Common Chimney Problems and How Chimney Clean Co. Fixes Them

Oct 30, 2025

CHIMNEY CAP

Common Chimney Problems and How Chimney Clean Co. Fixes Them? 

Your fireplace should bring warmth and comfort not safety hazards. However, common chimney problems like creosote buildup, cracks, or blockages can quickly turn dangerous if ignored.
 At Chimney Clean Co., we’ve helped hundreds of Bay Area homeowners fix these issues and restore safe, efficient fireplace systems.

Let’s explore the most common chimney problems we encounter and how our expert team resolves them.

1. Creosote Buildup

One of the most common chimney problems is creosote buildup. Sticky, flammable residue that forms when smoke cools inside your chimney. It can lead to chimney fires if not cleaned regularly.

Our Fix:
 We perform thorough chimney sweeps using professional brushes and vacuums to remove creosote safely and completely, reducing fire risks and improving ventilation.

2. Chimney Blockages and Obstructions

Leaves, debris, or even bird nests can block your chimney flue, pushing smoke back into your home. This not only affects air quality but also increases carbon monoxide risks.

Our Fix:
 We clear out obstructions using advanced tools and recommend installing a chimney cap to prevent future blockages.

3. Cracked or Damaged Chimney Liner

A damaged liner allows heat and toxic gases to escape into your home’s walls. One of the most overlooked common chimney problems.

Our Fix:
Our technicians inspect the chimney flue or liner and perform thorough cleaning. We repair missing mortar in flue-tile joints and address deterioration. If the flue is severely damaged, we can install a durable stainless steel liner that bypasses broken flue tiles or a damaged parged flue to restore safe operation.. 

4. Leaking Chimney

Water damage is another common issue in chimneys, often caused by cracked crowns, missing mortar, or faulty flashing. Moisture can leak into the structure of the home or chimney and lead to costly repairs.

Our Fix:
We apply waterproof coatings, repair damaged flashing, and reseal chimney crowns to stop leaks and protect against future damage.

5. Animal and Bird Nests

Animals and birds often build nests inside open chimneys, causing airflow blockages and unpleasant odors.

Our Fix:
 Our technicians remove nests safely and install durable chimney caps with spark arrestors to keep pests out permanently.

6. Smoke and Drafting Issues

If smoke enters your home instead of going up the chimney, it may be caused by a dirty chimney, negative air pressure or a design flaw.

Our Fix:
 We diagnose airflow issues and correct them through cleaning, damper adjustments, or flue resizing to ensure proper draft.

Why Choose Chimney Clean Co.?

✔️ Experienced professionals serving San Jose, San Mateo & Redwood City
 ✔️ Licensed, insured, and safety-certified experts
 ✔️ Transparent pricing and quick scheduling
 ✔️ Trusted by homeowners for over three decades

Fix Your Common Chimney Problems Today!

Don’t let common chimney problems compromise your home’s safety. Schedule an inspection and cleaning with Chimney Clean Co., your trusted Bay Area experts.

📞 Call us: 408-265-1010
 📧 Email: chimneycleanco@gmail.com
 🌐 Book Online: www.chimneycleanco.com

Keep your home safe, warm, and ready for the season — with Chimney Clean Co. by your side!

We clean your chimney before it becomes a danger to your home

Call Now!

Smoking back

There are many fireplaces that seem to smoke back into the house no matter what is done. In our experience, the most common cause is that the fireplace simply needs to be cleaned. This is especially likely if the fireplace has gotten worse over time, that is, the smoking back is worse now than it used to be.

Several other possible causes of smoking back are problems with the damper, chimney cap, grate, firewood, or structural problems with the chimney itself. At Chimney Clean Company, we do a full inspection with every cleaning, or we can also do just the inspection if the chimney doesn’t need to be cleaned. This inspection is designed to reveal any causes of smoking back.

Broken chimneys

In the Bay Area, many chimneys were broken in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Usually, these chimneys are broken at or near the roof line, although sometimes they can be broken further down, even at the ground level.

We are fully licensed masonry contractors. We rebuild broken chimneys. If they are broken at the roof line, this usually entails taking the chimney part of the way down brick by brick, installing steel reinforcing bars, getting an inspection from a city inspector, then rebuilding the chimney back up around the steel rebar.

Missing mortar or damaged bricks

Over time, many chimneys develop places that are missing mortar between bricks, or damaged bricks, either inside the firebox or on the outside of the chimney. These areas can usually be repaired, either by replacing the missing mortar or replacing the bricks themselves. Items such as these can be dangerous because they can allow flames, sparks or hot gases to enter the structure of the house.

Water entry

Sometimes the metal that seals the chimney at the roof, called “flashing”, will come loose or develop leaks. In this case, water sometimes comes into the ceiling of the room and causes water spots and stains on the sheet rock. This flashing should be repaired before the water causes more damage.