Chimney Caps and Sparks Arrestors: Yes or No?
Chimney caps serve a function akin to the crowning ornament on a Christmas tree, yet their importance extends far beyond mere decoration. These structures are essential components of a chimney, demanding regular attention and replacement when warranted. Available in...
Ensure a Cozy Winter: 3 Reasons to Prioritize a Chimney Inspection
As the crisp autumn air settles in, thoughts turn to warm sweaters, hot cocoa, and crackling fires. Before you light that first winter fire, however, there's a crucial step to consider: a chimney inspection. Here are three compelling reasons why you should make this a...
Winter Chimney Safety in Portland, Oregon
Winter in Portland, Oregon is a beautiful time of year, with its crisp air, occasional snowfall, and cozy evenings by the fireplace. If you have a chimney, you're in for a real treat. However, to ensure that your winter season remains warm and safe, it's essential to...
Hidden Dangers: How a Leaky Chimney Can Damage Your Home
Here come the autumn Portland rains! A chimney adds warmth and charm to a home, but what happens when it starts leaking? Beyond the inconvenience of water dripping into your living space, a leaky chimney can pose significant risks to your home's structural integrity...
11 Things to NEVER burn in your fireplace!
As we are coming to the time, as seasons change from summer to fall, when we will all be enjoying more time indoors, we will notice an uptick in the cozy chimneys of our neighbors emitting wisps of smoke. It's a perfect time to gently remind you about the crucial...
6 Reasons To Keep Birds Out Of Your Chimney
It is important to keep birds out of your chimney for several reasons, ranging from safety concerns to preventing damage to your home and the well-being of the birds themselves. Here are 6 reasons to keep birds out of your chimney: Safety hazards: Birds in the chimney...
Enjoy a Trouble-Free Summer with a Clean Chimney
As the temperature rises and summer approaches, it's tempting to put your fireplace and chimney out of sight and out of mind. However, neglecting chimney maintenance during this season can lead to potential issues when you're ready to use it again. In this blog post,...
5 Tips to Season Firewood
Learning how to season firewood is an important step in maintaining your chimney properly. If the wood is wet, for instance, it is going to produce more dangerous creosote. Creosote, of course, is a leading cause of chimney fires, and must be removed regularly. You...
Birds in the Chimney? What Do I Do?!!
SPRING IS HERE!Birds chirping is one of the hallmarks of Spring and usually a wonderful thing to hear. It is less wonderful when you hear those sound coming from your fireplace!We have gotten some calls lately about strange noises coming from chimneys, and...
What NOT To Burn in Your Fireplace – 2020 Update
We're all spending a little more time at home than normal during this time of year, and it HAS been a bit chilly. We are seeing lots of smoke coming out of our neighbors' chimneys and just wanted to send you a quick reminder about the things you should NEVER burn in...
3 types of Chimney Inspection
Thinking of selling your house this Spring? Get ahead of the game and have your chimney inspected first so there are no surprises when you are under contract during buyers inspections.The National Fire Protection Association is the organization that sets...
8 Things you should NEVER burn in your fireplace
Fireplaces are meant to burn wood but it unfortunately becomes a trash disposal option for many homeowners. Burning something other than what is actually meant to be burned in the fireplace can be extremely dangerous for more reasons that one. Here is a list of items...
Spark Arrestors & Chimney Caps
When it comes to the different parts of a chimney, it can be easy to get confused. Especially if you do not understand exactly what each part does. Also, it can be difficult when a part seems to do the same function as another part. Then you realize it...
Tips For Getting the Most Out of Your Firewood
It has been unusually warm this October in Portland, but the cold, rainy weather is right around the corner. A lot of us are thinking about cozy evenings in front of the fireplace or the wood stove. Therefore, it’s important for us to make sure that our firewood is...
4 Waterproofing Tips For Your Chimney
Chimneys are exposed to a lot more extreme weather than the rest of the house – rain, wind, snow, sun, and hot and cold temperatures – thus incurring a good deal of damage. This damage comes in the form of loss of insulation, cracks caused by freezing and...
The Chimney Swifts Have Returned!
THE MAGIC OF THE SWIFTS If you live in Portland, you are probably familiar with the famous Chimney Swifts (aka Vaux Swifts) that emerge around dusk for numerous days in the early fall, congregating in a massive flock around the old chimney at Chapman Elementary, and...
The 3 Levels of Chimney Inspection
The National Fire Protection Association is the organization that sets American standards for chimney inspections. The NFPA outlines three levels of chimney inspection depending on what circumstances are occurring that have triggered the inspection. In general, the...
My Chimney Stinks! What Do I Do?
When the temperatures get hotter in the summer, you may notice unpleasant odors coming from your fireplace. This is because warmer weather can stir up smells inside your chimney. Certain things in the interior of your chimney can cause it to become smelly,...
FRIENDLY REMINDER! Things you should NOT Burn in Your Fireplace
Fireplaces are meant to burn wood but it unfortunately becomes a trash disposal option for many homeowners. Burning something other than what is actually meant to be burned in the fireplace can be extremely dangerous for more reasons that one. Here is a list of items...
Summer Is The Time To Inspect Your Flue Lining
FLUE LINERS ARE ESSENTIALMany homeowners realize that they need to have their chimneys cleaned each year but they may not give much thought to their flue liners. A chimney flue liner is essential to a well functioning chimney because it protects the...
Summer Fire Safety Tips
It's cookout time! It's campfire time! It's fireworks time! And most importantly, it's Fire Safety Time. Catastrophic wildfires are on the rise. The last few years in Oregon and California have been particularly devastating. Sadly, the trend shows no signs...
Keys To Great Customer Service
We at American Chimney & Masonry feel that you, our customers, are the most vital asset of our business. Without you, we would not be able to open our doors every day. Appreciating our clients and providing great customer service are two of our most...
Chimney Inspections For Real Estate Transactions
Know What You Are Buying When you are buying a house, it is important to know everything about the different systems in that house, including the chimney and fireplace system. Many people believe that the home inspector examines the chimney as...
3 Areas To Check For A Chimney Leak
Severe Weather Causes Chimney Leaks The US experiences more severe weather in the spring than at any other time of the year. This means your chimney is being pounded with rain, high winds and occasionally lightning strikes; all of which could lead to damage and a...
Tulikivi Heaters Are Economical, Beautiful, and Efficient
Tulikivi Heaters Are Economical, Beautiful, and Efficient Here are some photos of our recent Tulikivi installation we did in Mosier, Oregon. Tulikivi is Finland’s largest stone processor and the world’s largest manufacturer of masonry heaters (also known...
Spring & Summer Fire Safety
Just about everyone is ready once spring arrives to break out and get outdoors. Most are either looking forward to some recreation and fun or to start the cleaning process for projects such as gardening and other home hobbies and activities. These are all...
Spring Chimney Cleaning Tips!
SPRING CLEANING TIPS Spring is almost here, which means it’s time for Spring Chimney Cleaning! Proper maintenance of chimneys, vents, and ducts are important for every responsible home-owner to work into their yearly routine. Don’t try To Do It By Yourself! The...
Chimney Inspections for House Buyers
Congratulations on finding your new home! As you know, every home needs a thorough inspection before you sign on the dotted line. And just like the roof, sewer, and pest inspections, the chimney needs to be inspected for any hidden flaws and...
Is Your Chimney Leaking?
The Dangers of Water Leaks in Your ChimneyFor some people, a water leak in the chimney is just an annoyance that can be ignored until it presents a more serious problem. Unfortunately, the water leak is often already causing serious damage that the...
Don’t Let A Leaky Chimney Damper Dampen Your Spring!
…Much less your summer, fall, or winter… A leaky damper, if it is in the throat of your fireplace, is a likely place for water to get stuck, too! But, for now, we assume you started looking for us because your leaky damper is letting your inside air out....
Portland Chimney Repair – Service Area
Located right here in Oregon, our Portland chimney sweep technicians provide the best in chimney repair, fireplace installation and dryer vent care in the Greater Portland-Metro area. From NE Portland down to SE Portland, Tualatin and Oregon City in the south, from Pleasant Valley in the east to Beaverton and Sherwood in the west – when it comes to your chimney, fireplace and vents, we hope you’ll call American Chimney & Masonry! We are the most trusted Portland Chimney Repair company!
Ready To Make A Chimney Sweep Appointment?
To schedule an appointment with one of our expert chimney repair technicians, please call 503-644-0393. With over 19,000 satisfied customers since 1989, we are ready for more! We look forward to visiting with you soon about your fireplace and chimney sweep needs.