Bergen County, New Jersey
Chimney Inspection, Caps and Sweep Service in Franklin Lakes, NJ
Franklin Lakes is mostly newer, owner-occupied, detached housing. In houses built from the 1980s onward, the first step is working out what kind of chimney you actually have.
Franklin Lakes, in Bergen County, is overwhelmingly detached, owner-occupied housing: about 88% detached houses and 89% owner-occupied. The median home dates to 1982, and only about 4% of homes were built before 1950. The ACS median home value is about $1.3 million.
Our office is in Glen Rock, in the same county.
The Census does not tell us what kind of chimney any given house has, and houses of this age can have either type. A chimney can be built of brick or block, or it can be a factory-built system with a metal flue enclosed in a framed chase. What to inspect and what to maintain depends on which one you have.
Housing profile
What the housing mix means in Franklin Lakes
Housing is mostly detached, owner-occupied and built since the 1980s. In houses of that age a chimney may be full masonry or a framed chase with a metal cover, and which one you have decides what to inspect first.
Learn
Chase covers: what they do and why they fail
A chase cover is the metal lid over a framed chimney enclosure. It keeps water out of the framing and sheds it away from the flue. Because it sits flat and takes standing water, seams and corners are where rust and leaks usually start. A cover that has rusted through or lost its seal can let water soak the wood below, which is expensive to repair.
The usual options are re-sealing, repair or replacement with a new cover sized to the chase. Our chase cover page covers the options, and the guide to chimney cap versus chase cover explains why they are two different parts. If you are unsure which type of chimney you have, an inspection answers it.
A masonry chimney has a crown. A framed chase has a chase cover. Some homeowners may not know which they have.
Checklist
Questions for your own chimney
- Is it brick or block, or an enclosed metal system?
- Is there a cap, and is it secure?
- Does the top slope away from the flue, and is it free of cracks?
- Does the damper close completely?
- Are there stains around the chimney inside the house?
What we look at
Masonry or framed chase: what changes
Masonry chimney
Brick or block with a flue tile or liner inside. The main checkpoints are the crown, mortar joints, flashing and flue condition.
Framed chase with metal flue
The chase is a wooden or metal enclosure, usually topped with a metal chase cover. Rust or a failing cover lets water into the framing.
Cap
Both types need a cap. On a metal system it is part of the chimney's rated components.
Damper
A damper that no longer closes tightly, in either type, wastes heat and lets in cold air.
Symptoms
| Symptom | Possible cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Rust stains running down the chase | Failing chase cover or cap | Inspection of the cover and cap |
| Water staining on ceiling near chimney | Flashing or chase-cover leak | Roof-line and top check |
| Draft downward, smell of smoke | Blocked or undersized flue, or cap fault | Flue and cap check |
| Cracked cement at the top of a brick chimney | Crown deterioration | Crown repair |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which kind of chimney I have?
Brick or block you can see from the roof or yard is masonry. A boxed enclosure covered in siding or trim with a metal lid on top is a framed chase. An inspection confirms it.
Does a newer chimney still need sweeping?
Only if the fireplace or stove is used enough to build up deposits. An annual inspection tells you.
Do you work in Franklin Lakes?
Yes, we take scheduling requests across New Jersey.
Service areas
Other areas we serve
Chimney Academy
Guides that go with this page
Questions about your chimney in Franklin Lakes?
Call us, or send a scheduling request. We will contact you to confirm. Your appointment is not confirmed until we do.