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Chimneys
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Some common problems with your Short Hills, NJ chimney can include:
Regular chimney inspections and maintenance, as well as chimney repair or replacement for your Short Hills, NJ 07078 home or business, are important solutions for addressing these issues.
One way to help protect your chimney is by maintaining it. A chimney doesn't last forever, and from time to time may need services such as a new chimney cap, repair of the chase top, repointing or tuckpointing, flashing repair or replacement, and chimney cleaning. Don't wait until your Short Hills chimney fails completely, or starts leaking and causing expensive damage, or becomes a hazard to use.
At American Sons Professionals, we have been providing chimney maintenance for over 20 years. Our Short Hills NJ Chimney Maintenance experts are skilled, experienced, and fully trained on the latest chimney maintenance techniques and products. We only use the highest quality products and the most effective and efficient techniques for your chimney maintenance.
At American Sons Professionals, we have over two decades of experience in Short Hills chimney repair, replacement and maintenance. Our highly skilled employees are trained and well-versed in all types of chimney issues, and we will know the proper course of action to take for your particular chimney. We will arrive at your home on time and will perform our Short Hills NJ chimney work with as little interruption to your home and family as possible. We'll complete your job quickly and efficiently, while ensuring that the job is done right the first time. And we will leave your home and property as clean as it was when we arrived. Expect the best customer service from American Sons Professionals when we handle your Short Hills NJ chimney repair, replacement or maintenance.
Cracks in your Short Hills chimney can occur over time due to settling of the home, intense weather, and just normal wear and tear of the aging process. These issues can also compromise protective areas of your chimney such as the flashing (the metal installed to seal off the gap where the chimney meets the roof) and chimney crown (the protective layer of cement at the top of the chimney), allowing water to leak inside your chimney. Loose, torn or cracked chimney flashing can allow water to run down into the chimney, causing wood rot, mold, and drywall damage. If your chimney liner is intact, this water may run into your firebox and fireplace area, but if your chimney liner is damaged, it leaves the bricks open to water that may be leaking in, and that water can travel to other areas of the home, causing expensive damage to your Short Hills NJ home or business.
At American Sons Professionals the goal of our chimney maintenance in Short Hills NJ 07078 is to prevent damage and leaks before they even begin, so you can avoid costly or dangerous chimney related damage in the future. And with our Short Hills chimney repair or replacement service, we will make sure that your chimney will be up and running again in no time, and will last for many years to come!
A chimney cap is a metal cap (usually made of copper or stainless steel) that covers the opening of your chimney to protect your chimney from rain and snow, leaves and twigs and other debris, and even animals and birds that want to call your chimney "home". Debris that falls into the chimney can cause water leaks as well as dangerous air flow problems that can start a chimney fire and cause smoke and soot to back up into your home. In addition, a chimney cap can protect your roof and even trees near your roof from burning particles that make their way up and out of your chimney. If your chimney does not have a chimney cap, or the chimney cap is damaged, call American Sons Professionals to replace the cap, and do any necessary Short Hills chimney maintenance or repairs while we're at it!
A chimney chase is a wood framed structure that contains the double walled chimney pipe used with manufactured fireplaces, and the chimney chase top is the metal covering that goes on top. A chimney chase can be covered with siding, stone or brick facing to match your Short Hills NJ home. Chimney chase tops should be made with copper or stainless steel, but are often built with aluminum or cheap galvanized steel metal, both of which are prone to damage or rust and should be replaced every 7 to 10 years. A damaged or deteriorated chimney chase top can lead to expensive water damage. If the cover begins to corrode or crack, water and debris can enter your Short Hills NJ chimney, leaving it vulnerable to dangerous blockages, chimney fires, or a backup of carbon monoxide. Call American Sons Professionals to install or replace your Short Hills chimney chase top.
The chimney crown is an important part of your Short Hills NJ chimney. It is the area around the top of the chimney that acts as an umbrella for the entire chimney structure. This is different from the chimney cap, which is added to the top of the flue pipe to keep debris out of the chimney flue. The chimney crown tops off the masonry walls of your Short Hills NJ chimney with a small concrete roof that prevents water from seeping into the bricks and mortar that make up your chimney. This simple structure can save Short Hills NJ homeowners thousands of dollars in costly water damage repairs. But if your chimney crown develops cracks... you guessed it: water can leak into your chimney. Water inside cracked mortar joints will freeze and expand in cold weather, causing more cracks and damage. If the damage is caught early, we can seal the chimney crown with a waterproof chimney crown sealant. But if the damage is more extensive, a partial or complete Short Hills NJ chimney replacement may be necessary. Call American Sons Professionals to repair or replace your chimney crown.
When the mortar on your Short Hills NJ chimney begins to crack or decay, repointing (scraping out the old mortar and refilling with a special new mortar material) or tuckpointing (repointing using two mortar colors to improve the visual aesthetics of the chimney) can bring the chimney back into working order and add years of life to your chimney by preventing water from entering the chimney through damaged masonry. If the brick or masonry damage is extensive, however, your chimney may need to be replaced. Call American Sons Professionals to repair your Short Hills chimney's masonry work, including repointing and tuckpointing.
Flashing is a sheet of metal that wraps around your Short Hills chimney to create a weatherproof seal that protects your chimney and roof from water damage and penetration. Flashing that's loose, missing, or improperly installed can allow water to leak into your roof, chimney or attic, causing extensive damage, wood rot, and mold. If your chimney's flashing is damaged, it will need to be resealed or replaced. When we replace the flashing around your Short Hills NJ chimney, we construct custom fabricated metal that wraps around the chimney and is sealed so that no gaps exist. At American Sons Professionals we have many years of experience in repairing and installing chimney flashing, and correct installation is imperative to ensure that your chimney won't leak. We can repair or install your chimney's flashing as part of your chimney maintenance or Short Hills NJ roof repair or roof replacement. Call American Sons Professionals to repair or replace your Short Hills NJ chimney flashing.
The chimney liner is one of the most important components of your entire Short Hills NJ chimney system. A chimney liner is a barrier made of metal or ceramic that goes inside your chimney to protect and insulate it. A chimney liner prevents harmful gases like carbon monoxide from backing up into your Short Hills NJ home, saves energy due to enhanced air flow and better heat retention, prevents damage to your chimney's masonry, and limits heat transfer which reduces the risk of adjacent parts of your home from catching fire. Chimney liners, however, can sometimes crack, deteriorate, or get blocked. At American Sons Professionals, we provide Short Hills NJ chimney relining services using sturdy, high quality stainless steel chimney liners.
The area where you burn wood in your fireplace is called the firebox. It is constructed with refractory mortar and firebricks that are able to withstand extreme temperatures. But as with the other components of your Short Hills NJ chimney, the firebox can deteriorate over time and develop cracks, crumbling mortar, and split bricks. If your chimney has a leak, water and moisture can erode parts of the firebox and cause other damage. Damage to the firebox can allow dangerous gases and even hot embers to escape out of the firebox, causing a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Firebox damage can be repaired with tuckpointing, or new bricks and mortar, but if the damage is extensive then the firebox may need to be rebuilt. If your Short Hills NJ firebox has a pre-fabricated metal fireplace insert installed, the panels of the firebox may need to be replaced eventually. Modern fireplace inserts are very efficient, come in gas, wood-burning, electric, and pellet options, and offer a fresh new look to an old, worn-down hearth area. Call American Sons Professionals to repair or rebuild your Short Hills chimney's firebox or install a fireplace insert.
Neglected and unsafe chimneys account for a significant number of injuries and deaths in Short Hills NJ (and in the entire country) each year. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommend that, "Fireplaces should be swept at 1/8" of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. This is considered to be enough fuel buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home... The deposit is quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace."
Our fully trained and highly experienced Short Hills NJ chimney sweep technicians provide a thorough chimney cleaning which includes the removal of any deposits that have formed on the flue, as well as creosote, soot, and other blockages in your chimney. We also clean out your firebox, damper and smoke chamber, leaving behind a clean and efficient chimney system. And although chimney cleaning is a dirty job, we will never leave a mess behind in your Short Hills NJ home.
Contact the Short Hills NJ Chimney Repair and Cleaning Company at American Sons Professionals for all your Chimney Repair, Replacement and Maintenance, Sweeping and Cleaning needs in Short Hills NJ 07078. Call us at 201-396-5509, 973-330-1958, or 908-463-4204.
