Chimney Cleaning
Removing soot and creosote to keep your flue drafting safely.
Learn moreFox Chapel's larger, well-established homes often feature substantial masonry fireplaces and chimneys — the kind that reward careful, quality work. We provide Fox Chapel homeowners with thorough cleaning and inspection, camera scans of aging flues, and masonry, crown and liner work done to match and protect fine older chimneys.
The full range of chimney and fireplace care for Fox Chapel homes — click any service to learn more.
Removing soot and creosote to keep your flue drafting safely.
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A thorough look at the structure, flue and connections.
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Fixing the cracks, gaps and damage that let water and heat escape.
Learn moreRestoring brick, block and stone on aging chimney structures.
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Sealing and repairing the cracked crown at the top of the chimney.
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Fitting a cap to keep rain, animals and debris out of the flue.
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Installing a liner so the flue vents heat and gases safely.
Learn moreFinding and stopping the source of a leaking chimney.
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Breathable sealant that keeps water out of the masonry.
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Repairs that make a tired fireplace safe and usable again.
Learn moreHomes in Fox Chapel feature a blend of newer suburban developments and established homes, many with prefabricated and masonry fireplaces. The northern suburbs have grown with a lot of newer construction alongside older homes, so we see everything from factory-built fireplaces needing venting work to traditional masonry chimneys.
On chimney after chimney across Fox Chapel, the crown — the sloped surface at the very top — is where trouble starts. Exposed concrete crowns crack over time, and in our freeze-thaw climate those cracks widen every winter until water is running straight down into the masonry. Catching a cracked crown early, and sealing or recasting it before the damage spreads, is one of the best-value repairs we do for Fox Chapel homeowners.
A surprising number of the ceiling and wall stains Fox Chapel homeowners notice near a fireplace trace back to the chimney — a cracked crown, failed flashing at the roofline, or porous masonry letting water in. Because the entry point is often well away from where the stain appears, finding the real source takes a proper look at the crown, cap, flashing and brick. Stopping the leak at its source is what actually keeps the water out.
The single biggest challenge for chimneys across Fox Chapel and the wider Pittsburgh area is water combined with cold. Rain and snow soak into exposed masonry; then, when temperatures drop, that trapped water freezes and expands. Repeated over many winters, this freeze-thaw cycle cracks crowns, washes out mortar joints and pops the faces off brick.
Lincoln Chimney Services works throughout Fox Chapel and the surrounding area. If you're in a neighboring community, we likely serve you too — a few nearby areas are linked from this page, and you can find the full list on our service areas page.
Yes. Fox Chapel is within our service area, and we provide chimney cleaning, inspection and repair along with fireplace service throughout the community and the surrounding Pittsburgh-area communities.
For a wood fireplace used regularly through the winter, once a year is the usual recommendation. How much and what you burn affects the interval, and an annual inspection helps you judge the right timing for your home.
Yes, and it's a smart move. A Level 2 inspection with a camera scan of the flue is the reliable way to confirm the chimney's condition before you close — especially on the older homes common across the area.
Call Lincoln Chimney Services or request service online — we'll take care of your Fox Chapel home.
412-459-7788