Frequently Asked Questions

Although a flashlight might be one of the tools used by our chimney inspection technicians it is far from the only tool needed. Our Camera Inspections inspects the lining of your chimney to ensure there are no structural compromises which might go unnoticed by a flashlight inspection.

Chimney cleaning depends on a lot of contributing factors such as age of the chimney and home, use of the fireplace, date of last inspection findings and cleaning, type of combustible material used in the fireplace and weather or damage from the elements. Our recommendation is if you plan to use the chimney get it cleaned. A large amount of buildup can happen in just a few uses of a fireplace or a duration without use.

We often get asked this question and the answer is “It depends” When was the last time your chimney or fireplace was inspected? If you cannot answer the question than it is most likely time for an inspection and most likely a chimney cleaning. We recommend all new homeowners or an inspection when a new home is being purchased or has been purchased before attempting to create a fire. Our trained chimney technicians will review the functionality and findings of any inspected chimney with you before they leave. Never owned a fireplace? No worries many homes in Texas do not have fireplaces and therefore it is common for us to be asked how to use a fireplace. See our Fireplaces for Beginners Page where we cover the basics of fireplaces from maintenance to what types of wood to use along with many indicators that your chimney or fireplace might need a cleaning or inspection.

Aside from the obvious house full of smoke despite adjusting the dampers or flue when burning a fireplace smoke or emissions issue can be hard to detect. If your home smells of campfire after or during the burning of a fire and you are not using aromatic wood in your fireplace such as pinion, then you most likely have a problem with your chimney. If your carbon monoxide detector repeatedly alerts during or after the use of a fireplace then you most likely have an issue.

Once a chimney liner has failed there are multiple options to replace and repair the liner to ensure embers do not ignite soot build up within the air space or on the flue itself. It is imperative that the chimney be repaired as quickly as possible once a failure is detected if the fireplace is to be used. Failures do not always happen in older chimneys. Oftentimes shifting foundations improper installation or inadequate or cheap materials result in a fireplace failure. Inspections especially here in Texas are not even close to the requirements of northern states where fireplaces are heavily used. Leverage our trained chimney repair service to assist in the repair. Our competitive price strategy will not only ensure you have the best price, but the work was done correctly.

Your fireplace should be inspected every time you have a chimney inspected. Gas fireplace and gas lines should be inspected by a licensed plumber. If you smell gas in your fireplace immediately turn off the gas or the main gas line and call a professional plumber. Firebrick inspection and Gas inspection though is something our local chimney service can handle. We will inspect fire brick masonry clean outs for wear cracks airgaps and other damage. We will use cutting edge technology to detect gas leaks ensuring your fireplace is safe to use. We will inspect fireplace valves and demonstrate how to use them. Failure in the fireplace smoke chamber damper and firebox can be catastrophic to the functionality of the fireplace and chimney.

Improper installed chimney caps, foundational shifts, poor quality mason mortar, age (houses over 20 years old), weather constant freeze-thaw cycles, excessive heat, or high winds all contribute to chimney masonry problems.

Gas log sets also are dangerous if improperly installed within a gas fireplace. Build of soot, cracks in liners, damaged flues, and chimney smoke chambers can result not only in a house full of smoke but chimney fire. A fully functional chimney will direct chimney fireplace smoke up and away from home in a controlled way such that the family does not smell. How do I know if I have a fireplace venting problem? -- The chimney safety institute is a great resource.

Aside from the apparent house full of smoke when failing to adjust the dampers for the first time of the season, smoke and carbon monoxide issues can be hard to detect. If your home smells of a campfire after or during the burning of a wood burning fireplace and you experience smoke coming into the house from areas around your chimney fireplace, you most likely have a problem with your chimney liner. If your carbon monoxide detector repeatedly alerts during or after the use of a fireplace, then you most likely have an issue and should call now for an immediate professional chimney inspection by one of our local certified chimney sweeps.

What is the shiny metal around my chimney? This is known as flashing. It sits between the roofing shingles and protects the decking and corners of the chimney from water damage. Ever seen the metal or wonder what the large triangle of metal is behind the chimney. This is known as a rain diverter and diverts the water that flows down the roof from pooling behind the chimney. Another non-technical term for this is a cricket or chimney cricket. HBR Chimney repairs all flashing and chimney rain diverter or cricket issues. We can replace or reinstall damaged flashing and chimney crickets.

Chimney caps are often metal, masonry, or concrete decorative pieces that cover the top of a chimney. Chimney caps not only add style to a home but provide a critical function for fireplaces and chimneys. When properly installed, they will prolong the life of your chimney crown, masonry, flue, and best of all, keep animals out! Chimney caps shield mortar and internal components of your chimney and fireplace from the elements. Chimney caps allow for proper airflow when burning. A damaged chimney cap can fail to keep out obstructions caused by animals such as squirrels, birds/ birds? nests in chimneys, and bees. Yes, we have removed bees from chimneys! Our chimney cleaning technicians will inspect and safely remove any chimney cap if needed. We have many styles of chimney caps to choose from, too. We also provide custom chimney cap designs to ensure the chimney cap you choose is of the highest quality and installed correctly.

A fireplace hearth can be constructed from just about any material assuming it is not flammable. Materials commonly used for a fireplace hearth include tile, stone, brick, and concrete sheetrock board with a finish.

Depending on the project's size and material type, it can affect its cost. Also, removal of old materials needs to be considered as this can add a significant amount of time to the work.

Some fireplaces are direct vent and electric fireplaces can be installed relatively easily as they recirculate heat directly back to the room and do not need conventional ventilation.

We recommend heat resistant stones such as river stone, Austin stone façade and firebricks or bricks. Any stone with low moisture and a hardness of brick can be used that are not flammable.

Fireplace inserts vary in cost by make size and brand. Typically gas fireplaces are more expensive as well as designer inserts such as those created in France and Italy

Yes, this is a common practice when converting an older wood burning fireplace.

Yes, any improvements to your home can add value. Fireplaces are one of the most sought-after features in southern homes but rarely used.

A fireplace insert is a cost-effective way to add a fireplace to a room.

Fireplace hearth not only makes a visual statement to go with your fireplace and extenuate the mantle it serves as a safety area around the fireplace. 

A hearth should extend sixteen inches from the front of your fireplace and a minimum of 8 inches on either side. Though if your fireplace is larger, it could be 20 and 12 for wood burning fireplaces. For gas fireplaces and gas logs a hearth is not necessarily required depending on the overall design and size If your fireplace opening is less than 6 sq ft, your hearth should extend 16 inches in front of your fireplace and 8 inches to the sides. For fireplaces openings that are larger than 6 sq ft, your hearth needs to extend 20 inches to the front and 12 inches to the sides.

Yes, a hearth can be remodeled and augmented.

This is a tough question depending on what you want built. A fireplace can cost as little as 2000 and as much as multiple thousands to well over 10,000 depending on materials and size.

One of the joys of remodeling is to customize your fireplace.

Traditional masonry chimneys are extremely expensive to build under construction code and materials compared to an insert.

There are many good brands of fireplace inserts Heatilator, Majestic, Superior, Empire are some good brands but there are many out there. Most of the major brands produce a big box store version of lesser quality than their professional versions.

Yes, Yes Yes! From gas logs to burners Gas Fireplaces are the most customized of all fireplaces. Fire glass can be used to change the color and appearance of flames and gas logs can be changed to add an overall effect of appearance.

36”x 30” is standard with 60” being on the larger side and 24” on the lower. 

Often, we get the call to change the front of the fireplace from a traditional opening to a modern, rectangular fireplace.