Great example of how water damage occurs in chimneys. Cracks in the crown mortar cause separation of the crown from the chimney and the water gets into the top layer of brick. Freeze/thaw cycles occur and the front faces of the brick fall off. Due to crack propagation, damage accelerates and works its way down the chimney. This chimney needed a rain cover and a sealer to prevent this damage.

Able Wood & Gas only installs proper tile covers. Not mortar plugs. This liner rotted away inside the chimney right next to the mortar. The water heater was not venting properly. In poor weather, it backed up into the house.

This photo shows a water-damaged, creosote covered tile with holes made by the legs of a very popular cheap cover available at some hardware stores. Able Wood & Gas will do a thorough inspection, take photos and explain what is going on, and quote you on the solution.

I pulled these little muffins from behind the damper in a fireplace. I put them on the roof under the eaves. The customer later informed me that momma came back soon after I was gone and took them. Able Wood & Gas sells animal proof covers that are guaranteed for life.

The customer swears this cover is animal proof. This cover will not prevent squirrels.

The customer swears this cover is animal proof. This cover will not prevent squirrels.

Baby squirrels in an orange box so they don’t roll off the roof. Momma has the last one in her mouth. She was very aggressive. I had to swat at her with my chimney rods until she left.

This customer was new to the home and had a receipt saying this chimney was cleaned. The wife, against her husband’s wishes, thought that it would be a wise idea to get their own inspection done. Broken tile. Dangerous to use, as is. Able Wood & Gas performs inspections and repairs.

Wow. Nice stonework, so everything is nice, right? This opening was for a stovepipe that turned to the right to meet the chimney. The pipe internal to this cavity is completely rotted away. The homeowner refused to call a chimney sweep, the stove still worked. Luckily for him, his wife knew better.

Stop damage before it accelerates down the chimney.

This chimney has a dummy flue. Somebody plugged it up with mortar. The mortar plug then proceeded to crack the tile. You can see the damage work its way down to the flashing.

I’ve just removed the babies and installed an animal proof cap. Momma is aggressive. She is moving her babies elsewhere and giving me a piece of her mind. A baby is in her mouth.

Gas furnace and water heater venting into an unlined chimney will eventually ruin it. This chimney needed a liner a long time ago.

Big chimney fire and a poor rebuild.

This liner should have been installed with a tile cover and not a cement plug. The cement plug has ruined the tile and is cracking the crown mortar.

Stop water damage before it grows. It’s much cheaper in the long run. Doing it right means fewer headaches.

Fix this chimney now or pay 5x as much 5 years from now. Able Wood & Gas recommends and performs preventative maintenance. We also do the big jobs, too.

This tile was damaged by a poorly designed cover. Four leg design is terrible but cheap.

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Able Wood & Gas handles all types of chimney work and services both wood burning and gas appliances. Located in Kitchener, we provide mess-free chimney cleaning, animal removal, chimney liner installations, chimney repair, cover installations, and dryer vent cleaning. Established in 2006, we pride ourselves on having technicians that are highly skilled and certified.

Having problems or need advice about your fireplace, woodstove, chimney, or gas appliance venting? Give Able Wood and Gas a call! 519.577.1898.

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