“We don’t have a fireplace, so we don’t need a chimney sweep.” We hear this often in Union Township, and it is an understandable assumption. It is also mistaken. AM Chimney Sweep inspects, cleans and repairs chimneys in Union, and a large share of the chimneys here have never had a log fire under them.
The chimney you forget you have
According to Census Bureau estimates, about four in ten homes in Union Township were built in the 1940s and 1950s. Many of those Cape Cods, ranches and small colonials were built with a single brick chimney whose only job is to carry exhaust from the furnace or boiler and the water heater. It runs every day the heat or hot water is on, which is far more use than any fireplace gets.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimates.
What can go wrong in a heating flue
- Blockage. Birds and squirrels nest in uncapped flues, and old clay tile can break and fall. A blocked heating flue pushes exhaust, including carbon monoxide, back into the house.
- Debris at the base. Decades of sand, mortar and tile flakes collect at the bottom of the flue. If the pile reaches the point where the appliance pipe enters, it chokes the vent.
- Moisture. Gas exhaust carries a lot of water vapor. In a cool flue it condenses and slowly dissolves mortar from the inside.
- Soot. Oil-fired equipment leaves soot that builds up and needs brushing out.
- Rain. Without a cap, rain falls straight down the flue toward the furnace.
How often should it be looked at?
The national standard for chimneys, NFPA 211, says chimneys, fireplaces and vents should be inspected at least once a year. The Chimney Safety Institute of America makes the point that this applies to gas heating flues as well: gas burns cleanly, but the flue can still be put out of action by a nest or other debris.
Your own quick check
In the basement
- Find the small metal clean-out door near the bottom of the chimney. Open it and look at what has collected behind it.
- Look at the metal pipe between the appliances and the chimney. Rust holes, white streaks or sagging sections need attention.
- Look for soot or scorch marks around the top of the water heater.
Outside
- Check whether there is a cap on the flue.
- Look for white staining on the brick or crumbling mortar near the top.
In the house
- Make sure there is a working carbon monoxide alarm on each level and near the bedrooms.
If an alarm sounds or anyone feels unwell while the heat is running, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility.
What we do on a heating-flue visit
We inspect the chimney outside from the roof and inside with a camera, clear the base, and sweep the flue if it needs it. You get a report on the condition of the liner, the crown and the brickwork.
The common follow-up items are a cap, a crown repair, and, where the clay tile has failed, a liner. If you are about to replace a furnace, boiler or water heater, tell us first. A change of appliance is the right moment to check that the flue suits what will be connected to it.
Common questions
My furnace is serviced every year. Isn’t the chimney included?
Usually not. A heating tune-up covers the appliance. Ask your technician whether the flue was inspected; most will tell you it is a separate job.
I have a fireplace too. Is that a different flue?
It should be. Fireplaces and heating appliances are meant to have separate flues, even when they share one chimney stack.
Schedule service in Union
Call (862) 225-6529 or send us a request and tell us what fuels your heat and hot water. You can see examples of our chimney projects in Our Work, and we serve neighboring towns across North Jersey.