liners is a very large part of our job.

The danger of using a fireplace or woodstove with a defective chimney liner is that in the event of a chimney fire, the fire is more likely to spread into a structure fire. The reason for that is because once the chimney liner has gaps, cracks, or holes flammable creosote is able to build up behind the lining system. When this creosote ignites during a chimney fire, the fire will then be outside of the lining system and closer to parts of the home that are combustible.

Our price for a chimney sweeping and a level 1 chimney inspection is $284. By the end of the safety inspection we will give you our professional opinion on whether or not the fireplace or appliance meets today's codes and safety standards. We will also provide you with a quote for repairs in the event that they are needed. All of our inspections are performed by certified professionals.

There are two different forms of inspection that we perform. The first is called a level one safety inspection. We perform this level one safety inspection with every chimney sweeping that we perform The level 1 chimney inspection price is currently $199. The second type of chimney inspection is called a level two chimney inspection. There are multiple reasons a level two chimney inspection may be needed, but the most common reason is for a real estate transaction. If you are buying or selling a home, the National Fire Protection Association strongly recommends having a level two chimney inspection. The price of a level 2 chimney inspection is currently $275 for a one flue chimney, and the price increases by $75 for each additional flue. We have listed the definitions of said inspections in a separate FAQ.

The pricing of each form of inspection is as follows:

Level One Safety Inspections start at: $199
Level Two Real Estate Inspections start at: $275

The number of chimneys and flues that are being inspected can change this price, so be sure to specify how many chimneys and chimney flues you would like to have inspected when you speak to our office staff.

There are many different problems that could cause a leaking chimney. Many people immediately assume that it's an issue with the flashing, but that is not always the case. Many times it can be a defective boiler liner, lack of a chimney cap, defective crown, or even a chimney that needs to be rebuilt.

Having an inspection to determine the causes of your chimney leak is the place to start. Leaking chimneys can be a headache, but we can absolutely fix them!

If smoke is coming out of your fireplace, your chimney is having a drafting issue. There are numerous reasons that a chimney might have a drafting issue. These reasons include, but are not limited to: an improperly sized flue, a chimney that does not meet code height requirements, a clogged flue or a pressure issue within the home. If you are having a chimney draft issue, please call or book an appointment online for a level one chimney inspection. Our certified chimney sweeps will get to the bottom of your chimney draft problem and recommend the proper repair.

Yes, we do install chimney caps! We install many different types of chimney caps. We prefer to install custom, full coverage chimney caps because they offer the best range of protection from animals, as well as the elements, but we do offer more basic chimney caps as well. To view our custom chimney cap selection, please visit www.chimneycaps.net

The caps that will offer you the most protection are caps numbered 9-16.

No! You should have your chimney inspected BEFORE you buy a home. The National Fire Protection Association requires a level two chimney inspection prior to a home being bought or sold. The reason for that is to protect the person buying the home from a potentially unsafe chimney. The chimney should be inspected by a qualified, competent, certified chimney sweep prior to the home being bought or sold.

A chimney crown is a cement slab at the very top of the chimney that prevents water from going down into the chimney void. A deteriorated, or cracked chimney crown will let rain water into the chimney void and can potentially cause a water problem toward the base of the chimney. To prevent deterioration of the chimney crown we will always recommend installing a full coverage chimney cap. Full coverage chimney caps not only stop water and animals from going down the chimney flue, they also help prevent damage from being caused to the cement chimney crown.

When a chimney crown is deteriorated or cracked, there are multiple ways to repair it based on the level of deterioration. If the the chimney crown is slightly cracked, which happens often due to the heat expansion that a chimney undergoes, we can often use a chimney crown sealant in order to stop water from seeping down into the small cracks in the chimney crown. However, if the chimney crown is highly deteriorated and falling apart, we will need to perform a full chimney crown replacement in order to stop the intrusive effects of the elements from reaching the base of your chimney.

To replace a chimney crown we will first remove all remnants of the deteriorated crown. After the old, deteriorated chimney crown has been removed, we will begin construction of the new crown using all non combustible materials including steel rebar and stainless steel mesh. Once we have prepared a sturdy base using non combustible materials we will begin to pour the new chimney crown. While pouring the new chimney crown we make sure to slope the cement downwards so that any rainwater that gets on the crown will naturally drip off of the chimney.

Even with a brand new chimney crown we still strongly recommend having a full coverage chimney cap installed. Cement is just not designed to take the brunt of constant heating, cooling, freezing and thawing. A full coverage chimney cap will significantly increase the life of your cement chimney crown.

If you have not had your chimney crown inspected for damage lately, please call, message, or email us and we would be happy to get you on the schedule for a chimney inspection.

Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Chimney flashing is designed to keep unwanted rainwater out of the small gap between your chimney and your roof. Without chimney flashing rainwater would be able to drip drop right into your attic! Chimney flashing can become deteriorated in many different ways:

Chimney flashing can get loose and fall out due to an originally poor installation. This would happen if the chimney flashing was not secured properly from the beginning, or if the mortar joint that was holding in the flashing began to let go over time due to the damaging effects of the weather. Another reason that chimney flashing may become deteriorated is actually because of squirrels. Squirrels like to eat lead flashing. The exact reason squirrels like to eat lead flashing is unknown, but it could be because it is apparently sweet in flavor. When squirrels eat the lead flashing around your chimney structure they leave small pinholes in the flashing that will allow water into the home.

So what can be done about it?

Anything Chimney performs all types of chimney flashing repair. From simple flashing sealants to full chimney flashing replacement, Anything Chimney has you covered.

Call today to schedule your chimney inspection. Let's make sure that there is no rain getting inside your home due to a problem with your chimney's flashing!

Chimney pointing, repointing, or tuck pointing all refer to the same basic concept. This concept is grinding out the old deteriorated mortar joints in a chimney or other brick structure and replacing the deteriorated mortar with fresh mortar. When a chimney needs to be pointed, repointed, or tuck pointed it is because the current mortar joints are in bad condition and the structural stability of the chimney or brick structure could become compromised if the problem continues to get worse. Moisture is also an issue when it comes to a chimney or brick structure that requires pointing, repointing, or tuckpointing. Moisture can seep into into those deteriorated joints and get inside the brick structure. Excessive moisture is very bad for chimneys and brick structures.

When is pointing a chimney a bad idea?

Pointing a chimney is a bad idea when the structural integrity of the chimney has already been lost. When there are loose bricks, cracked bricks or spalling bricks, chimney pointing may not be the correct repair. Sometimes the entire chimney needs to come down to the roofline and be rebuilt with new bricks and new mortar.

Always consult with a certified chimney sweep to determine whether or not a chimney structure should be pointed, repointed, tuckpointed, or fully rebuilt.

Thanks for reading and we look forward to hearing from you.

Anything Chimney

A chimney liner can be made out of several different materials including, but not limited to, fireclay and stainless steel. Usually, when a chimney is first constructed, it is constructed using fireclay flue tiles. These fireclay flue tiles are often referred to as "terra cotta" or even just clay flue tiles.

During a chimneys original construction these two foot long sections of clay flue tiles are stacked on top of each other and mortared into place using a non water soluble mortar. Sometimes, however, because of the high price of non water soluble mortar, some masons have been known to use water soluble mortar. The effects of using water soluble mortar can be seen during a chimney camera inspection. When water soluble mortar is used during the initial construction of a chimney we will generally see gaps in the mortar joints that hold together these two foot sections of clay flue tiles. These gaps are referred to as "gaps in the lining system" and indicate that the chimney liner has been compromised. They are the equivalent of a particularly large crack in the chimney flue system. If there are large gaps in a clay chimney liner, than the chimney liner must be replaced in order to safely contain the by-products of combustion. Another way that these clay chimney liners can become defective is by rapid changes in temperature. Often this kind of defect is caused by a chimney fire.

When a chimney fire takes place inside of a clay chimney liner there is a strong chance that the clay chimney liner will crack. When a clay chimney liner cracks it is no longer going to contain the by-products of combustion and therefore must be replaced.

Cracks in a chimney liner often seem insignificant when viewing them on camera. The reason for this is because the cracks are not currently heated. When the cracks in the chimney liner become heated they will expand and allow gasses and creosote to escape the chimney lining system. This is the reason that cracked clay flue tiles should be replaced.

This brings us to our next chimney lining material: stainless steel.

Stainless steel chimney liners are used to replace defective clay chimney liners because it is nearly impossible to replace a clay chimney liner with another clay chimney liner without tearing down the entire chimney. Stainless steel chimney liners are either inserted down the existing clay flue liner, or used in place of the clay flue liner after the clay flue liner has been removed. That being said, there are many different alloys of stainless steel that are designed to safely and efficiently vent different fuels. There are also some fuels that should always be vented through an insulated chimney liner. Be sure to consult with a trained and certified chimney sweep to determine what kind of chimney liner is suitable for your particular situation.

There are a few other listed chimney lining systems, but these are the most common in the state of New Hampshire that we have seen.

If you have any questions about chimney liners, the different kinds of chimney liners, and what the right chimney liner is for your particular job, please feel free to give us a call at 603 716 5977

Thank you for reading and we look forward to hearing from you!

Anything Chimney

Anything Chimney will travel up to one hour from Manchester, NH to complete a chimney sweep or chimney inspection.

Some examples of cities and towns we service are:

Auburn NH

Salem NH

Manchester NH

Londonderry NH

Hooksett NH

Derry NH

Nashua NH

Bedford NH

Windham NH

Concord NH

Dover NH

Portsmouth NH

Hollis NH

If you do not know whether or not you are an hour away from Manchester NH, please call us at 603 716 5977 and we would be happy to help!

Thank you for choosing Anything Chimney as your chimney service provider!

Usually an oil furnace or oil boiler does vent through the chimney. The chimney flue that the oil furnace or oil boiler vents through is also usually the most neglected because most people do not even realize that their furnace or boiler vents through the chimney. This is a problem for many reasons:

The gasses produced by an oil furnace or boiler are actually extremely corrosive and can do severe damage to the chimney system and chimney structure from the inside out.

Oil furnaces and oil boilers produce carbon monoxide, so it very important to make sure that those gasses are staying very contained.

If you have not had your oil flue inspected recently, please give us a call. Oil burning appliances can do serious damage to chimneys and the problems that they cause will only get worse if not attended to.

Defective chimney liners that are venting oil appliances can cause significant masonry repairs as well as damage to other lining systems depending on how the chimney was originally constructed. Oil furnaces and oil boilers certainly do vent into a chimney flue more often than not, and it is extremely important to know the condition of those flues.

Thank you for reading and we look forward to hearing from you!

Anything Chimney