Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, “Fireplace, Wood fire, Rostov-on-Don, Russia”, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted to WebP; shown cropped.
Chimney & fireplace: the basics
Sweeping, inspections, liners, caps, chimney masonry, gas and wood fireplaces, stoves.
The full guide for this trade is being written. Until then, here is what we know for sure: the problems that belong here, who handles them, and how to check a contractor.
On this page4 sections: urgent, permits…
What people call about
- Chimney smokes into the room
- Chimney inspection
- Gas fireplace won't light
- Install a wood stove
How soon to call
Act today
Chimney fire
Ask for: 911 first, then a chimney inspection before the next fire
Get everyone out and call 911; close the fireplace doors or damper if you can do it safely on the way out.
Gas smell from the fireplace
Ask for: gas fireplace service after the gas company checks it
Leave the house now with everyone. Do not turn lights on or off, light anything or use a phone inside. Call 911 or the gas company from outside, away from the smell, and stay out until they say it is safe.
Carbon monoxide alarm went off when the fireplace was lit
Ask for: chimney and fireplace inspection after the fire department clears the house
Get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911 or the fire department from outside. Do not go back in until they say it is safe.
Call in the next day or two
Chimney bricks falling apart
Ask for: chimney masonry repair and crown rebuild
A leaning chimney is a safety issue for anyone below it; keep people away from that side of the house.
Chimney smokes into the room
Ask for: draft diagnosis, damper and flue inspection
Let the fire go out and air the room; repeated smoke in the house can mean a blocked flue or a carbon monoxide risk.
Chimney liner cracked
Ask for: chimney relining
Do not use the fireplace until the liner is repaired.
Water leaking in around the chimney
Ask for: chimney waterproofing and flashing
Gas fireplace won't light
Ask for: gas fireplace service
Firebox bricks cracked
Ask for: firebox repair
Schedule it
Chimney inspection
Ask for: chimney inspection
Chimney sweep
Ask for: chimney sweeping
Chimney cap missing
Ask for: chimney cap installation
Install a wood stove
Ask for: stove or insert installation
Fireplace damper stuck
Ask for: damper repair
Convert the wood fireplace to gas
Ask for: gas conversion
Remove the chimney
Ask for: chimney removal
General guidance, not a diagnosis. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.
Permits and licensing
- Some of this work needs a permit, depending on the job and the town. Ask before the work starts.
- Most states keep no license record for this trade, and whether one exists in yours depends on the state and the job size, so a search may find none. Use review sites and ask for references from recent customers.
- Rebates or tax credits sometimes apply to this kind of work; they depend on the program and the equipment, so check before you sign rather than assume.
Know what you're looking at
Gas fireplaces still need yearly service: the burner, the vent and the safety shutoff. Installation and repair should be done by a licensed gas fitter where your state requires it.
Chimney masonry weathers: cracked mortar, loose bricks and a damaged crown or cap let water in. Ask which part of the chimney is being repaired.
A wood stove is a heating appliance with its own flue and required clearances to walls and floors. Rules differ by place, so ask about a permit and inspection.
A pilot light that keeps going out can mean a worn part or a draft problem. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company from outside.
General information, not legal, tax, engineering or insurance advice. Rules and prices vary by place, so get three local quotes. Problem list updated 2026-10-04.