Chimney & air duct service in Waltham, MA

Chimneys in Waltham homes

Waltham grew as a mill city along the Charles River, and its housing shows it: early 1900s two-families and single-families near downtown and Moody Street, and postwar capes and ranches farther out. Many older chimneys serve more than one appliance or unit.

What we see most often here

• Two-family and multi-unit houses. Each unit often has its own heating appliance venting into a shared chimney, and every flue has to be sized and lined for what’s connected to it. See chimney relining.
• 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.
• Oil-to-gas conversions. Many homes in the area have switched from oil heat to natural gas. Gas exhaust is cooler and wetter, and it can condense inside an oversized or cracked clay flue. A liner sized to the new boiler or furnace is often the answer.
• Freeze–thaw damage. New England winters swing above and below freezing again and again. Water that soaks into brick and mortar freezes, expands, and slowly breaks it apart. See crown, flashing, and brick repair.

Air ducts and dryer vents

Two-families and older single-families here often have ductwork added years after the house was built, plus dryer vents with long runs from the basement.

• Retrofitted ductwork. Many older homes were built for radiators and had central air added later, with ducts squeezed into attics, closets, and knee walls. Long, tight runs collect dust and leak at the joints. See duct repair and sealing.
• 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.

Permits in Waltham

Building permits in Waltham come from the City of Waltham 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.