Fireplace and stove service in Pittsburgh
The chimney is only half the system. We service what sits at the bottom of it too: dampers, gas fireplaces and log sets, fireplace inserts, and wood and pellet stoves, so the whole thing lights, drafts and closes the way it should.
Four kinds of appliance, one visit
Every appliance has its own wear points. Here's what we look at for each, on top of the chimney or vent it connects to.
Dampers
The damper closes the flue when the fireplace isn't in use. A rusted, warped or stuck damper wastes heated air all winter, or won't open fully and lets smoke into the room.
- Throat damper cleaned, freed up and adjusted
- Handle, pivots and seal checked
- Top-sealing damper installed when the old one can't be saved
Gas fireplaces and gas logs
Gas fireplaces don't make creosote, but they still need yearly attention. Burners, pilot assemblies and vents collect dust, debris and the occasional nest.
- Burner, pilot and logs cleaned; logs placed per the manufacturer's diagram
- Glass cleaned and gasket checked on sealed units
- Vent or chimney checked for blockage, and the termination outside
- Damper clamp checked on vented log sets in a masonry fireplace
Fireplace inserts
An insert turns an open fireplace into an efficient heater. It also changes how the chimney works, so it needs a properly connected liner and regular cleaning.
- Insert, baffle and liner swept
- Liner connection and top plate checked
- Door gaskets, glass and surround inspected
Wood and pellet stoves
Stoves burn hotter and longer than open fireplaces, and wood stoves used for heat can build creosote quickly. Pellet stoves have a small, fan-driven exhaust path that clogs with fine ash.
- Stove pipe, flue and cap cleaned
- Baffles, door gaskets and glass checked
- Pellet stove exhaust path, vent pipe and ash areas cleaned
- Clearances to walls and floor checked
Throat damper or top-sealing damper?
Most older fireplaces have a throat damper. Over decades it rusts, warps or seizes, and even a working one rarely seals tightly.
If yours can be cleaned and adjusted, we'll do that. If it can't, a top-sealing damper is usually the better replacement, and a written price comes before any work.
| Throat damper | Top-sealing damper | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Just above the firebox | At the top of the chimney |
| What closes | A cast-iron plate, on a handle or lever | A gasketed lid, on a cable down to a handle in the firebox |
| Seal | Metal on metal, rarely tight | Gasket seal |
| Wears from | Heat, soot and water coming down the flue | Weather; gasket and cable checked each year |
| Bonus | No extra parts on the roof | Keeps cold or humid air out of the flue when you're not burning |
What to watch for
- The damper is stuck, won't close, or you feel a cold draft from the fireplace
- Gas fireplace pilot won't stay lit, or the flames look lazy, tall or yellow and sooty
- Black soot on gas logs, the glass or the surround
- Smoke spills into the room when you open the stove door to reload
- Stove glass blackens quickly, or the door gasket no longer seals
- Pellet stove smells of smoke, shows error codes or the fire is sluggish
- A new insert or stove was installed and the chimney was never checked
How an annual service works
Tell us the appliance
Make, model and fuel if you know them. A photo of the rating plate helps us come prepared.
Protect and shut down
Drop cloths down. Gas appliances are turned off at the valve and allowed to cool before we start.
Clean and inspect
Appliance, connector and chimney or vent, all the way to the cap or termination outside.
Test and report
We relight and check operation where it's safe to, then send your photo report and any written estimates.
The rest of the system
Chimney Sweeping
For wood fireplaces, inserts and stoves, the flue gets swept along with the appliance.
Chimney Liners
Inserts, stoves and new gas appliances usually need a properly sized stainless liner.
Chimney Inspections
Changing or adding an appliance calls for a Level 2 inspection under NFPA 211.
Fireplace and stove service across Greater Pittsburgh
See also: Gas fireplace maintenance guide
Fireplace and stove questions
Not sure what kind of fireplace you have? Call or text and describe it. We'll figure it out together.
(412) 555-0142Does a gas fireplace really need yearly service?
How much does fireplace or stove service cost?
Why is there soot on my gas logs or glass?
Can I burn wood in a fireplace that has gas logs?
Should I replace my old throat damper?
How often should a pellet stove be cleaned?
Pick a time. We'll handle the rest.
Send the form and we'll text you within one business hour to confirm your service, your price and a 2-hour arrival window.
- Price in writing first. Nothing starts until you've seen it and said yes.
- 2-hour arrival window, with an on-the-way text and your technician's name.
- No mess. Drop cloths, shoe covers and a HEPA vacuum.
- Photo report texted to you the same day.
- Licensed & insured. Saturday appointments available.
You're on the list
Thanks! We'll text you within one business hour to lock in your arrival window. Need us sooner? Call (412) 555-0142.