Chimney & air duct service in West Roxbury, MA

Chimneys in West Roxbury homes

West Roxbury borders Newton to the southeast and has one of the most suburban feels of any Boston neighborhood. Its streets are lined with Colonials, Victorians, and bungalows built from the early 1900s through the 1950s, most with a masonry chimney serving a fireplace, the heating system, or both.

What we see most often here

• 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.
• 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

Many homes here were built with radiators and had central air or ducted heat added later.

• 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 Boston

Because West Roxbury is part of the City of Boston, building permits come from the City of Boston Inspectional Services 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.