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Chimney Care Blog
Straight answers to the questions Seattle-area homeowners ask us, organized by topic. Each guide links to the service that solves the problem.
Chimney Animals & Blockages
Fireplace RefacingRefacing gives a dated fireplace a fresh look without rebuilding the whole thing, updating the surround with new tile, s…Chimney Cricket InstallationA cricket, sometimes called a saddle, is a small peaked structure behind your chimney that diverts water and debris arou…Chimney Damage Insurance Claims in Seattle (2026)When a windstorm, falling limb, or earthquake damages your chimney, an insurance claim may help cover repairs, but cover…WA Chimney Code ComplianceBringing a chimney up to Washington code often comes up when you are selling a home, adding a wood or gas appliance, or …What Chimney Repair Costs in Seattle (2026)"Chimney repair" covers everything from a quick cap swap to a full rebuild, so the price range is wide. If you are a hom…Chimney Repair vs ReplacementWhen a chimney shows real damage, the big question is whether to repair it or rebuild it. Around Seattle and Tacoma, yea…Chimney RemovalSometimes an old chimney is more trouble than it is worth, especially a cracked, leaning, or unused stack on an older Se…New Chimney ConstructionBuilding a new chimney is a major project, and in the Puget Sound the wet climate makes doing it right the first time es…Chase Cover RepairA chase cover is the metal top that seals a factory-built or framed chimney chase, keeping rain out of the structure bel…Fireplace InstallationInstalling a fireplace, whether a high-efficiency insert or a brand-new unit, transforms comfort and warmth through the …Gas Log InstallationGas logs turn a wood-burning fireplace into a clean, instant-flame heat source with no hauling wood or sweeping ash, a r…Dryer Vent CleaningA clogged dryer vent is a leading cause of home fires and a hidden drain on your energy bill. In the damp Puget Sound cl…Chimney Animal RemovalBirds, squirrels, and raccoons love an uncapped chimney, and in the Puget Sound region they nest in them year-round. A c…Chimney Deep CleaningA chimney deep cleaning goes further than a routine sweep, scrubbing away layered buildup from the full flue, smoke cham…Creosote RemovalCreosote is the flammable, tar-like residue that coats a chimney flue as wood smoke cools. In Seattle's long, damp burn …Fireplace CleaningFireplace cleaning keeps your firebox, damper, and hearth safe, efficient, and free of the soot that builds up over a lo…Chimney SweepA chimney sweep clears soot, creosote, and debris so your fireplace drafts safely through the wet Puget Sound winter. In…Gas Fireplace CleaningGas fireplaces are low-maintenance, not no-maintenance. Dust, spider webs, and soot build up on burners, logs, and glass…Wood-to-Gas Fireplace ConversionPlenty of Puget Sound homeowners are tired of hauling wood, cleaning ash, and babysitting a smoky fire that barely warms…Gas Fireplace InstallationA gas fireplace is one of the most practical upgrades for a Puget Sound home: instant heat on a wet, gray day with no wo…Gas Fireplace RepairGas fireplaces are popular across the Puget Sound because they're clean and easy, right up until one won't light. Most g…Chimney Damper RepairThe damper is the valve that opens to let smoke out when you burn and closes to keep warm air in when you don't. In Seat…Fireplace Crack RepairA crack in the firebox can be nothing or it can be serious, and the two look similar to an untrained eye. Hairline crack…Fireplace Repair"Fireplace repair" covers a lot, from repointing loose firebox mortar to fixing a broken damper, patching cracks, or reb…Refractory Panel ReplacementRefractory panels are the molded, heat-resistant liners that make up the back and sides of a prefab firebox. They shield…Firebox RepairThe firebox is the inner chamber that holds your fire, and it takes direct heat every burn. In Seattle's damp climate, m…Chimney Liner ReplacementWhen a clay-tile liner is cracked its full length or a chimney was never properly lined, replacing the liner is the fix …Chimney Flue RepairThe flue is the vertical channel that carries smoke and gases up and out, and in most older Seattle chimneys it's lined …Smoke Chamber RepairThe smoke chamber is the funnel-shaped space just above the firebox that guides smoke up into the flue. On many older Se…Chimney Liner RepairThe liner is the inner channel that carries smoke and combustion gases safely up and out of your chimney. When it cracks…Chimney Flashing ReplacementFlashing is the metal that seals the joint where your chimney meets the roof, and it's one of the most common leak point…Chimney WaterproofingBrick and mortar are porous, and in a climate as wet as Seattle's that means your chimney is drinking rain all winter. W…Chimney Leak RepairA leaking chimney is the single most common call we get in Seattle, and no wonder — with the rain this region gets, any …Custom Chimney CapWhen an off-the-shelf cap won't fit your flue or you want something built to last, a custom cap is the answer. In the Pu…Chimney Cap RepairThe cap is the metal hood at the top of your flue, and it keeps rain, birds, and debris out of the chimney. In Seattle's…Chimney Cap ReplacementChimney caps don't last forever, and in the Puget Sound they age fast — a cap that's rusted through, blown loose, or cru…Chimney Cap InstallationA chimney cap is the metal cover with mesh sides that sits over your flue — and in the Puget Sound it earns its keep eve…Chimney Crown RebuildThe crown is the concrete slab that caps a masonry chimney and sheds rain away from the brick and flue. When it's cracke…Chimney Chase RebuildWhen a chase leak goes unnoticed long enough, the wood framing rots and repair is no longer enough — the structure has t…Chimney Chase RepairA chase is the wood-framed, sided box that encloses a factory-built metal fireplace — common on Seattle and Tacoma homes…Chimney Stack RebuildWhen the masonry above your roofline is too far gone to repoint or patch, the fix is a stack rebuild — taking the chimne…Chimney RestorationRestoration is what an aging chimney needs when it's past a single repair but not a candidate for demolition — cleaning,…Chimney Brick ReplacementWhen brick faces flake, crack, or crumble off your chimney, that's spalling — and in the Puget Sound it's usually water …Chimney TuckpointingTuckpointing means grinding out the old, crumbling mortar between your chimney bricks and packing in fresh mortar. On Pu…Chimney Masonry RepairMasonry repair covers everything between a couple of soft mortar joints and a full rebuild: repointing, brick replacemen…Chimney ReliningThe liner is the passage inside your chimney that carries smoke and gases safely out. When flue tiles crack or an old li…Chimney Flashing RepairFlashing is the metal that seals the joint where your chimney meets the roof, and it's the number-one reason chimneys le…Chase Cover ReplacementIf you have a factory-built (prefab) chimney, the top isn't a concrete crown — it's a metal chase cover, and it's usuall…Chimney Crown RepairThe crown is the concrete slab at the very top of a masonry chimney, and it's the part that takes the most weather and g…Chimney Rebuild Cost in SeattleA chimney rebuild is the biggest fix a masonry chimney ever needs, and it is also the one Seattle homeowners put off the…There's an Animal in My Chimney — What Do I Do?Hear scratching or chirping in your chimney? What to do right now, what never to do, and how we remove animals…Birds Nesting in Your Chimney in Seattle: Swifts, Starlings and the LawChirping in your Seattle chimney? How to tell swifts from starlings, why swifts are federally protected, what …5 Signs Your Chimney Is BlockedSmoke in the room, a bad smell, debris in the firebox, a lazy fire, or noises in the flue: the five signs of a…
Seattle Homeowner Chimney Questions
Puget Sound Burn Bans: What They Mean for Your FireplaceWhat a Puget Sound burn ban usually means for wood fireplaces and stoves in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counti…Moss on Your Chimney: Harmless or a Problem?Moss on a Seattle chimney is a warning sign, not just cosmetic. What it means for brick and mortar, when to wo…Seattle Rain and Your Chimney: A Year-Round Maintenance CalendarSeattle gets about 40 inches of rain a year, most of it October through March. Here is a month-by-month chimne…
Chimney Masonry & Structural Repair
Signs Your Chimney Chase Is Rotting (and What a Rebuild Involves)Rust streaks, soft siding, and a sagging cover are signs a chimney chase is rotting. See why Seattle's wet cli…What Does Chimney Repair Cost in Seattle?How much does chimney repair cost in Seattle? See what drives the price, our starting-at specials, and how a f…Spalling Brick on Your Chimney: Why Seattle Weather Does ThisWhat is spalling brick, and why do Seattle chimneys get it? How wet winters and freeze-thaw cycles flake brick…
Chimney Crowns, Caps & Chase Covers
Chimney Crown Repair vs. Rebuild: How to DecideCracked chimney crown in Seattle? When crown sealing is enough and when a rebuild is the right call. Free quot…Do I Need a Chimney Cap? (Yes — Here's Why in Seattle)Do you need a chimney cap? In Seattle, yes. A cap keeps 40 inches of yearly rain, animals and embers out of th…Rust Stains Running Down Your Chimney? It's Probably the Chase CoverOrange rust streaks down a sided chimney usually mean a rusted galvanized chase cover. Why it fails in Seattle…
Chimney Liners, Flues & Smoke Chambers
Smoke Coming Into the House? Chimney Draft Problems ExplainedWhy is my fireplace smoking into the house? The common chimney draft problems in Seattle homes, from blocked f…Cracked Flue Tiles: What They Mean and What to DoCracked flue tiles in a Seattle chimney let heat and gases reach the framing. What causes the cracks, how we f…Smoke Chamber Problems: The Part of the Chimney Nobody SeesThe smoke chamber sits between your firebox and flue, and fails quietly. What goes wrong, why it matters for s…
Chimney Leaks & Water Damage
Chimney Flashing: Repair or Replace?When should chimney flashing be replaced instead of repaired? How to tell if flashing is leaking, what each fi…Water Stains on the Ceiling Near Your Chimney: 6 CausesA water stain on the ceiling beside your chimney has six likely causes, from failed flashing to a rusted chase…Why Is My Chimney Leaking When It Rains?Why is my chimney leaking when it rains? The 6 entry points we find on Seattle-area chimneys, how to narrow it…
Chimney Inspections & Camera Inspections
Chimney Inspection Levels 1, 2 and 3 ExplainedWhat is a Level 2 chimney inspection, and when do you need Level 1 or 3? Plain answers for Seattle homeowners,…Buying a Home in Seattle? Why a Level 2 Chimney Inspection Belongs on Your ListShould I get a chimney inspection before buying a house? In Seattle, yes: a Level 2 camera inspection finds fl…What a Chimney Camera Inspection Actually FindsA chimney camera inspection in Seattle finds cracked flue tiles, open joints, glazed creosote, liner gaps and …
Chimney Cleaning & Fire Safety
Chimney Sweep vs. Chimney Cleaning: What's the Difference?Chimney sweep vs. chimney cleaning: a sweep is routine creosote removal; cleaning handles blockages, debris, o…Creosote Stages 1, 2 and 3: What Each One Means for Your FireplaceWhat is creosote, and what do stages 1, 2 and 3 mean? How each stage forms, why Seattle's damp winters speed i…How Often Should a Chimney Be Swept?How often should a chimney be swept in Seattle? Once a year at minimum, sooner if you burn often. The signs, N…
Gas Fireplace Services
Thinking About Converting a Wood Fireplace to Gas? What to Check FirstConverting a wood fireplace to gas in Seattle? Before a log set or insert goes in, the chimney needs a Level 2…Smell Gas Near Your Fireplace? Leave and Call Your Utility FirstSmell gas near your fireplace? Leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Then learn which…Gas Fireplaces Still Need Chimney Inspections — Here's WhyDoes a gas fireplace need a chimney sweep or inspection? Yes. Here is what fails on Seattle gas fireplace vent…
Fireplace & Firebox Repair
Cracks in the Fireplace Firebox: When It's Cosmetic and When It's NotCracks in your fireplace firebox? Learn which hairline cracks are cosmetic, which ones mean stop burning, and …Fireplace Damper Stuck or Broken? Causes and FixesFireplace damper stuck open, stuck shut or broken? The causes we see in Seattle homes (rust, creosote, warped …Prefab Fireplace Refractory Panels: Cracks, Replacement and SafetyCracked refractory panels in a prefab fireplace? When hairline cracks are fine, when panels must be replaced a…