Chimney & air duct service in Dover, MA

Chimneys in Dover homes

Dover is a quiet, wooded town of large homes on big lots, with a scattering of antique farmhouses. Many homeowners here burn wood regularly, and chimneys tend to be large, with several flues.

What we see most often here

• Wood stoves and inserts. Homes on bigger lots burn more wood, and stoves and inserts produce creosote faster than an open fireplace. Plan on a yearly cleaning if you burn regularly.
• Tall chimneys and multiple flues. Larger homes often have two or three fireplaces and a separate heating flue in one tall stack. Each flue needs its own inspection, and tall chimneys take the most weather at the top. See chimney inspection.
• Old clay tile liners. Clay flues from the early 1900s through the 1960s crack and shift with age, and a cracked liner can let heat and exhaust reach the framing. A camera inspection shows the condition of every tile, and a stainless steel liner is the usual fix.
• Animals in the flue. With so many mature trees, squirrels, raccoons, and birds find open flues every spring. We remove nests and install a cap with a screen.

Air ducts and dryer vents

Larger homes here often have multiple heating and cooling systems, with long runs and dryer vents to match.

• Long dryer vents. Laundry in the basement or a second-floor closet often means a long vent run with several bends. Lint builds up fast, and that’s a fire risk. See dryer vent cleaning and replacement.
• Renovations and additions. Kitchen and attic projects often leave duct runs crushed, disconnected, or full of drywall dust. See air duct cleaning and duct repair and sealing.
• Bathroom fans that vent into the attic. In older homes, fans were often added later and simply end in the attic, where the moisture causes mold and rot. See exhaust fan cleaning.

Permits in Dover

Building permits in Dover come from the Town of Dover Building Department. Routine sweeping, inspections, and minor repairs don’t need a permit. Relining, rebuilding a chimney, and installing a new wood stove or insert usually do. If your project needs one, we’ll tell you up front.