Chimney questions, answered honestly

Yes — each flue is effectively its own chimney and can fail independently. It is common in Short Hills to find one flue in a stack fully blocked by debris or a collapsed tile while the others draft fine. It is also common to find two appliances improperly sharing a flue, which is both a code issue and a genuine carbon monoxide risk. Our inspection covers each flue separately.

Yes, and it frequently does. Modern Portland-heavy mortar is harder than pre-war brick, so when the wall moves, the brick face spalls off instead of the mortar giving way. On older Short Hills and Millburn masonry we use a lime-based mix matched to the original, which is softer than the brick by design. It is more work and it is the only correct way to do it.

Yes. A Level 2 inspection with a written report and images is the standard for a property transfer, an appliance change or after a chimney fire. Buyers, sellers, attorneys and insurers all accept it, and we write it to be readable rather than cryptic.

Not if the job is done properly. Slate and tile need roof ladders and hooks and someone who knows where to put their weight. We plan roof access before the visit rather than improvising on the day, and we will say so upfront if a particular roof needs a specialist alongside us.

The inspection is annual regardless of use. Sweeping depends on how much you burn: a regularly used wood-burning fireplace typically needs an annual sweep, a rarely used one may not. On a large multi-flue stack, though, most of what we find each year is masonry and water related rather than creosote.

Yes — fully insured, with the certificate available before we come out. Our techs are CSIA-trained and work to NFPA 211.