The Chimney Experts INC Blog
Tips, advice, and insights for Pittsburgh homeowners
Latest from the Blog
Creosote
The Three Stages of Creosote, From Loose Soot to Glazed Tar
Creosote does not all look the same. It builds in three stages, from a loose soot that brushes right off to a hard glaze fused to the flue. What each stage looks like inside a Pittsburgh chimney, how I remove it, and when it turns dangerous.
Read More →Chimney Flashing
Chimney Flashing in Pittsburgh: Why It Leaks and the Fix
The seam where your chimney meets the roof is the most likely place on the whole house for water to get in. Here is how flashing fails, why a tar patch from a previous repair does not last, and what a proper reflash or cricket install actually looks like.
Read More →Home Buying
What a Chimney Inspection Costs When You're Buying a House
Your home inspection report has one vague line about the chimney: "recommend further evaluation." Here is what that line actually means, what a dedicated chimney inspection covers, what it costs, and why an older Pittsburgh house hides the expensive problems.
Read More →Chimney Caps
Why a Chimney Cap Matters on a Pittsburgh Chimney
The small piece of metal on top of your flue prevents four problems at once: rain and liner damage, animals and nesting, downdrafts, and sparks on the roof. Why an uncapped flue fails faster in Pittsburgh, how to spot a bad cap from the ground, and when to repair versus replace.
Read More →Chimney Liners
Switching From Oil to Gas Heat in Pittsburgh? Here's What Happens to Your Chimney
The furnace swap is the easy part. The chimney that vented your old oil furnace is the wrong size and material for gas, and an unlined flue lets acidic condensation chew up the masonry. What the conversion means for your chimney and the liner it needs.
Read More →Chimney Liners
The Orphaned Water Heater Problem: A CO Risk Pittsburgh Homeowners Often Miss
When a high-efficiency furnace stops sharing the chimney, the water heater gets left alone in an oversized flue it cannot vent properly. Why that is a carbon monoxide risk so many homeowners miss, and how a correctly sized liner fixes it.
Read More →Crown & Masonry
Chimney Crown Repair in Pittsburgh: Signs, Cost & Fixes
Water is the number one thing that destroys chimneys, and the crown is the first line of defense most homeowners have never heard of. What the crown does, how Pittsburgh's freeze-thaw cracks it, the repair-versus-rebuild call, and what it really costs.
Read More →Ready to Get Started?
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