According to the National Fire Protection Association, chimneys, fireplaces, and vents should be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs should be done if necessary. After a cord of wood has been burned, a chimney cleaning and inspection is recommended. Give us a call today if you're looking for a chimney company in Franklin, MA.

The best time to have your chimney cleaned is in the spring or early summer. Having your flues cleaned early in the year may also help reduce possible problems with fireplace odors when the hot, humid days of the year approach. Scheduling your cleaning in the springtime will also reduce the wait time for an appointment since the fall time is very busy for chimney sweeps. At the time of your scheduled chimney cleaning, we will be happy to schedule your next year's appointment for the following spring or early summer. This alleviates the hassle of trying to remember to call us for service the following year. Scheduling chimney cleanings is important. If left unchecked for a long period of time, you run the risk of a chimney fire. In fact, according to Bob Vila, chimney fires result in over $125 million of property damage every year in the United States. Get in touch with us today if you're in need of a chimney company in Franklin, MA and we'll be happy to schedule your next appointment. 

Unfortunately, the most overlooked flue in a home is the oil and gas heating appliance flue. This flue is the most important flue in your home. We recommend yearly inspection and cleaning of this flue to ensure soundness, freedom from deposits, and proper venting of harmful soot and carbon monoxide. A draft reading will be done following the inspection and cleaning of your furnace flue to make sure the appliance is drafting properly through the chimney system. A common misconception is that an oil or gas service company takes care of the furnace chimney. The reality is that the oil or gas service technician may shovel out the base of a brick chimney and brush out the connector pipes, but they will not clean the furnace chimney flue. Also, many service technicians may tell the homeowner that the venting system is okay without even inspecting the entire chimney. This includes inspecting and cleaning the interior of the furnace flue, as well as inspecting the exterior masonry, flashing, chimney cap, etc. If you're in need of a chimney company in Franklin, MA, give us a call today. 

As CSIA-certified chimney sweeps, we follow a six-step cleaning process in which we clean the entire system from the fireplace up. This includes the firebox, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, and flue. We then check the system for any visible problems. Sometimes we use our closed-circuit video inspection camera to evaluate the interior of the system. If you're in need of a chimney company in Franklin, MA, feel free to contact us today!

Horizon Chimney guarantees your home will stay mess-free. Prior to the start of any cleaning, we will lay down special drop clothes and have an industry-grade HEPA vacuum running while the cleaning process is performed. Nearly 99% of the time the flue is cleaned from the bottom, inside the house, allowing us to control the dust and debris that is falling down during the cleaning process. This method ensures that your house and belongings stay clean. Call our team today if you're looking for a professional chimney company in Franklin, MA.

On average, one flue typically takes 30-45 minutes to clean. This will also depend on the type of fuel, the type of appliance venting into the flue, and the last time it was cleaned. Get in touch with us today if you're looking for a chimney company in Franklin, MA.

No. Cleaning ash pits is considered the homeowner's maintenance. Call us today if you're in need of a chimney company in Franklin, MA.

All chimneys should have caps to prevent leaves, sticks, debris, animals, and most importantly, rain and snow from entering the chimney flue. A chimney without a cap is like having a hole in your roof. Moisture is the largest contributor to the breakdown of chimney interiors and flues. Also, a chimney cap will act as a spark arrestor for any errant sparks that may make their way up the flue. If you're looking for a chimney company in Franklin, MA, give us a call today! 

A chimney cap is designed to have proper screen clearance and screen area. In some cases, chimney caps actually help eliminate certain downdrafts and improve venting. Contact our team today if you're looking for a chimney company in Franklin, MA.

A damper that has come loose or off its frame can be reseated. However, if a damper has become brittle and parts have snapped off, it cannot be repaired. It must be replaced. A replacement damper is installed on top of the chimney flue and is connected by a cable to a bracket secured to the wall of the fireplace. This type of damper is airtight and helps cut down on heat and air conditioning loss when closed. It is recommended that a full-size stainless cap is installed over this type of damper to protect it from rain and snow. Contact us today if you're in need of a chimney company in Franklin, MA.

The white stains or powder-like material is often the result of water penetration of the chimney. During a rain, snow, or ice storm water is absorbed by the brick-and-mortar crown. When this occurs in the winter, freeze/thaw cycles can enlarge the cracks on the top of the chimney mortar crown allowing water to enter the structure this way. The chimney will soon saturate with water. As the chimney dries, lime and salts from brick and mortar are pushed out of the pores of the chimney.  This is a common problem that we can address. The easiest way to prevent such problems is by using a quality water repellent specially formulated for chimneys. Horizon Chimney Services can apply “Chimney Saver” water repellent to help protect and preserve your chimney structure. This product comes with a 10-year warranty.

Without a doubt! Although gas is generally a clean burning fuel, the chimney can become non-functional from bird nests or other debris blocking the flue. Modern furnaces can also cause many problems with the average flues intended to vent the older generation of furnaces.

The smell is due to creosote deposits in the chimney, a natural byproduct of wood burning. The odor is usually worse in the summer when the humidity is high and the air conditioner is turned on. A good cleaning will help but usually won’t solve the problem completely. There are commercial chimney deodorants that work pretty well, and many people have good results with baking soda or even kitty litter set in the fireplace. The real problem is the air being drawn down the chimney, a symptom of overall pressure problems in the house. Some make-up air should be introduced somewhere else in the house. A tight sealing, the top-mounted damper will also reduce this air flow coming down the chimney.

This has become quite a common problem in modern air-tight houses where weather-proofing has sealed up the usual air infiltration routes. The fireplace in use exhausts household air until a negative pressure situation exists. If the house is fairly tight, the simplest route for makeup air to enter the structure is often the unused fireplace chimney. As air is drawn down this unused flue, it picks up smoke that is exiting nearby from the fireplace in use and delivers the smoke to the living area. The best solution is to provide makeup air to the house so the negative pressure problem no longer exists, thus eliminating not only the smoke problem but also the potential for carbon monoxide to be drawn back down the furnace chimney. A secondary solution is to install a top mount damper on the fireplace that is used the least.