Chimney & air duct service in Wellesley, MA

Chimneys in Wellesley homes

Wellesley’s older neighborhoods are full of large homes from the early 1900s: Colonial Revivals, Tudors, and shingle-style houses, often with tall chimneys carrying two or more flues. Many have been expanded and renovated several times, which shows up in both the chimneys and the ductwork.

What we see most often here

• 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.
• 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.
• Nor’easter leaks. Wind-driven rain pushes water sideways into flashing and crowns. A stain next to the chimney after a big storm is usually a flashing or crown problem, not the roof itself. See chimney waterproofing.
• Home sales. Older houses change hands often here. A Level 2 chimney inspection before closing shows what a general home inspection can’t see inside the flue.

Air ducts and dryer vents

Larger homes here often have two or three heating and cooling systems, with long runs through attics and finished basements.

• 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.
• 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 Wellesley

Building permits in Wellesley come from the Town of Wellesley 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.