Problems We Fix

Smoke chamber problems we fix in Lake Mary

The tapered space above the damper

Above the throat and damper, the fireplace narrows from the width of its opening to the size of the flue. That tapered space is the smoke chamber, shaped roughly like a funnel turned upside down, and every bit of smoke and heat passes through it. Because it cannot be seen from the room, damage there tends to go unnoticed for years.

Our smoke chamber experts look at it with a strong light during a free inspection in Lake Mary and tell you what they find.

What the code asks of the chamber walls

The inside surface of a masonry smoke chamber must be parged smooth, the Florida Building Code states, using refractory mortar that meets ASTM C199. That coat seals the joints and gives the smoke a clean path to the flue. A chamber that was never parged, or whose parging has fallen away, is missing that layer.

During a free inspection, the surface is checked and you see where the parging is missing or failing. In Lake Mary, confirming the repair within 72 hours of that inspection takes 10% off.

Why rough walls disturb the draft

Smoke rising from the fire moves best along smooth, sloping walls. Exposed brick steps, open joints and rough mortar stir it into eddies, which slows its path into the flue and leaves more surface for soot to settle on. Smoothing the chamber does not change the size of the fireplace, it simply gives the smoke a cleaner route.

Our local smoke chamber pros explain how your chamber compares during a free inspection in Lake Mary, then quote the work in writing.

Sloped walls and factory-made linings

Not every chamber is corbeled. Some have rolled or sloped walls, and some are fitted with a prefabricated chamber lining. For those, the Florida Building Code keeps the inside surface within 45 degrees of vertical. We check the slope, the joints and the condition of any prefabricated lining before choosing how to repair it.

Whatever kind of chamber you have, our smoke chamber experts explain the fix plainly. A free look in Lake Mary is one call away at (645) 465-4122.

Chamber work, recorded in writing

Once the work is done, you receive a written record showing which areas were rebuilt, which surfaces were parged, the product used and its drying steps. Keep it with your house papers, since the chamber cannot be seen from the room and the record is the easiest way to show what was done.

Smoke chamber jobs by our family-owned team in Lake Mary close out with that record. Schedule the chamber work inside 72 hours of the inspection and save 10%.