Our Services

The Heart of Your Home -- The Hearth

Throughout history, the fireplace has been the center of family life. It was the place people cooked food and created warmth to help them survive nature's challenges.  Although we don't use the fireplace to cook food any more, the chimney is still a vital part of home activity and value.

We offer a number of specific services and products to help you maintain the health and beauty of your chimney systems and heating vents . Please feel free to contact us to learn more about any of these products or to learn more about chimney safety.

NFPA Inspections

About 60 percent of the people in New Jersey live in a housing association or condominium governed by a board and subjected to a strict set of regulations. These regulations require all chimneys to be inspected annually. 

Mc Puff Chimney Services conducts inspections in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association standards. We provide clear, written reports on our inspections along with estimates for any repairs or maintenance.

Chimney Cleaning

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys be cleaned at least once per year to prevent the build up of creosote and reduce the possibility of chimney fires.

McPuff Chimney Services has a full range of modern cleaning tools so we can match the right equipment to the size and condition of your chimney.

 We apply protective covering at the fireplace opening to protect your residence from ash and dust and use a combination of brushes and a specially designed vacuum to eliminate creosote and prevent dust.

Common Chimney Problems

Firebox:  The firebox is the area in your fireplace where you burn wood. The most common problems to watch for here are cracks in the masonry or loose bricks or stones. If you notice any of these, or if the mortar between the bricks is degrading, you need to have it repaired.

Damper: The damper is the device that closes the flue to prevent heat or air conditioned air from escaping up the chimney when you are not using the fireplace. 

The damper can malfunction without regular maintenance. It needs to be kept clean and free of obstructions.

Chimney Crown:  The crown is the cover on top of your chimney. It can be made of mortar or concrete.  It is designed to keep rainwater from running into the chimney.

Because it is exposed to harsh weather, it needs to be maintained periodically and repaired immediately if cracks or chipping occur to avoid potentially serous water problems.

McPuff can repair damaged crowns or provide a brand new custom-made crown or cap to keep your fireplace and furnace dry.

Flue: The flue is the cylinder that carries the smoke from your fire to the outside of the chimney. It can be made of stone or stainless steel. 

If creosote builds up on the inside of the flue, it could create a fire hazard. If the flue is constructed with joints between sections, the joints need to be inspected to make sure they aren’t deteriorating and don’t leak smoke or heat.

Draft: Draft is a term used to describe the proper air flow that is achieved when a chimney is constructed well. When you open the damper and light a fire, a proper draft draws the smoke upward and away from the house.

The draft affects the safety of the fireplace because it prevents carbon monoxide from wafting into the living space. It also assures the fire draws enough air to burn hot enough to reduce the buildup of creosote in the flue and firebox.

A trained chimney professional will be able to diagnose and correct any draft deficiencies.

Animals: It is not uncommon for small animals such as squirrels or raccoons to set up housekeeping inside a chimney. Bees and wasps seem to enjoy the comforts of dryer vent openings.

These pests can become more than a nuisance if they interfere with the operation of your chimney or if they catch fire. McPuff professionals have the equipment to eliminate these potentially dangerous pests quickly. 

We have an inventory of chimney caps and screens that will prevent birds and animals from getting inside your chimney or vents.