Chimney Cleaning
Removing soot and creosote to keep your flue drafting safely.
Learn morePittsburgh's housing is some of the oldest in the region, and its chimneys tell the story: brick shafts a century or more old, clay-tile flues that have weathered decades of winters, and crowns and mortar worn thin by relentless freeze-thaw. Lincoln Chimney Services works on these older masonry systems throughout the city — cleaning flues that clay tile grips more than smooth metal does, repairing the water damage that starts up top and works its way down, and confirming that fireplaces which have burned for generations are still safe to use.
The full range of chimney and fireplace care for Pittsburgh 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.
Learn moreRepairs that make a tired fireplace safe and usable again.
Learn moreHomes in Pittsburgh feature a dense mix of historic rowhouses, century-old brick homes and converted older properties. Pittsburgh's older neighborhoods are full of masonry chimneys that have stood for a hundred years or more, and that age shows up as worn mortar, cracked crowns and aging clay liners.
On chimney after chimney across Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh homeowners.
A lot of chimneys in and around Pittsburgh were built with clay-tile liners, which were standard for generations. Clay holds up for decades, but it also grips creosote more than a smooth metal liner and can crack or shift with age and heat. When we clean or inspect an older Pittsburgh chimney, we pay close attention to the condition of those tiles — cracked or offset tiles are a common finding, and they're the reason a stainless liner is often the right upgrade.
The single biggest challenge for chimneys across Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh home.
412-459-7788