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Black Goose

Black Goose

Chimney Sweep | Williamsburg, Yorktown, Newport News, & Hampton

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Chimney Relining

 

Do you have a fireplace in your home that you use, even infrequently? Does your furnace, boiler, or water heater use a chimney? Have you recently purchased a house and want to use your fireplace, but you aren’t sure if it is up to code? Are you curious about the anatomy of this important part of your home? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to know all about chimney liners! Chimney liners are a crucial part of your chimney system, and making sure yours is up to regulation is crucial for safety. Burning fuel with a damaged liner runs the risk of exposure to dangerous fumes or even house fires. Read on to understand how chimney liners work and how to ensure that they are in good shape to keep your home safe.

What Does a Chimney Liner Do?

A chimney liner, or a flue liner, is one of the most important parts of your chimney system. While the outside of your chimney is likely made from either brick and mortar or covered in siding, the inside of the chimney should be a smooth passage made of the right material to contain the smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide from the fires as they travel up your chimney. If you were to look down the top of your chimney, this may look like a smaller interior pipe made of metal or clay that sits inside of the outer structure.

The liner within the chimney creates a barrier and blocks the gases and heat from coming into direct contact with the brick itself. This double-walled system protects your home from chimney fires as these liners channel the heat and gases up to the chimney top and keep any combustible material around your chimney from catching fire. It is important for the smoke and heat to have a clear exit out and away from your home. According to the National Bureau of Standards, the material in the lining, insulation, and walls surrounding a chimney can ignite in under four hours if no proper chimney liner is present.

What Materials are Chimney Liners Made Of?

Chimney liners or flue liners can be made of different materials, but will all have some properties in common. They need to be able to contain the heat and gases that are released when fuel is burned, they need to be whole and undamaged to make sure that no smoke escapes before it reaches the top of the chimney, and they need to be resistant to any buildup of soot, moisture, or creosote, which are acidic and corrosive to masonry.

The main types of chimney liners are metal, clay tile, and cast-in-place liners. They all have different properties and advantages, and one may be a better solution for your chimney than another. Read on to learn more about each kind of liner and which may be best for your home!

Clay Tile Liners

Clay tile liners are what most people think of when they imagine the traditional chimney flue liner. Commonly made from Terra Cotta and mortared together in sections, these liners have traditionally been the most affordable and easy to install option. These tiles are made to withstand high heat and have been specially smoothed on the inside to make sure that there are no cracks or rough spots where soot can build up more rapidly than normal.

If properly installed, most homeowners can expect the life of the clay tile liners to last more than 50 years. However, regular cleanings and inspections are critical as these tiles and the mortar joints between them will deteriorate over time. If the mortar joints between your clay tiles become compromised, carbon monoxide can leak into the home. In the case of a wood-burning fireplace, flammable creosote can travel out of the open joints into areas where it cannot be removed.  It’s recommended to have your chimney inspected for any cracks, gaps, voids, or construction defects if you have clay tile liners. Any gaps in the chimney liner can result in the heat reaching combustible materials, which can cause a house fire.

Metal Chimney Liners

Metal liners, specifically stainless-steel liners, are recommended the most by installers and fire-protection experts. They recommend this type of liner because the liners typically come with a lifetime warranty and can handle the exhaust products from gas, pellet, and oil combustion as well as wood-burning. These look like a metal pipe, often corrugated and flexible, that is inserted down your chimney to provide a whole and unbroken passage for the fireplace or furnace to exhaust through. Stainless steel is the best material for a metal liner due to its durability and availability in flexible formats to navigate any chimney. Although the cost of this material plus the installation is expensive, it is an excellent investment and will need fewer repairs over the lifetime of the product.

Cast-In-Place Liners

A final option for chimney liners is called a “cast in place” liner. This is a process involving poured “cement” to create a new chimney liner, often with the help of a mold. This type of liner is strong enough to withstand all the harmful effects of any condensation, heat, or acids, and provide excellent insulating properties. However, the process to install this kind of liner is much more intensive and often an expensive venture, and we generally recommend a stainless steel liner for most households.

The Hazards of Having a Damaged Chimney Liner

Why is it so important to make sure that your flue liner is “the right stuff” and in good shape? Besides the risk of your house catching on fire, a damaged chimney liner can also impose serious health risks to you and your family. An undamaged flue liner prevents the escape of carbon monoxide, smoke, and other harmful gases into your home. If anyone in your household inhales these gases, it can lead to serious respiratory illnesses or death.

If the interior surface of your chimney liner is rough, cracked, or otherwise damaged, it provides surface area for soot and flammable creosote to build up and weak spots where moisture and acidic soot can exfiltrate and damage the masonry of your chimney. The soot and smoke given off by fires are acidic and will corrode brick, clay, and mortar over time, causing internal damage not visible from the outside of your home. These damaged spots are weak points that can progress into cracks, flaking tile or bricks, or even gaps in the liner that no longer prevent heat transfer from the flue into the flammable materials around your chimney.

The Importance of Professional Inspections

There are some obvious signs that your chimney has damage or needs repairs, such as condensation, visible cracks, or smoke streaks on the surrounding walls or ceilings. However, many types of damage, especially to the interior parts such as your chimney liner, will not be visible to the untrained eye and can cause significant damage before they become evident. At Black Goose Chimney we can provide three levels of inspection to ensure that even the smallest damage is caught before it becomes a bigger issue. You may not be able to see the deterioration as it begins, and if you don’t catch it early, you and your family may be exposed to harmful gases.

What Is Chimney Relining?

Chimney relining is when you install a specific type of material inside the chimney to ensure that your chimney continues to function correctly. The main reasons you will need to reline your chimney are if you have a damaged chimney liner or if you are installing a new fireplace, gas logs, or woodstove. The primary reason you would want to replace the liner after installing a new fireplace is that the new fireplace or heating stove may use a different fuel type or require a different vent size.

How Often Should You Reline Your Chimney?

Most stainless steel liners come with a manufacturer’s limited lifetime warranty.  Terra cotta flue tiles can last fifty to one hundred years with proper care and maintenance.  The National Fire Protection Association calls for having your chimney inspected once every year to ensure no cracks or other hidden damages.  This inspection is critical regardless of the amount of use.  It is similar to getting your car inspected once a year regardless of the mileage driven.  There are things that will deteriorate with time, especially at the top of the chimney.

Which Chimney Liner Is Right for Your Home?

The type of fireplace you have determines the type of liner that you should use for your chimney. The type of fuel that you burn is also a contributing factor. Other factors that determine the type of liner you need are:

  • Height of your chimney
  • The type of fuel being burned
  • The size of the fireplace
  • The material used to build your fireplace

You should reach out to a professional to come and inspect your chimney to determine the best type of liner for your chimney. Choosing the correct size chimney liner is essential to ensure that your fireplace runs as it should. If your liner is undersized or oversized, the chimney will not vent the gases and heat properly.

Hire a Chimney Liner Professional

Knowing which chimney liner is best for your home is critical to ensure that your fireplace runs at its operational best. Although you may notice that your chimney liner has damage, it is always best to contact a professional to come to inspect and repair your chimney liner. A professional can properly assess the chimney and minimize the risk of any serious damage or respiratory health problems that can harm you and your loved ones. If you are looking for more information on chimney liners and the process of relining your chimney, contact us now.

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Google Rating
4.2
Based on 54 reviews
Black Goose Chimney
Black Goose Chimney
4.2
Bill McCoy
If I could give negative stars I would! These guys jerked my 80 year old mother around during Christmas when it was freezing. Someone told Mom to call these guys because the furnace was venting into the basement. A dude looking like Bob Marley shows up and says he can't fix it or even look at it because we have slate roof and they need special equipment to get up there. Ok. I get it. When can you come back? Someone will call you. No. No one called me. I called the next week. By this time mom had to sleep downstairs in front of fireplace to stay warm. I called. Dude on phone said he didn't know anything about it but would get back to me day after New Years. He didn't. I called again on Wednesday. No one answered. I left a message. Nothing.
Dorethea Johnson
They attempted to charge me an absorbent amount for money a fireplace chain cover. They qouted a me the price for it. They didn't have it in stock. When It came in. They had changed the price by more than double.
Kyle Russell
I seen a employee hit another vehicle on 64 and keep driving. Wouldn't want that integrity working at my house.
William Chandler
Very professional and thorough.
Jory Morrison
Frances McCoy-Brown
From the person answering the phone and scheduling my appointment. To the two men who came out and did a chimney check were very courteous and professional. I was provided with information that would help me make an informed decision. There was no hard sell ! I would recommend them.
Yvonne Richardson
Had my chimney and firebox repaired. they did the work in very reasonable time and did a very good job. Were on time and were respectful, courteous and professional. Cleaned up nicely also. The lady in the office was very friendly and helpful.
Fran Spady
The gentlemen were professional and left my home clean. They were thorough in their inspection and answered our questions. They took pictures so we could see repairs. He wrote up more than one bid so we could take care of the necessities first. There was no hard sell or pushing to purchase.Thank you Black Goose. I have a new chimney sweep!
Bridget Sims
Brian Lucas
I paid them to perform a diagnostic on my gas logs that were not lighting. The Tech determined I have a faulty valve and told me the office would look up the part and send me a quote to replace it. That was nearly three months ago. I called the office twice during that time to remind them and got the run-around. Don’t waste your time on this company.
Amanda Wroten
Ken Nelson
Pauretta Banks
Love my fire place! They did a great job and made sure I was satisfied before they left.
Wayne Sears
Tom Jowers
High prices but as the old saying goes "you get what you pay for." In this case, quality service.
John Sims
This company helped fix our chimney after a very scary fire we had. Great quality work and very professional crew
Pamela Mason
Black Goose Chimney did a superb job for us. Their technician Joe is a pleasure to work with and is not only professional and polite, but does fantastic work! On time, great workmanship and a pleasure to work with - what more can you ask for. I would recommend BlacK Goose Chimney to anyone.
Deborah Hill
Michael Chase
What a great team. Highly professional, knowledgable and no nonsense tell it like it is workers. Sergey is a master brick layer and technician. I will not use anyone else when it comes to brick and chimney work.The owner, Jim and Kathy, front office, are absolutely great to work with. I highly reccommend this company.
William Marx
The terracota liner to the oil boiler had broken after 50 years. Jim came out and gave an estimate and managed to promptly get a crew here on a Saturday to replace it with a steel liner. The crew, Sergei and Michael, arrived on time and were quite polite, efficient and neat. The left the house in better shape than when they arrived. They took care that the 5 month old puppy was kept away from the repair materials. Michael went so far as to clear the entire roof of pine needles, not just the area he was working. Greatly appreciated. They truly went the extra mile!
Selina Tyler
James Simone
Wanted to charge a $99.00 service call for an estimate. Other companies came for free
Sean B
Don Lovis
They came out to do a dryer vent sweep. They quoted me 800.00 labor for 2 hours to fix one dryer pipe 10 ft long. Hired another company and charged 75.00. I will never use them again
Anthony Cronin
Very ProfessionalShared Concern To Apply Money To Return Maximum Value With Highest Quality!
Wayne Booth
Called today to schedule cleaning two chimneys. The price they quoted was more than double other places I called. And they were booked out three weeks. The company I scheduled with was six weeks out. It was worth the wait.
Peter Henrie
Very disappointed with my experience with this company. I called to get a quote for a gas stove installed. They sent their employee who charged me $100 to quote me, this wasn't told to me on the initial call, only at the end of the onsite visit to quote. I was told it would be removed from cost of the installation however they were unresponsive to calls and emails multiple times afterwards that I gave up moving forward with them. Would sadly not recommend.
billd354
Used this company about 6 or 7 years ago for a new crown and mortar joint work. Felt they did a good job. Tried to get them to do more work, however after sending me a confirmation phone call that they would be there, they cancelled at the last minute. They did call me and tell me that a person called in sick, so I asked if the next time I schedule that they guarantee no matter what, they meet their appointment obligations. The person would not and so other person called me back, who also would not. They obviously gave preferential treatment to some customers, because they didn't get cancelled. This person told me a different story, that the person was in a car accident the previous day. Then why didn't they call me first thing in the morning? This person also would not guarantee that they would definitely be there on the reschedule. If you live on the southside, you can expect to be the first to be cancelled. Which was it? Sick, car accident, or just didn't want to drive through the tunnel because both people I talked to wanted to give me to their competitors.
Chris Burrell
The guys that came to the house were great!! Highly recommend!!!
Nikki Edgerton
Tim Pratt
Jerry Fortner
Enjoying another early season fire watching football thanks to Blue Goose Chimney. Great system been years we have been able to enjoy our fireplace!Jerry FortnerPoquoson, VA
I C
Barry Hughes
Very frustrated in dealing with the office of this business. My chimney inspection was completed on the 18th of October and I called last week and then sent an email and kristin responded on the 11th of November and said she would have something by the 13th. It's now the 15th and nothing. Not right at all.if you can't
kathryn howard
I have used Black Goose for over 15 years. I needed serious work to our fireplace and chimney which they took care of and they have been out to inspect and or sweep every year since. They are always timely and fair. They only sweep about every other year so I'm not charged a sweep, it's based on how much we have used the fireplace. We have had no problems at all since the repair and I only have them to thank.
Rhonda Saunders
These guys are very professional and they know there stuff. Very honest and trustworthy
Wesley Stilson
Great service. Sergey and his helper showed up during the allotted time. They did a full inspection of my wood stove to ensure it was installed correctly to code. they did a full borescope inspection of the stove pipe and chimney pipe and found one sheet metal screw that was installed incorrectly. they fixed it and did a full sweep. They cleaned up their mess and provided me input on when to have them back for another sweep. Top notch service. They will not disappoint.
Eric Marsalis
Marilyn Keener
I highly recommend Black Goose Chimney. They arrived on time and did an excellent cleaning job. I found them to be very knowledgeable and professional. I would not hesitate to use them again.
Jeffrey Sheffield
Trustworthy, prompt, and professional. Couldn't ask for a better experience.
Adam Russell
Expert technicians, receptionists needs some work though. Completely satisfied all the same.
Ellen Charles
We had a knowledgeable chimney sweep come and inspect our fireplace and chimney. We knew that our fireplace had a bad back wall and knew there maybe some problems with the chimney. He explained what needed to be done and the cost. They had two very nice guys come and do the repairs. They worked well together and cleaned up afterwards. They showed my husband pictures of what they did to the chimney. From the time I called setup an appointment and the work being completed was about 8 days.
Jeff Prunier
The team at Black Goose Chimney took care of my fireplace and my wood stove with courtesy and professionalism! I highly recommend them. Not only did they put a new chimney cap on and replace the mortar, they answered all my questions and made sure I was confident in preparing a fire. Don't delay, call today!
Mike Levering (Throls)
I had an appointment window of 1:30 to 3:30. At 3:40 I called them asking for an ETA . The receptionist stated that a technician had installed the cap first thing in the morning. I explained to receptionist that was impossible since no one from Black Goose had been to my home. After some back and forth the receptionist stated she would have to see the pictures of the job and would get back to me the following day. I received a phone call the following day and was informed the chimney sweep installed the cap on the wrong house.This review would not have been necessary if Black Goose had been more proactive in addressing my concerns since there was still time in the day to put on the cap or at least offered to compensate me for my lost time. Perhaps they were just having a bad day and my experience with their service was just a fluke. Unfortunately their bad day cost me my afternoon. I strongly recommend you look elsewhere for your chimney needs.TL;DR: They put the cap on the wrong house.
Skyler Yugo
Nice crew, honest about condition of our chimney, quick work and reasonably priced.
Cody Stickle
Patty from Black Goose is the best!
Heather Westmoreland
The fellows at Black Goose are very friendly and professional. They give you their honest opinion even if means that they won't get any work from it. I've had them come out for two years in a row and I feel confident with their services.
Kim Enroughty
I know nothing about chimneys so I was reluctant to call someone for an inspection. I couldn't be more pleased with the service I received from Black Goose Chimney Sweep. John was very professional and answered all my questions. I feel confident that I will call them again for one of their many other services.
Christopher Costa
I have been organizing the annual dryer vent cleaning for my 13 unit Condo Association for the past 3 years! I have not been satisfied with the service from the past two companies so I contacted Black Goose Chimney. I am so happy that I did. The service was complete and professional in every way. Patty and Ike drove out to Virginia Beach to look at the job ahead of time. We split it into two days so that they would have enough time to service each unit properly. We chose a weekday and a Saturday. The crew who came on Tuesday were Ryan, Jesse and Sergey. They were very courteous and thorough. They recorded air flow readings before and after service and provided a receipt with all of the info. They cleaned each vent from inside and outside, protected floors and cleaned up after themselves. I'm not sure who the crew was on Saturday but I have not heard any complaints so I am confident that all went well!I will definately call Black Goose again next year!
John Pierce
Ryan M. and Jessie came out to inspect 9 fireplaces for a local Girl Scout camp. I asked a lot of questions and Ryan was more than willing to take his time and explain everything to me that I wanted to know. He is very knowledgeable, friendly and thorough. Thanks Black Goose!
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