Our Services in Edmonton, AB

A unit with a thermostat cycles on and off to hold the room at a set temperature, which is normal. Other causes are weak batteries, a pilot that keeps going out or a safety switch tripping because of blocked venting or overheating. Note how long it runs before it shuts off and whether the glass or the surrounding area gets very hot. That detail helps the technician diagnose it. Do not bypass safety controls.

A visible gap between the chimney and the wall can mean the chimney foundation has settled, and it deserves a prompt look. A small seasonal change in width may be expansion and contraction, but a gap that is growing, along with cracks in the brick or interior walls, points to movement. Take dated photos, stop using the fireplace if the gap is large and ask a masonry specialist or structural expert to examine it.

Sometimes, but it is not a first move. A smoky fireplace more often has a cause such as a blocked flue, a closed damper, a tight house or a chimney that is too short, and those are better handled directly. A fan masks the symptom and adds a part that can fail. Many open masonry fireplaces are not designed for one. Ask for the cause to be found before you spend on equipment.

It usually means the inspector saw something worth a closer look but is not a chimney specialist and could not see inside the flue. Common triggers are cracks, missing liner sections or heavy staining. A chimney inspection, often with a camera, gives a clear picture and a written list of what needs work. Share the report with the technician so they know what prompted the note.

They matter a great deal, because the smoke that such rules aim at mostly comes from smoldering, oxygen-starved fires and wet wood. Burn dry, seasoned hardwood, build a small hot fire and keep the air supply open long enough for the wood to burn cleanly. If the chimney smoke is dark or hangs low well after the first few minutes, something needs adjusting, whether it is the wood, the air or the stove.

Brushing a sound clay tile is routine and does not hurt it. Tiles that are already cracked, loose or crumbling can shift or break under pressure, which is why a technician often looks at the flue before cleaning it. If the tile is in poor condition, a camera inspection and a plan for relining come before heavy brushing.