Family Chimney Care, Rooted in Fillmore

Our Fillmore house is old. Is the original brick chimney still safe to use?

Often it is, but you cannot tell from the living room. Many older Fillmore and Santa Paula chimneys were built of unreinforced brick, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake shook the whole Santa Clara River Valley. We look at the crown, the mortar joints, the flue liner and the firebox, then tell you in plain words whether it is fine to light a fire, fine with a small repair, or not safe until it is fixed.

What is the difference between a Level 1 and a Level 2 inspection?

A Level 1 is a visual check of the parts you can reach: the firebox, the damper, the smoke chamber and what can be seen of the flue. It suits a chimney you use every winter with no changes. A Level 2 adds a camera run through the whole flue plus a look at the attic and roof around the chimney. NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 when a home is sold, after a chimney fire or earthquake, or when the fuel or appliance changes.

How often should we have the chimney swept?

It depends on how much you burn. A family in Ojai or up toward Bardsdale that burns oak most winter nights may need a sweep every year, sometimes more. A house that lights a fire a few times a season may go longer. After each sweep we show you what came out and tell you honestly when we think the next one should be.

We barely use the fireplace. Does it still need a look?

Yes, though maybe not a sweep. A fireplace that sits idle can collect bird nests, leaves and rust, and a crown can crack in the summer heat without anyone noticing. A short visit before the first cold week of the year confirms the flue is clear and the cap is still doing its job.

Why does our chimney leak only when it rains hard?

Usually it is the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, a cracked crown, or a missing cap. Heavy rain finds the weak spot that light rain does not. We trace the water back to where it gets in before we suggest a fix, so you are not paying for a new roof when the problem is a strip of metal.

Does wildfire season change what you check?

It does. The Thomas Fire started just north of Santa Paula in 2017 and burned through the hills toward Ojai and Ventura. Before fall winds we check that the spark arrestor screen is whole and the right size, that the crown has no open cracks, and that branches or brush are not sitting over the chimney top.

What will the report look like?

It is written for you, not for another contractor. It lists what we checked, includes photos of the flue, crown and firebox, and sorts anything we found into three groups: fine as is, keep an eye on it, and fix before using. If the chimney is in good shape, the report says that and stops.

Do you work on gas fireplaces and inserts too?

Yes. Gas units do not build creosote, but burners collect dust, pilot assemblies wear out, and the vent still needs to be clear. We clean and repair gas fireplaces, set up gas logs, and fit gas, wood and electric inserts in older masonry fireboxes, with the liner and venting each one needs.

Which towns do you come out to?

We start in Fillmore and work outward. Santa Paula, Moorpark and Simi Valley are the towns we drive to most, then Ojai and Ventura, then Camarillo, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and the northwest corner of Los Angeles. If you are between towns, call anyway and we will tell you if we can reach you.

How do we book a visit?

Call us between 7 AM and 7 PM any day of the week, or send the short form on this page. A person from the Baker family will ask what the fireplace is doing, suggest the right first visit, and set a time that suits your day.