Chimney & air duct service in Watertown, MA

Chimneys in Watertown homes

Watertown is a compact city on the Charles River, just north of Newton. Much of its housing was built in the early 1900s: two-families, single-families, and 1920s to 1950s Colonials and capes, many with a masonry chimney that has served several generations of heating systems.

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

Watertown homes often have ductwork added for central air long after they were built, and two-families frequently have two systems in one 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.
• 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 Watertown

Building permits in Watertown come from Watertown Inspectional Services. 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.