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What counts as an after-hours chimney call
Some chimney problems can wait until morning. Others shouldn't. These are calls we take around the clock, Sunday through Friday:
- Smoke pouring into the room instead of going up the flue
- An animal trapped in the chimney or flue
- A blockage, such as a nest, debris or fallen liner tile, discovered when you light a fire
- Storm damage: a cap blown off, loose bricks, or a tree limb striking the chimney
- Water coming in around the chimney during heavy rain
- A gas fireplace that won't light or keeps shutting off
If you're not sure whether it's urgent, call and describe what you're seeing. Sometimes the honest answer is that the fireplace should stay unused until a daytime visit, and that's what you'll hear.
What happens during the visit
A damaged liner or firebox lets heat reach parts of the house it shouldn't. Small repairs done early usually avoid a partial rebuild later.
Inspect
Masonry, crown, flashing, cap and the inside of the flue are checked.
Trace the cause
The repair targets what is actually failing, not just the symptom.
Agree the scope
Nothing starts until you've approved what will be done.
Fix and finish
The work is completed and the area left clean.
What the technician checks
- Cap, screen and chase cover
- Flue liner condition
- Firebox walls and floor
- Mortar joints and brick faces
- Crown cracks and pooling water
If smoke comes into the room
Stop adding fuel, open a window and don't relight the fire until the chimney has been checked. If the smoke is heavy, an alarm sounds or you suspect a chimney fire, get everyone outside and call 911.
How to prepare
- Keep pets in another room while the work area is open.
- Note the make and model of any insert, stove or gas unit if you have it.
- Move rugs, photos and anything fragile away from the work area.
- Write down what you've noticed and when it happens — smells, smoke, sounds or stains.
Signs to watch for
- A cracked or crumbling crown
- Pieces of flue tile in the firebox
- Crumbling or sandy mortar joints
- Rust on the damper or firebox
24 hour chimney help Sunday through Friday across Connecticut
Being available 24 hours, Sunday through Friday means calls are answered at any hour, Sunday through Friday and emergency calls are accepted. We won't promise an arrival time we can't keep, but we will tell you plainly what's possible.
On an urgent visit, the first goal is to make the chimney safe to leave alone. That can mean clearing a blockage, removing an animal or nest, or inspecting storm damage. Permanent work, such as brick chimney repair or broader chimney and fireplace repair work, is quoted separately and scheduled.
Problems an emergency can uncover
An emergency call often points to a deeper issue. Smoke backing up may come from a cracked or undersized flue liner, not just debris. Water inside may trace back to a failed crown or flashing. If the liner turns out to be the cause, this explainer on what a chimney liner does helps make sense of the options.
Free estimates on follow-up repairs
Once the immediate problem is under control, you'll get a clear explanation of any repairs needed and can decide on your own timeline.
