Why Won't My Gas Fireplace Turn On or Light?
Gas fireplace won't light? Check the gas valve, pilot, batteries and safety cutoff first. Learn the safe homeowner steps and when to call a licensed gas tech.
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Miles Chimney Sweep
Chimney Care & Home Safety
Straight answers from working chimney professionals, created to help you protect your home and know when to call an expert.
The Miles Chimney Sweep Blog
Latest Chimney Articles
Helpful information without the guesswork, sweeping, fireplace safety, inspections, creosote, leaks, caps, crowns and masonry repairs.
Why Is My Chimney Leaning, and Is It Dangerous?
A leaning chimney usually means a failing footing, water-damaged mortar, or shifting soil. Learn the causes, the real danger, and when to call a pro.
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What Is Tuckpointing, and Does My Chimney Need It?
Tuckpointing grinds out failed mortar and repacks matched mortar between your chimney bricks. Learn the warning signs, and how it differs from repointing and re
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How Do I Get Birds Out of My Chimney?
A lone bird can often fly out on its own, but nesting chimney swifts are federally protected and must stay. Here's how to tell the difference and what to do nex
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How Much Does Chimney Repair Cost?
Chimney repair cost depends heavily on which part fails. See typical ranges for caps, crowns, tuckpointing, liners and fireboxes, plus what drives the price.
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Do I Really Need a Chimney Cap?
Do you really need a chimney cap? For most homes, yes. See what a cap keeps out, what a missing one costs you, and whether it is legally required in your area.
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Are Cracks in My Firebox Dangerous?
Fine hairline firebox cracks are common, but deep or wide cracks can let heat reach your home's framing. Learn which cracks are dangerous and when to stop use.
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Do I Need a Chimney Repair or a Full Rebuild?
Most chimneys are repairable, not rebuilt. Learn the factors that push a masonry chimney toward a partial or full rebuild, and why an on-site inspection decides
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Can a Chimney Liner Be Repaired, or Does It Need Replacing?
Some chimney liners can be repaired; cracked, deteriorated, or wrong-sized ones need relining. Learn how clay, stainless, and cast-in-place liners differ and wh
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Does My Chimney Crown Need Repair or Replacement?
Hairline cracks in a chimney crown often need only a sealant coat, while spalling or structural cracks call for a rebuild. Here is how to tell them apart.
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What Is the Difference Between a Chimney Cap and a Chase Cover?
A chimney cap covers the flue opening; a chase cover is the full metal lid over a prefab chimney. Learn which one you have and why a rusted chase cover leaks.
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What Should I Do If an Animal Is Stuck in My Chimney?
Hearing scratching in your chimney? Learn the safe steps to take, why you should never light a fire, and when a bird may be federally protected.
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Why Does My Chimney Leak When It Rains?
A chimney that leaks in the rain usually points to the cap, crown, flashing, porous brick, or condensation. Learn how to tell them apart and what to do next.
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Why Are the Bricks on My Chimney Crumbling or Flaking?
Crumbling or flaking chimney brick is usually spalling from trapped water and freeze-thaw. Learn the causes, warning signs, and repairs for chimneys in wet climates
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What Causes White Stains on Chimney Bricks?
White stains on chimney bricks are usually efflorescence: mineral salts left as absorbed water evaporates. Here is what it signals and what to do about it.
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Should a Roofer or Chimney Company Repair a Chimney Leak?
Roofer or chimney company for a chimney leak? Both own different parts. Learn who fixes flashing, crown, cap and masonry, and who diagnoses where water enters.
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How Much Does Chimney Leak Repair Cost?
Chimney leak repair costs vary widely by the source of the leak. See what drives the price, from a simple cap to a crown rebuild, and how to plan realistically.
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Does Chimney Waterproofing Really Work?
Yes, breathable masonry water repellents reduce how much water your brick chimney absorbs, but they cannot fix a bad cap, crown, or flashing. Here is the differ
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How Can I Tell Whether a Chimney Leak Comes From the Cap, Crown or Flashing?
Cap, crown, and flashing leaks each leave a different clue. Learn the homeowner-observable tells and why the exact source is confirmed on site.
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Can a Leaking Chimney Damage My Ceiling, Attic or Walls?
Yes, a chimney leak can rot attic framing and stain ceilings long before the fireplace shows anything. Learn the warning signs and why acting early saves thousa
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Why Is Smoke Coming Back Into My House From the Fireplace?
Smoke drifting into your your area living room? Learn the real causes, the warning signs that need a pro, and safe steps to fix a smoky fireplace.
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Why Is My Fireplace Glass Turning Black?
Fireplace glass turning black? Learn why gas and wood fireplaces soot up the glass, what it signals about your burn, and when to call a pro in your local area.
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Why Is My Fire Difficult to Start or Keep Burning?
A fire that won't start or stay lit usually points to wet wood, a cold flue, a closed damper, or weak draft. Here's how to fix it and when it signals a problem.
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Why Does My Fireplace Smell Even When It Is Not Being Used?
A cold fireplace that still smells usually means creosote plus moisture, and air being pulled down the flue. Here is what causes it and how to fix it for good.
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Why Does My Fireplace Smell Worse During Warm or Humid Weather?
Warm, humid weather reactivates creosote odor and summer AC pulls flue air indoors. Here's why your fireplace smells worse in your area's damp season and how to f
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What Is Creosote, and Why Is It Dangerous?
Creosote is condensed wood-smoke residue that lines your flue and can ignite. Learn the three degrees, why it builds up, and how to keep it in check.
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What Causes a Chimney Downdraft?
A chimney downdraft is a battle of air pressure. Learn how the stack effect, tight homes, exhaust fans, cold flues, wind, and chimney height reverse your draft.
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How Can I Tell Which Type of Creosote Is Inside My Chimney?
Creosote comes in three stages: flaky soot, crunchy tar, and glazed shine. Learn what each looks like near your damper and why full assessment needs an inspecti
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What Type of Firewood Produces the Least Creosote?
Dense, seasoned hardwoods burn hottest and produce the least creosote, but dryness matters more than species. See what to burn and what to avoid.
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Can Glazed Creosote Be Removed From a Chimney?
Glazed (stage-3) creosote won't come off with a standard brush. Learn what actually removes it, why a sweep can't promise results sight unseen, and next steps.
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When Do I Need a Chimney Camera Inspection?
A chimney camera inspection sees the inside of your flue - the part no one can check from the fireplace or roof. Here is exactly when you need one, and why.
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What Should I Do After a Chimney Fire?
Had a chimney fire? Don't light another fire until a camera (Level 2) inspection checks the flue. What to do now, warning signs, and how repairs work.
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What Does a Chimney Inspector Look For?
A chimney inspector checks the crown, cap, flashing, flue liner, creosote depth, damper, and clearances. See what each check means and what happens next.
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Is It Safe to Use a Fireplace With a Cracked Chimney Liner?
A cracked chimney liner can let heat reach framing and carbon monoxide seep indoors. Why the safe answer is no, and how a camera inspection confirms it.
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What Is the Difference Between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Chimney Inspections?
Level 1, 2 and 3 chimney inspections explained in plain language: what each covers, when NFPA 211 calls for each, and which one your home actually needs.
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Should I Get a Chimney Inspection Before Buying a House?
A general home inspection barely touches the chimney. Learn why a Level 2 chimney inspection is the property-transfer standard before you buy a home.
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Should I Have My Chimney Inspected After an Earthquake or Major Storm?
Yes. Chimney standards call for a Level 2 camera inspection after any earthquake or damaging storm. Here's why chimneys in wet climates are especially at risk.
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Can I Use My Fireplace Before It Has Been Inspected?
Just moved in, or has the fireplace sat idle? When you must inspect before burning, when the annual inspection already clears you, and what to check first.
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Can Carbon Monoxide Enter My Home Through the Chimney?
Yes, a blocked flue, cracked liner, or reversed draft can push carbon monoxide into your home. Warning signs, CO alarm rules, and what inspections catch.
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Can a Chimney Fire Happen Without the Homeowner Knowing?
Most chimney fires smolder quietly and go unnoticed. See the evidence inspectors find, puffy creosote, cracked flue tiles, warped metal, and what to do next.
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What Is Included in a Professional Chimney Sweep?
Drop cloths to the smoke shelf: the four parts of a real chimney sweep, the steps a rushed job skips, and how sweeping differs from an inspection.
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How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Usually Cost?
Most standard sweeps run 0, 0, but one thing inside your flue can triple the bill. See what really drives the price, and where fits in.
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How Long Does a Chimney Sweep Appointment Take?
Most chimney sweep visits wrap up in about an hour, but what's coating your flue can triple that. See what sets the clock and how to keep it short.
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How Do I Know If My Chimney Needs to Be Cleaned?
Creosote has a measurable danger line, 1/8 inch. Learn the signs your chimney is past it, plus a safe two-minute check you can do from your firebox.
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Does an Unused Chimney Still Need to Be Inspected?
Yes, and here's the catch: many 'unused' chimneys still vent a furnace or water heater. See what an idle flue hides and why the annual check still applies.
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Does a Gas Fireplace Chimney Need to Be Cleaned?
Gas burns cleaner, but its flue isn’t maintenance-free. See what really builds up in a gas chimney, the warning signs of a blockage, and when cleaning is due.
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What Is the Difference Between a Chimney Sweep and Chimney Cleaning?
A sweep and a cleaning are the same service, the real difference is cleaning vs. inspection. Find out which one your chimney actually needs this year.
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Can I Clean My Chimney Myself, or Should I Hire a Professional?
You can brush what you can reach, but the creosote that starts chimney fires hides where you can't see. Where DIY ends and a pro earns the fee.
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Can a Chimney Be Too Dirty to Clean With a Standard Sweep?
Glazed creosote can defeat a standard chimney brush entirely. Learn the three stages of buildup, why the shiniest flue is the riskiest, and what removes glaze.
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When Is the Best Time of Year to Schedule a Chimney Sweep?
Late spring and summer beat the fall rush for chimney sweeps. See the booking calendar, plus the summer smell that says you waited too long.
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How Often Should Your Chimney Be Swept?
The honest answer, what chimney-safety guidance recommends, and signs that you may be overdue.
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