A step inside Masters Services and how we Handle Wildlife

Master Services is a family owned and operated business. Chad and Christa Murray started Master Services in 1996 out of their home. Christa took the appointment calls and Chad did the service. At that time, we only serviced the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but not for wildlife removal quite yet.

We started out by just doing chimney inspections and sweeps. In a very short time, the company built itself from the ground up. Now, we have extended our service area to DFW, Houston and Oklahoma City. Chad has become a Certified Chimney Professional as well as a trained Nuisance Wildlife Removal Technician.

In a few short years we moved from Chad and Christa’s home to a storefront in Frisco. This allowed us to display a variety of functioning fireplaces featuring some of our gas logs. After a few years we outgrew the Frisco store and moved. The facility was located on Mayhill Rd in Denton, but after a few more years we outgrew that area too. Finally, we moved to our current location. We are now based at 2301 N. Masch Branch Rd, Suite 201 in Denton where we have quite a bit more room.

In our current location we feature a variety of actual working fireplaces with gas logs. We invite you to come take a look at our selection of gas logs in person to see how realistic looking they are. We also sell fire glass for your fireplace which is an alternative to gas logs or in addition to them, which ever you choose.

What Other Services do we Provide?

Our services started out being only chimney inspections. Then, we started making our own custom chimney caps and it just grew from there. We now service all your fireplace and chimney needs. All of our chimney caps are custom made just for your chimney. We have a wide selection of styles and colors. They are made out of 24-gauge colored steel, so they won’t rust. All of our chimney caps have a limited lifetime warranty.

We also do any repairs to your fireplace or chimney. Some of the services we provide include replacement of cracked refractor panels, dampers, and starter pipes. To ensure water doesn’t seep into the chimney tuck pointing (inside and out), relining the inside of your chimney, and waterproofing are also done. If necessary, one of our wildlife professionals will even rebuild your entire chimney.

We soon saw a need for nuisance animal removal. The animals were getting into the chimneys, in the attic and in the yard. We remove raccoons, squirrels, opossums, armadillo’s rats, bats and snakes from inside or outside the house. Also, Masters Services repairs any of the entry points to prevent the infestation from reoccurring.

We are a full-service chimney and wildlife removal company.

What do we do as a Company for Wildlife?

People often question why a chimney company also specializes in wildlife removal. The question we ask is why wouldn’t we specialize in wildlife? Chimney’s that have a damaged chimney cap or no chimney cap at all risk the potential for an animal to enter the protection of an open and secure structure, your chimney!

Chimneys are often cooler during the summer months, especially when shielded with overhung trees that act as shade. Chimneys can fit an entire family of animals. Can you imagine a mother raccoon and her litter of 1 to 8 babies living in your chimney paying no rent to you? They create continuous loud noises and sometimes they even enter the home. This ongoing problem caused our chimney company to expand our services by offering wildlife removal.

Where do we Specialize in Wildlife Removal?

We specialize in wildlife removal of the chimney and the attic. Wildlife usually passes in and out of entry points as they please, causing additional damage to your home. Animals we assist in removal include rats, raccoons, possums, squirrels, and skunks from the attic and birds, raccoons, and squirrels from the chimney.

We also are able to service your home is an animal is under your home or outside the house. Although, animals outside the home come with the uncertainty if they return. Traps are usually baited in areas where we see the most signs of activity to ensure we have the best chance of capturing the wildlife.

How do you keep an Animal out of your Chimney?

Chimney’s need to be safely enclosed to keep out any wildlife, while still allowing smoke and heat to vent out. This is why chimney caps were created! Masters Services fabricates all our chimney caps in house to the measurements of the chimney, meaning all our caps are custom built. Proper fit is essential to keep animals, debris, and additional water out of the chimney. A loose chimney cap can allow wildlife access inside, while exposing the flue.

How we start the wildlife removal process:

Masters Services first schedules an initial appointment to come to your home. Estimates for removal and repairs are set up with an appropriate game plan according to the wildlife situation. After the estimate is approved, the animal removal process begins.

This often include trapping, live animal removal, scent deterrent to drive wildlife out, or a one-way exit door. After all animals have left the premises, we complete repairing of any entry points and sanitizing and deodorizing the infected areas.

Do we kill the Animals we Capture?

Masters Services does not harm the animals we remove from homes in anyway. Unlike some other wildlife removal businesses, we care about the animals well-being and overall safety.

Raccoons, skunks, squirrels, armadillos, and many other animals are not killed after being caught in our traps. We relocate the animal many miles away from your home in places they can strive in their natural habitat. Relocation is often in a wooded area with lots of trees, away from streets, and by natural water sources to allow the animal to maintain its needs in their new location.

Why would we recommend having my home Wildlife proofed?

Here are the following Diseases that can be contracted by animals living in your attic and Home in

General:

There are many diseases that can be transmitted to humans by animals living in the attic or in your home in general. Some of the diseases include Rabies, Salmonellosis, Plague, Rat-bite fever, Histoplasmosis, and Raccoon roundworm. These are some of the more dangerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans. In addition, Rodent zoonoses, plague which infects and kills humans worldwide, Leptospirosis and Fever Rickettsia disease are many more that can be transmitted.

Below is a listing of Animal specific Diseases:

Raccoons carry zoonotic disease for one, which is harmful to humans as well as pets. It is not only transmitted through a scratch or bite. They are also transmitted through feces, urine, and saliva.

If you notice raccoon activity around your house, be aware of your surroundings. Avoid not only interacting with the animals themselves, but also with their excrement or any area that may have been contaminated. For example, if you have accessible  water gathered on your property, avoid letting your pets drink from that source. Common sense like that will go a long way when keeping your entire household safe.

Although most of these diseases have very low occurrence rates in humans, it’s important to be aware of the associated risks and signs to look out for. Rare but very dangerous infection that can affect both humans and our pets. It attacks the central nervous system and is one of the most serious infections that comes from animals.

Parasites live inside a raccoon’ intestines, with little to no harmful effect on the animal. The larvae will hatch from eggs found in raccoon feces. This bacteria is incredibly resistant to physical and chemical cleaning and will remain in the environment for long periods of time. Be wary and cautious when dealing with raccoon droppings.

Unfortunately, this parasite is airborne, meaning you could get infected simply through inhalation. This disease becomes even more dangerous if left untreated. This may even cause fatal results. The infection often travels up to the brain and can cause multiple organ damage, neurological impairment, and death. Symptoms you might feel are tiredness, loss of muscle control and vision, and a lack of coordination.

How Wildlife Diseases can harm You

Leptospira bacteria found in various wild animals’ urine, including raccoons. The disease is contracted when humans come on contact with water, soil or food contaminated by an infected animal’s urine. Be sure to watch children and pets when playing outside, especially if you have noticed raccoon activity in the area. Avoid letting your pets drink from any accumulations of water found on your property.

Leptospirosis has flu-like symptoms, including severe muscle and head pains, high fever, and it can worsen kidney problems and infections such as meningitis if not treated quickly.

Giardiasis (commonly referred to as beaver fever) is a parasite found in animal intestines and can be passed through their stool. It is also the most common disease humans’ contract from wild animals.

It is contracted by ingesting the infective cysts located in the feces or wild animals, including raccoons. This can happen by coming into contact with surfaces or consuming food or water that has been contaminated. But occasionally it is transmitted between people or animals directly. Symptoms usually begin within 1-3 weeks of contracting the bacteria and can last up to 6 weeks. These symptoms include nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and dehydration.

You Could be at risk for Salmonella from Wildlife

The salmonella fear does not end at cookie dough and raw chicken, it’s also a form of bacteria often transferred from animals to people. It is contracted through direct contact or ingestion of the feces of an infected animal.

In 2007 a study found that 45% of tested raccoons had the salmonella bacteria in their stool (27% at the rural level – 65% in urban areas). These bacteria can remain dormant, activating only in favorable conditions. This unfortunately means it can remain a problem for a long period of time.

Associated problems include high fever, severe diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The most common ways raccoons pass on these diseases is through contaminated water, soil, or food sources and occasionally through direct contact (bite or scratch). But because the raccoon population is so large, and continuously growing, it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid these interactions.

The most practical steps we can take is remaining aware of any activity and exercising common sense. Unfortunately, raccoons include a number of health risks. Protect yourself and family from a raccoon problem with thorough hygiene practice.

Wildlife Removal Prevents the Spread of Diseases

Rats typically transmit diseases through urine and droppings. Rats or mice make nests in your home. The buildup of urine and droppings can spread disease throughout the house. Rat excrement is compounded by decaying material from rats that have died. Diseases directly transmitted by rodents include Hantavirus, salmonella, rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, and bubonic plague. These are considered the more serious diseases transmitted by rats.

 

Birds/Bats can carry a deadly disease for humans called Histoplasmosis. It can contaminate the surroundings it comes in contact with rabies. Rabies is contracted through the saliva of a rabid animal, as many know. Through contact with a bat or  with a wound, it can be passed over. This viral infection affects the nervous system, with early symptoms resembling the flu. These include: weakness, and fever, that later develop into a delirious state of mind. Rabies is life-threatening if untreated.

External parasites also may become a problem when infested birds or bats leave roosts or nests. Fungus has specifically been found in droppings, by bats alone, such as in the attic. Rabies is also a dangerous and fatal disease. Although, only about 5% of bats carry it. With these animals in your home, there’s always a potential risk of receiving the disease.

Contact us for Wildlife Removal

Overall, there are many diseases that can be transmitted by these animals. It certainly can be beneficial for people to be pro-active with the removal and management of these animals. For you and your family’s safety, hire Masters Services as your wildlife removal professional.

Masters Services is the best Houston chimney sweep service provider. Why? They have two Certified Chimney Professionals on staff, one being a Certified Master Chimney Technician.

Houston Texas! Home of the Texans, Astros, Dash, Rockets and the Dynamo and let’s not forget the Oilers, the throwback name of the Tennessee Titans. (Depending on your age, you may already know this.) It’s the 4th most populated city in the nation. I can only imagine how many homes cover the 8,778 square miles. I wonder how many homes with fireplaces are nestled on all of those acres. Why does that question arise you ask? Because Masters Services is the best Houston Chimney Sweep!

A chimney sweep is described on Wikipedia as a human worker who clears ash and soot from chimneys. The perfect example of a chimney sweep that comes to mind that a majority of us would recognize would be one from the movie “Mary Poppins”. Dick Van Dyke played the character of Bert, Mary’s closest friend. He was a jack of all trades, including a chimney sweep! Remember the scene all the other chimney sweeps dancing around with soot on their faces and chimney brushes in hand? I knew you would! It was quite a number.

Getting a Houston chimney sweep done on your home is not hard, we can help!

Today, when it comes to a Houston Chimney Sweep as a term, used more in regards to the actual cleaning of the chimney. When people call a chimney company, they will state that their chimney needs to be swept or they need an inspection and sweep. They don’t call in and ask for a chimney sweeper. The technicians also look a little different from those days as well. Instead of a beret or a top hat, it’s a fitted cap. Instead of suspenders, it’s now a belt. And the pants they wear, are usually long enough to cover their ankles! In another blog we will go deeper into the history of Houston Chimney Sweep. That’s actually a little heavier than I choose go for at the moment. The greatest change of all is that no one has climb up in the chimney to clean it now! They use a chimney brush instead. So if anything gets stuck, it will be the brush.

Now days, there are numerous rules and regulations set in place to make sure homes are kept safe. Before, as long as the chimney was swept by anyone people felt it was safe to use. Times have surely changed for the better. Some people still believe that anyone can clean their chimney. Indeed they can. But if you would like to make sure the fire you’re lighting won’t be your last because it’s going to burn down your home, then I suggest you find a certified chimney specialist and hire them instead. Keep in mind that these rules and regulations were put in place to keep you and your family safe.

When is the last time you…

When is the last time you had a chimney inspection or chimney cleaning? If you are wondering what a chimney inspection even is, you’re past your due to have one done! A chimney inspection is when a professional chimney sweep inspects the interior and exterior of your chimney, looking for any potential hazards.

There are many ways a chimney could be putting your home at risk for fires or leaks. This is dangerous because chimney fires spread very quickly and typically result in a devastating house fire.

 

How We are the Best Houston Chimney Sweep Service

There are many reasons why Masters Services is the best Houston chimney sweep service. When choosing a company to serve you and your family’s chimney needs, you need to ensure they ae educated and understand chimney material. If even one chimney repair is completed incorrectly, your home could now be at risk for fire hazards and severe water leaks. These are serious matters that could poetentially put your family’s lives at sake.

As of right now, we have two Certified Chimney Professionals on staff, along with our founder also earning his Certified Master Chimney Technician certificate. Most chimney companies scam their customers and complete work with little to none professional experience. Although, Masters Services sees the dangers in handling services this way. Therefore, we take drastic measures to guarantee Masters Services doesn’t make these careless mistakes.

We are now in the process of getting everyone in our company certified to ensure every single one of our employees has the peak skill set for our customers. This would mean every techinican would earn their Certified Master Chimney Technician certificate.This is important because when considering to hire a chimney professional you would want to know he actually knows the current codes and procedures in the hearth industry.

All of Masters Services fireplace and chimney inspections are provided by email and printed with images, explanations, and videos. To my knowledge other chimney company is doing both. Video inspections are the most important service we provide proving the chimney lining integrity is either in good condition or is in need of relining. The best Houston chimney sweep does video inspections with well written home style inspection reports.

Houston homeowners should make sure when receiving an estimate or a chimney safety inspection that it is clear and informative. The inspection or estimates should have images for each item inspected, pass or fail per item inspected or estimated, and or code cited for repair that may be needed.

Chimney Liner Inspected

the chimney liner is the outer layer lining the inside of the chimney flue. A liner is required per fire code NFPA 211. The liner must be crack free and smooth. Chimney service providers that have not been certified would not know this fire code. The chimney lining can ONLY be inspected by a video camera on a pole going up the entire chimney. A liner inspected by eye sight or a flashlight is not properly passing any chimney for fire safe worthiness. You just cannot simply see the middle of the chimney even if its big and clear all the way up. As a Certified Master Chimney Technician, I have seen too many flues that looked safe only to find out there id a huge crack or missing mortar half way up the chimney. These are chimneys that clearly look easy to see but you simply just cannot see it enough to accurately pass the chimney for safe usage.

Smoke Chamber Paring

A repair that is often not know by a non certified chimney company is the proper inspection of the smoke chamber. Is the smoke chamber lined and smooth leading up the the flue. If not the NFPA 211 clearly states that the smoke chamber must be parged smooth to pass inspection. You would not even know that if not certified. If your brick is stair stepping above the damper to the start of the chimney flue then your chimney doe not pass inspection. Masters Services is the best Houston chimney sweep because we follow all safety codes guide lines for chimney repairs. We have purchased the equipment to properly parge a smoke shelf properly. A relining of the smoke shelf that has been parged is a common repair that we find in chimney inspections. Linings are less expensive because it takes about one third of the time to line versus parging.

 

Above is a map that shows the distance from our Houston location to the city of Houston, Tx. Masters Services added our Houston location because we care so deeply about this area and all of our customers that live here. If you live in the Houston area, give us a call to schedule an appointment with Masters Services for a chimney inspection and or cleaning!

When you are preparing this season for your Houston chimney sweep, call the best around, Masters Services (713) 723-4854.

Whether you hire dryer vent cleaning Dallas or you’re bold enough to handle it on your own. There are a few tips that you should know about before you hire someone. The first thing you should do is thoroughly inspect the termination port of your dryer – including the roof jack or wall. Then you should check to see if there are any clogged openings or even a bird’s nest.

The next thing you’re going to want to do is check to see if there is enough air actually leaving from the vent. Most people’s dryer vent is clogged or isn’t ventilating properly without them even knowing. To check if enough air is circulating, all you have to do is simply feel the inside walls of the duct with your hands. If you discover that it’s clogged with lint and left-over fuzz, then it’s time for a dryer vent cleaning Dallas.

You might be thinking that a bit of dryer lint is relatively insignificant. You would be mistaken. Lint is highly combustible and should be removed as soon as possible. Never belittle the dangerous effects that an unclean dryer vent can create.

NBC News reported a story of a typical family whose dryer vent completely burned down their house. Minutes after the dryer caught fire, black smoke was flooding from every window of the house. “I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t imagine that a dryer vent could cause a fire,” one of the family members exclaimed. This family didn’t realize the importance of getting their dryer vent cleaned, until it was too late.

Our company, Master Services does an excellent job at cleaning, is affordable and is time efficient dryer vent cleaning. Dallas dryer owners, email us or call this number to get your dryer vent cleaned, 972.877.4650.

 

Why Is Dryer Vent Cleaning Necessary?

If anyone were to tell you how many house fires were started by dryer lint, you might not believe it. When Consumer Reports magazine did an independent study of National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data, they determined that out of 13,000 dryers that spontaneously caught fire, nearly 6,000 of those fires were most likely directly linked to a buildup of lint in the venting system of the dryers. Often times people actually get injured in dryer vent fires and sometimes death is even caused from the dryer exhaust.

How can this sorry annual statistic be changed? Can a homeowner do their own dryer vent cleaning? Dallas residents who wish to reduce the chance of a lint fire can do several things, none of which end the necessity for periodic professional dryer vent cleaning Dallas.

Getting your dryer vent cleaned is very important because it will help your dryer run more efficiently. That helps you to save more money on your electric bills in the long run. Plus, it prevents fires.

Experts suggest having your dryer cleaned at least every six to twelve months. Most people don’t even know you’re supposed to clean your dryer vent at all!  Another important thing that you will need to do is check and make sure your flex transition hose is not crushed in any way. You should have an ample supply of room for the hose. This is located in the back of your dryer of course.

Why is it Dangerous to have your Dryer Vent Blocked?

There are several hazardous risks that are caused by an obstructed dryer vent.

Let’s begin by looking at how a safe dryer vent is supposed to function. Inside the dryer, air is swirled and electric heat is given off to effectively dry clothing. Then, the air is circulated through the clothes and pushed out by an electric fan, into the dryer vent. When the air is sent through the dryer vent, it should flow pass the vent hood and into the outdoors.

When lint and over waste is blocking your dryer vent, it no longer drys clothes effectively. Clothing takes more than three times as long to dry and might Despite the fact that your dryer isn’t even doing it’s job correctly, it’s now a precarious safety risk too. Not only does cleaning your dyer vent protect your clothing, it also protects your home from dangerous house fires.

The air that should be flowing through the dryer vent and out the vent hood, has no where to go anymore. Due to this, your dryer vent application can create a carbon monoxide build-up. When carbon monoxide is being exhausted into your home, instead of outside, it releases harmful gas fumes. These gas fumes are poisonous to breath in and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Master Services provides dryer vent services to decrease the national percentage rate of fires started by dryer vents and ensure the safety of our Dallas customers.

How do I know if it’s time for a Dryer Vent Cleaning?

To know if it’s time to call a Master Services technician for a dryer vent cleaning is fairly easy. Before hiring a Master Services expert, you can look for these designated factors. There are a few major warning signs that indicate your dryer vent is in need of professional help.

Have you ever been in a hurry and set your dryer to “quick dry” but the clothing is still damp once the dryer chimes? If this situation sounds familiar, your dryer vent is probably clogged and causing this irritating issue. If you notice that your clothing is taking longer than usual to dry, you might need to repair your dryer vent. Often times, clothing will end up taking three times as long as normal to completely dry. As time goes on, the lint in the dryer vent will build up and the time to dry your clothing will only increase as time goes on. This is the most common aspect to knowing your dryer isn’t working correctly.

Another indicator your dryer vent needs to be cleaned out, is when the clothing is hot to touch once finished drying. When taking your laundry out from the dryer, it should be dry and slightly warm. If your clothing is anything more than slightly warm, then this could be related to a dirty dryer vent.

If you ever smell a burning aroma coming from the general area of your dryer vent, this could indicate your dryer vent is blocked.

One aspect many people don’t think to look at is movement of the vent cover. If the vent cover isn’t flapping when the dryer is running, then the airflow is limited and restricted due to blockage.

Do I need a Cleaning if I don’t Notice any Warning Signs?

If you haven’t had your dryer vent cleaned in over twelve months, then you definitely need a cleaning done. Even if you don’t notice any of these warnings, you must get a cleaning done every twelve months. You never know when it’s blocked up without your knowledge.

How do you Clean a Dryer Vent?

To gain access to the dryer vent duct, a professional will start off by temporarily moving the dryer vent. Moving to the exterior of the house, the vent cover will be cleared to ensure the cleaning brush doesn’t miss any part of the dryer vent. Going back inside the house, a blower is used to force air through the dryer vent to the vent cover. This step determines whether the airflow is safe or not.

If their isn’t enough air going through, then we must determine if the duct is separated or the duct is clogged. When the dryer vent duct is separated, then an estimate is given for reconnecting the duct together. Now, if the duct is back up with lint, they will determine which method of removal is best to completely clear the dryer vent line.

Typical dryer vent clogs are caused by lint and debris from drying clothing. Although, some clogs are not considered normal. These unusual clogs occur when a bird decides your dryer vent is roomy enough to nest in or a squirrel wants to move in with you. In this case, an estimate will be given to clear the duct.

Once, the dryer vent is clear of lint and or animal housing then the dryer vent will be placed back where it’s supposed to be.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Experience from Owner

Chad Murray, the owner of Master Services recalls his memorable experience with cleaning a dryer vent. Master Services received a call from a homeowner, wanting a dryer vent cleaning. The customer claimed she just started to notice a burning smell after every load of laundry she did. Since the odor had just begun, she didn’t think the cleaning was all that needed but decided to get it done just to be sure.

Once the dryer vent duct was removed and the flapper was cleared, it was time to use a blower on the duct. When a technician was seeing if the airflow was circulating through, Chad was sitting on the other end, on the exterior of the house. After a few minutes, nothing was coming through so it seemed like there was i excess lint.

Chad bent down to get eye level with the vent cover and all of sudden all the lint came out all at once, right into his face. He said it was the most lint he ever seen in a dryer vent before and that it tasted terrible!

This whole story should teach you two things, to never underestimate a dryer vent cleaning and to never put your face by a dryer vent cover. Even when the customer just started noticing signs of a clogged dryer vent, it had needed a cleaning for months! Without knowing it, her dryer was a potential health risk from her and her family.

The experts at Dryer Vent Cleaning in Dallas

For starters, take a good look at the stuff your dryer venting system is made of. If it’s any type of plastic, change it out for a metal venting system right away. And we do not mean aluminum. Softer or more flexible vents can sag, which can restrict the lint from being vented outside of the home. It’s most often a buildup of lint, that is makes your dryer vent prone to dangerous combustion. You should vacuum under and around your dryer every once in awhile, to keep the area clean of dryer lint and debris.

Call Masters Services if at any time you think you may need a professional dryer vent cleaning Dallas. It was not all that long ago that most households did not have a washer and dryer indoors. Laundry day used to be a dreadful, laborious day associated with a long, arduous process of hauling water and elbow grease. Having a working laundry facility in your home is a luxury that most people take entirely for granted.

Call Master Services Today to get your Dryer Vent Cleaned!

Altogether, you should keep your dryer lint at bay by having a professional dryer vent cleaning Dallas at least one time per calendar year. Call Master Services today if you think your dryer vent could be causing issues. Whether you’re having problems with drying your clothes or if you just need that annual cleaning done, call Master Services! Remember, clearing out your dryer vent could be preventing your home from a disastrous fire, protecting your family from hazardous gas fumes and could be saving you thousands!

After reading, do you think your dryer vent needs a cleaning? Do you want to know more about dryer vent cleaning? To find out more information on how to get your dryer vent cleaned out, schedule a free estimate. Also if you need a chimney cap and you do not live in Dallas you can go to MasterCaps.com.

Master Services removes wildlife from multiple different cities, including Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and Denver. We have been removing wildlife in Houston for over 20 years. If you’re looking for a business with animal removal experience, you have the right company! No wildlife removal process will be started if animal activity is still going on the property.

Call 713-723-4854 to schedule a wildlife removal in the Houston, Texas area. Sorry no dogs or cats.

Our company specializes in handling wildlife issues in houses and repairing the damage done by the pesky critters. If you notice wildlife in your attic, chimney, porch, soffit, yard, garage, house siding, or under your house foundation, it’s time to call Master Services.

Houston wildlife removal is what we are going to focus on. Masters Services (713-723-4854) offers same day Houston wildlife removal. Raccoons and squirrels are having their litters and finding Houston attics an easy place to give birth. Our Houston office has ordered additional supplies to keep up with the demand, One Way squirrel traps and raccoon traps.

One way traps for Houston wildlife removal is the safest way to capture animals in a timely manner.

We have received an increase this year in bat calls in apartment complexes. Last year we only estimated three commercial buildings that were infested with bats, this year we have already estimated over 30 buildings. The wildlife removal Houston TX is a booming and Masters Services is ready!

Why would I call for a Houston wildlife removal?

Do you hear noises in the wall or attic?
Did you see a raccoon in your back yard?
Is your yard all dug up?
Is there a squirrel running on your roof?
Is something living under your bbq grill?
Have you seen a snake in your yard?
Do you see your house siding getting a greasy look in a small high area?
Do you hear something in the chimney?

All great reasons to call Masters Services to come out and do a free estimate. Let’s dive into the above questions and see what might be your exact nuisance wildlife issue.

Do you hear noises in the wall or attic? Did you see a raccoon in your yard? Is there a squirrel running on your roof?

Scratching, foot step sounds, rustling noises, and possible a loud thud are all very good indicators you have either rats or a raccoon in the attic.

Raccoon are a very smart animal. They have over the years become wise to easy access points to gain entrance into attics. They have learned to tear up roof shingles. Raccoon have recognized house siding in need of repair is an easy place to enter a house. Eaves and soffit vents have become a favorite spot to enter as well.

Rats are magicians when it comes to getting into attics. If a rat can get its skull trough a hole then it can squeeze through that spot with ease. Unbelievable they can get into a half inch hole!

Squirrels! Squirrels are actually dangerous to have in attics. The damage and fire hazard potential is high with squirrels in the attic.

Raccoon and Squirrels are very active in the spring to find a nesting spot to give birth. After the birth then the attic becomes a safe space to raise the babies until fall. So you start with one animal and then up to 8 more!

Since you’ve gotten this far into the article lets talk about what we can do for you.
Masters Services will come out and inspect the attic. We will be looking for droppings to identify the nuisance wildlife. We are looking for tunneling in the attic insulation, attic highways. We will be looking to see if anything is chewed upon like wires.
Of course you can do a pre-inspection before calling us to inform us on what you see. Be very cautious! Mama raccoons are over protective and will attack upon sight. I now, I’ve been charges by a mama raccoon many times!
There are different methods of removal depending on the nuisance animal. Trapping or scent control.

All three common attic nuisances can be trapped but the raccoon we have a very good scent deterrent. When strategically placing the scent in the attic we can typically get the raccoon to leave within 24 hours.

If traps are set we will come back every three days unless you inform us there is an animal in the trap. We come as soon as possible to relocate the wildlife far enough away to not return.

If you have rats we will estimate the cost of sealing the rats entries up and then placing rat traps in the attic. Once the house is sealed the rats have to eat, traps are there only source of food. This process is typically a week long.

Squirrels are the invader in your attic we place what’s called a one way trap on the main entry point. This trap allows for the squirrel to leave but not come back in. This way of getting the squirrels out is the most effective accepted method of squirrel removal. It’s humane, no harm, and they stay in environment they grew up. This is important to the future health of the squirrel population.Of course Masters Services will seal up the house to prevent any future squirrel attempt.

Once theses wildlife critters are now evicted from our attic we will have given you an estimate to clean up the feces and urine soaked insulation in our initial estimate. We may need to just do a minor clean up. It is possible we need to completely remove all the insulation and then clean up the excrement. Once all cleaned up the new insulation can be installed.

Do not wait to hire a nuisance wildlife company

Masters Services has over 20 years of solving Houston wildlife removal issues. Call 713-723-4854 to schedule your free estimate. Do not wait because the critters are causing more damage every time they relieve themselves all over your attic. Yes its a scarce tactic to call you because it’s TRUE. When you have to go, I guess you have to go… right?

I have witnessed a homeowner take their time on just getting estimates. We were there on Tuesday to estimate and after all the estimates came in we were hired on Friday. Upon showing up the estimate doubled! On Tuesday the raccoon had just shown up the night before or at least with a few days. Not much damage. By Friday a male raccoon had come in and killed her pups and they fought to the death! It created a mess and ceiling damage that was not there on Tuesday.

Dead animal removal is more expensive when there is blood. Bio hazard caution needs to be taken to remove all the blood and tissue. Get all your estimate in 24 hours and hire the best Houston wildlife removal company you feel will do the best job. Masters Services starts and does not stop until the job is completed.

Do you hear noises coming from the chimney?

Raccoons, birds, and squirrels often get into chimneys. Masters Services will remove and build a wildlife enforced chimney cap. If you do not live in Houston or Dallas you can order a from us on our National website MasterCaps.com.

Do you see your house siding getting a greasy look in a small high area?

If you are noticing drip like grease stains high up on the side of your house you have bats. A bat colony has moved into the attic or into the open space under the siding. Please call us immediately, 713-723-4854.

Bat “removal” services is done differently than than how we remove any other typical animal from properties. Bats have special, federal protection due to their endangerment and vulnerable. We don’t actually remove them, instead we take a non-harmful approach to removing a bat family.

Bats have a Federal Gestational Protection time period. What that means if call after the Federal Government declares no removal of bats you have to live with them until the Federal Government takes off the order. Typically this is between May and September. We can still come in those months and contains the bats to limit the damage. If you do nothing you may need to move out.

We will come and do a free estimate and start the same day or the next. Sealing up the exterior of the home is crucial. We leave the main entry point where the bats are free to come and go in only one spot. Once the pups are born they as well are contained. So you start out with 20 bats and end up with 50, however the bats are only there to give birth to their litter.

Once the bat finishes giving birth to their pups, they will move out of the space altogether. During the process of waiting for the bat litter, we make it almost impossible for the bats to go anywhere else on or in the home. This method is the safest way to remove bats from an attic and the absolute only legal way.

You may think that letting the bats continue to have their children there is a bad idea. Leaving the bats alone, ensures no state or federal laws are broken and that the animals are not harmed. start out with 20 bats and end up with 50 however we make it almost impossible to go anywhere else on or in the home. Making sure the entry point is closed up after the last bat has left the home is vital to ensuring no wildlife can enter back into the home.

After all bats are removed, the area is sprayed to disinfect the area. The scat that’s left behind from bats is actually dangerous to breath in for human lungs. Leaving behind the feces and decayed matter from bats can potentially be harmful for your health. Our company protects your home from harmful, bacterial waste and further issues with other invasive animals, such as, raccoons and squirrels.

How does mesh screening prevent Houston wildlife removal?

We make our masonry chimney caps with mesh screening to ensure no wildlife can enter into the chimney while allowing enough area for smoke to be able to safely escape the chimney flue. Another reason the mesh screening is used on our #1 and #2 style caps is to keep out any debris from outside including leaves, rocks, excess amounts of dirt, etc. During storms leaves can blow into an unprotected chimney causing the leaves to act as a code violation, due to their flammable capabilities.

Our #1 chimney cap has earned it’s name for all the right reasons. It was carefully thought out and designed so that rain and animals can’t enter from any part of the chimney cap. The mesh screening prevents wildlife from squeezing their way into your home.

Get a #1 chimney cap installed to protect your family from animal infestation and to avoid spending money on several wildlife related problems in the future. It’s everything a chimney cap should be! This cap protects your house from critters that create damage, it prevention rain leakage, and it’s a simple, yet elegant design that fits perfectly with every house style.

Master Services provides a unique Houston wildlife removal service to ensure the safety of your and family. Do you think you may need to hire us for removal services? Call Master Services or schedule online today for a free estimate!

 

 

Being raised in a family-owned business, one thing I noticed was how welcoming and accepting our company was with every employee that came to us. Employees weren’t just allowed in the work environment- they were invited into our family. At a young age, I began to learn the true definition of unity and selflessness through the actions of my parents.

Saying our company was a family business wasn’t just a label-it was a lifestyle. I saw my parents sacrifice everything they had for their business; that’s what makes any business successful.

 

Both of my older sisters, Kylie and Madelyn, have worked in the call center for Masters Services. Kylie graduated from Texas Tech with a certified teaching degree last May, and is now teaching special education in Denton. Kylie, with her teaching position, no longer works for the business. Madelyn is in college for a nursing degree and works part-time at a local hospital. In between studying and helping out with patients, she still finds time to work for Masters Services. Maybe my younger sisters will work for the company when they are older too!

My dad, Chad Murray, the founder and CEO of Master Services, has a certified degree in the chimney and wildlife industry. He has obtained the certification of being a Certified Master Chimney Technician for several years now. Christa Murray is also the founder of Masters Services, and used to work in the call center.

Growing up in the Chimney Business

Growing up, I remember going into the Masters Services office during the summertime. While my parents would be busy working, I had to find other ways to occupy my time. When the employees in the call center would go on their break or even run to the restroom, I would silently snoop around. Looking at the open desk and the lonely phone, I had an idea. This was my chance to let my creativity run wild, and to finally fill in the duties of an adult.  

Careful to not to touch any of the belongings on the desk, I would grasp the phone with precision and allow my imagination to take over. Cautious not to be caught in the act, I spoke in a soft but eager tone. “Hello, this is Gracie speaking. Is your refrigerator running?”, or “Hello, Queen Elizabeth. Of course, I will have tea with you this evening,” followed by giddy laughter as if somebody were actually on the other end of the phone. Just as I heard footsteps coming towards me, I would leap up out of the victim’s chair and run as fast I could to my secret hiding spot.  

Gradually, my conversation topics adjusted based on my growing maturity, (and the Queen was no longer returning my calls for tea). I moved from fantasy into reality- and I now wanted to transform into a working business women-at least act like one. Instead of pretending to speak to characters, I started to communicate with made-up clients. The cycle of sneaking in and out of the office call center continued, although as mentioned, as I grew up the subjects began to alter. 

One day during my daily lurking, I noticed a tab on the computer was left open from the Masters Services website. It read “Chimney Facts about Stopping Chimney Leaks and Deterioration,” what was that, I wondered? Having no clue what that phrase meant I started to base my phone calls off chimney leaks and… deodorant? I had no idea why my parents’ business was talking about a hygiene product that freshens up smelly armpits. “This is Gracie with Masters Services. How can I help you today?” waiting a few seconds then I would say, “Of course, we repair Chimney leaks and prevent deodorant stains. Would you like to make an appointment?”.

At the time, I was only about 10 years old but I wanted to learn everything I could about my parent’s business. The more I learned about chimneys, the more I wished I could work in the call center; even if I wasn’t sure what all the terms meant quite yet. 

I’m now 16 years old and I have come to the realization that acquiring a job isn’t as glamorous as I always thought it would be. This is only my second week working for Masters Services and I can already tell you all about chimney leaks and how to prevent them. If you have a deteriorating chimney or leak, that’s alright because Masters Services has your back. Our company repairs leaks and chimneys to ensure maximum safety for you and your family. Your families safety and health are our number one priority.  

 

What is Deterioration?

Let’s start with what deterioration actually is. I now know that the word I thought was deodorant is actually deterioration. Since then I have been filled in on the true meaning of the word and how it affects your chimney. Deterioration is the process of your chimney breaking down and becoming progressively unsafe. Leaks in your chimney caused by rain water leads to chimney deterioration. 

 

Why is having a leaky chimney so dangerous?

 Having rain water trapped in your chimney may contribute to health risks and could eventually progress into structural decay. The rain will seep into the walls of your home, growing all sorts of unwanted, harmful bacteria, such as, mold, fungi spores, and mildew. Once the bacteria finds its way into your home, you are more susceptible to respiratory issues and other health hazards. The musty smell of mold can also be detected throughout the house when leaks go unfixed. Annual chimney inspections are suggested, in order to avoid these issues altogether. Master Services offers a rigorous chimney and fireplace inspection with a full report emailed and printed for your records. 

 

Why Master Services Chimney Caps is the Best Installation Choice

There are several ways a chimney can be exposed to water and develop leakage. Without a proper fitting chimney cap installed, your chimney is vulnerable to rain damage. Installing a full coverage chimney cap means the top of your chimney will be entirely covered, resulting in little to no repairs when heavy rain comes your direction. Master Services chimney caps are fabricated by us and also come with a limited lifetime warranty. Animal proofed screens are installed to make sure wildlife removal will not be needed in the future. If the rain can’t get in, neither can the pesky critters. 

 

How to Figure out if your Chimney is Leaking

Here’s how to figure out if you need to give Master Services a quick call for your leaky chimney. Sometimes it’s difficult to know for sure if your chimney is leaking. You can start by checking for any dripping noises coming from your fireplace or visible condensation inside the firebox. Staining from water buildup could appear on your walls or ceiling anywhere around your fireplace. Another way to determine whether your chimney has water trapped inside, is to look for cracks or eroded brick in the masonry. Water could also fall straight down your chimney when it’s raining outside, this is the most common way people realize their chimney is leaking.  

 

Master Services Levels of Water Damage Solutions

Once your chimney has been inspected and the leakage has been identified, there are three levels of water leakage solutions to follow. Depending on how much damage the water left, each level has a different approach on repairing your chimney. Often times level one is the only step needed to completely fix the chimney leaks and waterproof the chimney as a whole.  

 

Level one of Repairing Chimney Leakage

Level one of the water leak solutions includes a list of many beneficial steps. Each step helps to solve the problem of water seeping from your chimney into your home. This process will keep your home free from developing hazardous bacteria and even harmful toxins.  

With a success rate of 95 percentage, level one ensures to keep leaks from destroying your chimney and causing further issues from evolving. Now let’s break the process down into separate steps so you know exactly what will be done to your chimney. In level one we always install a full coverage chimney cap, made specially by our company.  

Master Services installs full coverage chimney caps to prevent rain from entering your home and to protect your family from unwanted animal infestation. Our number one chimney cap has a flat top for water prevention and screening for wildlife removal avoidance. While making sure your family isn’t at risk from the effects of these chimney complications, safety and style go hand and hand. Of course, the health and safety of your family is always our top priority, we want your home to look it’s best. Our chimney caps can complement the house’s exterior, as well as make sure you and your family are protected. Master Services wants our customers to be aware of all the chimney facts associated with the installation process.

From several different design types to choose from, our number one chimney cap comes in colored steel, stainless steel, and copper. Can’t find a chimney cap that suits your liking’s? Master Services offers the choice to customize your chimney cap and get it specially made just for you. Happen to not like the classic flat top design? Our companies’ arched lid chimney cap is perfect for your family and is the right choice to satisfy you. 

Chimney Facts About Flashing

The flashing of a chimney is the space in between the roof and the bottom of the chimney. It should never be cracked, impaired, or have signs of tarnishing, such as rust. This is an important chimney fact that most homeowners don’t think about. Having a chimney with flashing that is bowing out or bending could cause water to enter the chimney and make the existing flashing erode away. Sealants wearing down is one of the most common ways rain gets into houses. If the flashing on a chimney isn’t installed correctly or it begins to leak, rust will eventually form. Flashing is installed to make sure water doesn’t seep into the crevices of the roof and to secure the chimney to the house. To avoid needing your chimney flashing repaired in the suture, get your flashing installed correctly by Master Services. Fixing your flashing now, ensures you won’t run into issues later on.  

 

Master Services uses FlashSeal for sealing chimney flashing and overall flashing needed on the roof. With FlashSeal, a bond is produced that ensures a solid seal will keep all moisture out of your house. Flashing makes sure the area between your roof and chimney are watertight. It also makes certain no condensation will get trapped inside the walls of your home, enter your attic, or sit on the inside of your roof. 

During the rest of the level one process a crack free mortar crown and a seal mortar crown are both installed to hold the chimney top altogether. A solid bed of the mortar is smoothed out and a coat of crown is applied to secure it in place. A lifetime warranty is put on the chimney after the crown coat is laid out, guaranteeing the chimney won’t ever leak into the crown of mortar. Deterioration and leaking will never occur with a mortar installation and no chimney repairs will be needed again.  

Chimney bricks may have cracks in them, allowing water to fall right through your chimney and into your fireplace. The procedure of repairing your chimney bricks of cracks is called tuck pointing. Only minor tuck pointing is necessary (if any at all) for a level one water leak solution job. Tuck pointing includes filling in all cracks with mortar after drilling the cracks out. To fill in the cracks, we use a matching age mortar therefore it will blend in with the existing mortar. Once the job is finished, the cracks will be gone and most of the time, the new mortar can’t even be seen at all.  

Chimney facts are that Chimney Saver Waterproofing, the absolute best waterproofing chimney sealant on the market, is applied to the outside brick of the chimney. It is sprayed onto the chimney exterior to prevent any moisture from finding its way into the chimney. After the spraying is finished, any water moisture already trapped inside evaporates out of the chase, therefore no further damage is made. This waterproofing should be applied to every chimney to avoid chimney repairs in entirety.  

To prevent rain from being blown into your chimney, dampers are installed underneath the chimney cap. Our company offers two types of dampers, based on the classification of the chimney. 

Fireplace Top Mounted Dampers

When a chimney cap is made by Master Services, an energy top damper should be put in place as well. A chimney fact that not many know is that only masonry fireplace chimneys can have an Energy Top Damper positioned below it. Air conditioning and heating is controlled by these chimney top dampers. One of the chimney facts most don’t know is that without having a chimney top damper installed, the air conditioning you pay for escapes through the chimney when you don’t even realize it. If you have an energy top damper installed you and your family will end up saving hundreds of dollars yearly from heating and cooling costs, while protecting your home from unwanted chimney leaks.  

Zero Clearance Replacement Dampers are our other damper option available to our customers. This damper includes a U.L. Listed Spark Arrestor, or a termination cap with a louvered screening.  

 

Chimney facts About Level two of Water Damage Solutions

After every single step from level one is completed to repair water leakage, if necessary, level two is used. The process of tuck pointing is used on the entire chimney and mortar crown is also installed. Another spraying of Chimney Saver Waterproofing is applied to mortar and the chimney brick for the second time. 

 

Level Three Chimney Facts

If the previous levels of water leak solutions have not solved your problems with chimney leaks then level three must be approached. Level three includes a complete rebuild of the chimney as well as installation of a full coverage chimney cap and a crack free mortar crown. Knowing your chimney facts could potentially save your chimney from  having to as far as having to rebuild the whole chimney.

Master Services stops chimney leaks before they happen and prevents chimney deterioration from occurring. If your chimney has leakage, needs repair from water damage, and needs any of the services mentioned, give us a call and schedule an appointment with Master Services. Don’t have any leakage in your chimney? Most people don’t realize their chimney is prone to leaks, even if they haven’t happened yet. We offer services to prevent and avoid leakage before it even occurs, therefore give Master Services a call today or schedule an appointment online! 

 

Masters Services is the chimney sweep near me that can professionally inspect your fireplace and chimney.

Masters Service is the chimney sweep near you in the surrounding cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Oklahoma City that you with professional chimney services. Our chimney services include chimney safety inspections done by a camera, chimney cap installations, chimney repairs, fireplace repairs, chimney flue relining, smoke chamber parging, gas log sales and installation, and fireplace door sales.

Why hire Masters Services, this chimney sweep near me?

• Here at Masters Services has the culture of caring for its customers and employees. I put this as number one for a huge reason. We train to care, we hire employees that care, and we never quit if given the chance to make everything perfect. We are not perfect but we stride to be the best company you will ever hire. Your experience should to be the most positive home service experience possible. Starting with the call center to the usage of your fireplace after we serviced the chimney.
• 23 years in business and still family owned and operated.

• 

  Owner has earned his Certified Master Chimney Technician accreditation. Chad Murray has been certified for many years and knows the current building codes to keep your fireplace and chimney in the best possible working conditions.

• Best equipment in the industry for repairs. Our relining and smoke chamber equipment far exceeds any other competitors in our markets. We custom make all our own chimney caps in house to maintain a true limited lifetime warranty. The limited is because of mother nature, cannot guarantee installation against tornadic winds, hurricane Houston winds, or straight line high winds in Texas and Oklahoma. However, not many have come off in all these sorts of event in the past 20 years.
• Electronic Reporting for safety inspection, estimate, and invoicing. We are paperless however our Educators (sales) carry printers in their trucks to provide a paper printout of anything you may need for your records.
• Safety Camera Video Inspections are done on every chimney needing an inspection. We do not inspect with a flashlight and eye balling up a chimney. You cannot see the flue adequately enough without a camera despite what any competitor tells you. The video goes on your records on our CRM.
• Training, training, and training. Masters Services does bi-annual training for every employee on staff at that time. We also do weekly training and meetings to keep everyone updated on their performance of the previous week. If training is needed we go over what could of made our work better for us and the client.
• Turn-a-round time from estimate to install is typically within a week no matter the scope of work. We stride ourselves on getting your fireplace up and burning in the fall or chimney not leaking in the spring.
• We pride ourselves on being on time and doing exactly what we say we are going to do by actually being the best chimney sweep near you to do the job. If we’re running late you will get a call from us prior to your appointment time informing you why we are running behind. It happens, some jobs take longer than anticipated or traffic is slowing us down more than usual.

What to expect when hiring Masters Services Chimney?

Upon easily navigating our website you decide to call for an estimate or safety camera inspection Masters Services will answer the phone every single time during working hours. Typically you will directly connect.  If not you may go into a call queue waiting for a call center representative but we will get to you typically within 30 seconds.

Our call center is trained not just to take your appointment but also has excellent knowledge of our products, services, and repairs.After all questions are answered and you decide to hire us for a free estimate or a paid safety camera inspection the call center can book at our earliest convenience.

The day of your appointment our Educator, that is our sales persons title, will call on their way to inform you their estimated time of arrival. No sitting around wondering if we are coming on time. We call our sales position educators because we look at our job as an opportunity to teach you about the fireplace and chimney. An educated customer is the best customer so we educate you on your chimney and fireplace to make the best decision possible.

The Educator will show up to your appointment in a logo’d vehicle. He will be professionally uniformed and pleasant. A warm greeting will be had between the two of you for then it is time our Educator will to ask you.. I see your needing a (whatever you called about), please tell me more about your concerns. Telling our Educator again is a great important step to hear it from you instead of from the work order. This is how we can focus on your concerns as well as the safety of the fireplace and chimney.

The safety camera inspection or estimate now begins.

If its a free estimate, we will not inspect the chimney. We are there for a specific purpose, to provide you with an estimate. If during the estimate we discover a code violation we must inform you of the situation. It may turn to a safety camera inspection at that time. We will not it in the estimate and give a cost of that repair.

A safety camera inspection requires us to set up in front of the fireplace with tarps to run a video camera up the chimney flue. Master Services maybe the only chimney sweep near me to offer a safety camera inspection. We will run the camera up the chimney recording all our findings. The video will be uploaded to your file on our system for you to access anytime.

The Educator will go on the roof if accessible to look at the chimney. He will take pictures of the chimney. Any repairs will have their own picture and be highlighted. Any preventive services, products, or upgrades will be highlighted as well.

A full home inspection style report made by Masters Services for fireplaces and chimneys is completed. Every component will be completely filled out with a pass or fail evaluation. You will get this report emailed and printed for you.

Now that everything is documented in a report we will provide an estimate and or invoice electronically for your approval. If you decide to think about it our system allows you to approve the estimate at anytime from your own computer, tablet, or phone.

Masters Services never pressures any client into doing anything, ever. We will however make sure the fireplace is safe to use before we are repairing anything. For example, if you need a to add a lining to your fireplace and you choose not to line the chimney we will not work on the fireplace. We will work on the chimney exterior but not do anything to the fireplace if it is not brought up to current building codes. We are liable in the event of a fire escaping your chimney because we are the last chimney service that worked on your fireplace. It doesn’t happen often that we do not get hired for not everything we suggest. If it does we have a code of conduct to adhere too.

In the event you called for a safety camera inspection and a chimney sweep we will not sweep the chimney until the fireplace and chimney are up to code for safe usage.This can be confusing to customers. Let me explain. If Masters Services inspects your chimney and sees a code violation we will estimate that repair. If we can repair it that day then absolutely we will but most of the time the repair will take too long to get completed in the given time frame for the inspection. We will not sweep the chimney giving you false hope to use it. Sounds crazy, but customers will burn even given the fail tag so we do not sweep it until a pass is given.

The Plan

On the estimate we will provide in depth all detailed items and description of all repairs, services needed, and products required for your chimney and fireplace. An item description called “The Plan” will provide you with the timing of when we will be doing the repairs. We will provide you how long it takes so you can plan your day accordingly around our work.

Here is an example of “The Plan” item description on an actual client here at Masters Services…

Here is an outline of “The Plan” of installation.
This will be two days of work.
Day one we will begin with sweeping all loose materials from the flue.  The we will start applying the PCR treatment.  This is all inside work. This will take about 3 hours long.
Day two we will return to complete the PCR treatment, waterproofing bundle, replace the starter pipes, and repair brick and mortar joints inside the firebox. This will be inside and outside work that will take about 6 hours to complete.

“The Plan” is a convenience to know the timing of installation of our products and services. We feel when hiring a chimney sweep you should be aware of everything we do from start to finish. Providing as much up front communication about our services is helps provide a smooth easy customer experience.

The chimney sweep near me: hire Masters Services really is the best choice for your chimney needs. Not every chimney sweep near you has established the systems, experience, and culture we have developed over 23 years. The goal of every home services provider should be to make the customer experience the best it possible be not matter the industry. Master Services is achieving this one client at a time, day by day. To hire us call us at 972-877-4650 to schedule your next chimney service or estimate.

 

 

What to expect from a chimney cleaning pro when hiring for a chimney sweep or an inspection.
Masters services is you chimney cleaning pro, safety inspections, and repairs in Dallas Houston Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. Our owner Chad Murray is a Certified Master Chimney Technician. John Michaud, our General Manager, is a certified chimney professional as of January 2020.

Which Comes 1st, Chimney Cleaning or a Safety Inspection?

So which comes 1st chimney cleaning or a safety inspection? Some companies will clean the chimney and then do a safety inspection. Sometimes you do have to clean the chimney to complete a safety inspection however most of the time we do not need to clean the chimney to complete a safety inspection. Here at master services we choose to inspect the chimney 1st and only clean it if the inspection requires us to see through the debris. In most cases you can see the flue is in good repair or not in good repair without cleaning the chimney. For liability reasons we do not clean the chimney giving the client false hope that their chimney is ready to use especially if it is in need of repair.

In the event the chimney has too much soot and we cannot see the chimney liner we are required to clean the chimney. The chimney liner is by NFPA 211 code required to have no cracks and be in good smooth condition. If the chimney has stage 3 creosote we will have to do Poultice Creosote Remover treatment before we can complete an inspection for usage of the fireplace and chimney.

As a client that is seeking out a chimney cleaning pro, be aware of any chimney cleaning company that does not safety inspect the chimney with a video camera going up the flue. You cannot inspect a flue above the damper with a handheld flashlight looking up through the damper. You also cannot inspect a chimney flue from the Top of the chimney by looking down the chimney flue with or without a flashlight.

In the years before becoming a certified chimney professional I used to tell the customers anything I could he set their mind at ease that I knew everything there was to know about fireplaces and chimneys. The fact is I knew about 20% of what I needed to know and looking back was scary of what I didn’t know.

Mark Twain has an excellent quote for hiring anybody is not certified in their field…
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

When I look at this quote now being a chimney cleaning pro that is certified I think of all the stuff I knew for sure that ended up not being right. Of course, there’s things that you don’t know that will get you in trouble but the main thing is you’ll never know what you need to know if you don’t study to find out what you will know for sure.

When hiring a chimney professional, you want to know if they know if the inspection should come first or the chimney cleaning. They will only know if they’ve had any training to become certified in the chimney industry.

What does a Certified Chimney Professional really look at when performing a Safety Inspection?

What does a certified chimney professional really look at when inspecting your fireplace and chimney. Starting with the fireplace they’re looking for…

• Cracks pausing fire hazards
• rusting parts
• loose bricks
• broken refractory panels
• correctly built dimensions of the firebox
• smoke chamber integrity
• correct hearth depth into the living room
• fireplace doors installed correctly
• Cleanliness
• smoking issues
• Firescreen coverage
• gas piping installed correctly, in good working order
• anything out of the ordinary that may need to be corrected

When looking at the chimney the inspection includes…

• • Flashing present an installed correctly
  • Chimney chase free of cracks, sealed properly
  • Mortal Crown free of cracks, completely covering the Top of the chimney

• Factory made chimneys have a chase cover, storm collar, UL listed termination cap
• Chimney cap is present, properly functioning as a spark arrestor, acting as an animal, and moisture guard
• Structure has good integrity
• Anything out of the ordinary that may need to be corrected

Knowing what to look for and then knowing how to correct any infractions and or code violations is what certified professionals have proven to have knowledge of’.

What does a Certified Chimney Professional Learn?

A certified chimney professional studies the NFPA 211 Standard for chimneys, fireplaces, vents, and solid fuel burning appliances manual. CCP has also created its own manual to stand with the NFPA 211. All the codes that most cities and states add here too for fire safety is in these 2 manuals. To get certified a chimney professional has studied and taken a test in which he must pass to get their certification. It is not required to be certified to work on your chimney and fireplace in most states. As scary as that sounds, it makes it even more important for any homeowner to make sure they hire the correct professional for their safety.

Beware of anybody claiming to know everything about a fireplace and chimney if they are not certified. Many chimney businesses that offer inspection services have worked for certified professionals. These rogue companies have not studied or proven they know anything about fire safety. It says a lot about somebody that takes it upon themselves to pay, study, and pass a test that is not required to get better in their industry.

An example of what I learned after being certified is that chimney caps are required by code to be installed on every chimney. Many man-made masonry chimneys have been built that do not have a chimney cap.

Countless times when inspecting a chimney, homeowners have questioned why Masters Services was requiring a cap to pass inspection when a chimney cap was not installed at the time of the home being built. There are many Dallas chimney caps and Houston chimney caps needing to be installed on chimneys that have never had a cap installed.

How to do a Chimney Cleaning

Chimney cleanings, otherwise known as a chimney sweep, should only be performed by someone trained to clean a chimney. It can be very hazardous to clean a chimney wrong. Soot, animal debris, or a live animal may enter the house too fast. Even having a professional chimney cleaning vacuum does not stop soot from dusting the house if you don’t know what you’re doing.

The steps to clean a chimney…

1. Cover or tarp as much of the room the fireplace is in as necessary to place your equipment on or to protect any furniture or a household treasures.
2. Bring in all equipment. make sure all equipment is clean from the last usage.
3. Run a pole with a sweeps brush up the chimney to the top.
4. Continue running brush up and down as many times as necessary until no soot or debris is falling.
5. Clean the smoke shelf and smoke chamber.
6. Take the brush and poles outside.
7. Clean the damper.
8. Clean all 3 sides of the firebox.
9. Clean the lintel.
10. Clean the grate.
11. Vacuum out all debris on the fireplace floor.
12. Take all the equipment and tarps outside

Cleaning a chimney step by step seems to be an easy process however if not done correctly can lead to costly clean up fees. Not just knowing how to clean a chimney but also having the correct equipment is the main reason one should hire a chimney cleaning pro.

What chimney repairs can I expect I may need?

Chimney repairs that you may expect to need include a new flue liner, tuck pointing cracks, loose or missing bricks, rusting flashing that needs replacing or sealing, mortar crown enforcement, and possibly rebuilding the chimney.

A chimney flue liner is a big part of having a safe fire in you are chimney. The flue liner must be free of cracks, solid, and smooth going up from the smoke chamber to the top of the chimney. There are several ways in getting your flue liner up to code. Some companies have a flue lining machine that sprays lining mortar up and down the chimney flue. Other companies use a flue cone method. They pour lining mortar down a chimney and bring up a flu cone up designed to line the flue walls. A third possible way of lining a chimney flue is too add a metal lining into the existing flue. There are other methods of lining a flue, but these are the most common.

Of the three methods none of them in my opinion are better than the other. If the end result is you have a solid, smooth, and crack free up to code flue liner then whichever method achieve this was the right method for your chimney.

Tuck pointing cracks is necessary to seal up and interior and exterior issues. It’s pretty obvious why you would fix cracks. A chimney cleaning pro would know exactly how to repair any chimney cracks correctly. Loose and missing brick should be replace as soon as it occurs. Roofer may help in the seeing the chimney flashing needs replacing. Mortar crowns should have a fresh layer of mortar every few years or may even need to be rebuilt.

In extreme cases the chimney may need to be torn down and rebuilt. Rebuilding a chimney is typically caused from moisture penetration. Not having a chimney cap, not having the chimney chase waterproofed, and or not keeping up with general deterioration over time are the causes of minor repairs leading up to chimney rebuilds.

Best questions to Ask a Chimney Pro Before Hiring?

The best question to ask a chimney service is absolutely “Are you Certified?”. Hands down if the answer is “No” then move on the next chimney service provider.
It is always a good question to ask if they have liability insurance.

Masters Services performs all these chimney and fireplace repairs. If you need a chimney cleaning pro call us at 972-877-4650 or 713-723-4854 to schedule a free estimate or a safety inspection.

What is best chimney cap to install?

Let’s breakdown the best chimney cap to install types, styles, materials, and installation.
There are many types of chimney caps. You must first determine what type of fireplace your chimney is venting.

Does it burn wood or gas? Do you have a factory built fireplace system or a man made masonry system. This is important because a factory built fireplace system may require only manufacturers listed parts but allow for a custom shroud. The code to install a chimney cap for a man made wood burning masonry fireplace and chimney is strict to the fabricated dimensions.

Here is a list of types of chimney caps:

• • Flue Caps
  • Custom Chimney Caps (full coverage)
  • Down Draft Prevention Caps
  • Termination Caps
  • Termination Cap with Dampers
  • Top Mounted Damper Caps
  • Multi Flue Caps
  • Shrouds
  • Chimney Chase Covers

Chimney caps are made of steel, stainless steel, copper, prep ready to be painted steel, colored steel, and galvanized steel.

The benefits to have a chimney cap are:

• • Provides a roof over the chimney flue to keep out rain.
  • Protects the chimney flue from moisture.
  • Prevents rusting and deterioration of the fireplace components.
  • Stops critters and birds from entering the chimney flue.
  • Custom Chimney Caps, Chimney Chase Covers, and Shrouds protect the chimney crown and the first row of brick.
  • Can upgrade the exterior appearance of the structure
    

    Factory Built Chimney Cap

    

    Chimney chase covers, UL Listed termination caps, termination caps with dampers, shrouds, and down draft prevention caps are all caps for a prefabricated flue system. Every prefabricated chimney requires a chimney chase cover per NFPA 211.

    NFPA 211: Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances is the source for all chimney and fireplace city and state codes. Chimney caps should be installed strictly to the NFPA 211 codes.

    The only exception to not installing a chimney chase cover is if a chimney is not present. A pipe only penetrates the roof and is not encased in a chimney
    structure.

    Chimney Chase Covers

    Every factory built fireplace system with a chimney requires a chimney chase cover, storm collar, and a UL listed termination cap. A shroud may be installed over the chimney chase cover.

    Chimney Chase covers must be fabricated with certain criteria. All sides must come over and down the chimney chase to shed water away from entering the chimney cavity. A cross break must be fabricated in the construction of the chimney chase cover to shed water away from the flue collar. The flue collar must be sealed and come up to enough to prevent water splashing over it.

    Storm Collar

    The flue pipe must come above the flue collar enough to install the storm collar to prevent any rain from entering the chimney chase. The storm collar should be sealed to the outer flue pipe and down the cross over seam. I suggest using a long lasting warranted polyurethane caulk. Silicone is okay too but only last a few years.

    UL Listed Termination Cap

    UL Listed Termination Caps are the chimney caps that compete the very top of the flue. Generally round in stature but not always. There is a UL Listing standard for termination caps that must be adhered too. Most manufacturers only required their fabricated termination caps on their flue pipe.

    Down draft prevention caps are to stop negative drafting back into the house. An after market product to stop back puffing of smoke. An odd top redirects the outside winds away from going down the chimney flue.

    Termination cap with a damper is exactly that, a damper installed inside the termination cap. These caps stop insects from trying to hibernate and completely seal the chimney flue inner pipe. If the outer pipe is venting you can cover the vent holes ONLY when not in use. You MUST uncover the vent holes before using the fireplace. If not uncovered the fireplace will not be able to cool itself enough during usage creating a major fire hazard.

    Shrouds

    Chimney shrouds are for wind equalization and decoration. Shrouds are not required in terminate a flue or chimney top unless manufacturer specs require one.

    If your chimney is in a high wind location a chimney shroud can be installed to neutralize or calm the wind at the chimney top.

    

     

    Man Made Fireplaces Chimney Caps

    Man made fireplaces and chimney’s are also called masonry chimneys.
    List of chimney caps for man made fireplaces are:

 

• 

• 

• 

 

Chimney caps made for masonry flues are made in many sizes. Here at Masters Services we only install custom chimney caps. Chimney caps that do not cover the entire chimney top are not the best chimney cap to install. Moisture is the main deterioration factor in chimneys and fireplaces. The best chimney cap to install is always a chimney cap that protects the chimney top the best from moisture.

As a Master Certified Chimney Technician, I sworn an oath to install only the best products on the market for chimneys. Flue chimney caps do not cover the entire chimney top therefor leaving it exposed to future deterioration. If a full coverage chimney cap like our No 1 chimney cap or No 2 chimney cap is capable of being fabricated then that is what should be installed.

In an upcoming podcast I will be discussing why I only sell full coverage chimney caps.

Chimney Cap No 1

The most common and best Dallas chimney cap and Houston chimney cap is the No 1.

Dallas, Texas was the origin of the first custom chimney design like the No 1 chimney cap. 40 years ago or more a local sheet metal shop was fabricating the Chimney Cap No 1 for local Dallas chimney sweep. Masters Services dropped selling flue caps that only cover the flue opening in 2000. Master Services only sells the best chimney cap to install for their clients.

The chimney cap No 1 parts  include a base, legs, spark arrestor guard, and a lid.

The chimney cap No 1 has a base designed to shed off water coming from the lid. The base also comes inward at the top of the skirt 6 inches to catch blowing rain from entering the chimney flue. The base is the bottom of the chimney cap that secures to the chimney by wires and anchors. The legs are attached to the corners and possibly the middle for support. The legs hold up the lid and anchor the spark arrestor screening.

The spark arrestor screening is half inch hardware cloth. It is made to NFPA 211 standards and also acts as an animal or bird guard. The chimney cap No 1 is the best animal and bird protection product on the market. Larger animals like raccoon cannot penetrate these chimney caps. A raccoon will sit on a chimney with a flue caps on it and work to get the chimney cap off or damage it to get through it. This is the second reason why Masters Services stopped installing flue caps. First is moisture protection.

The lid for a chimney cap no 1 appears to be flat. It is not. The lid has a cross break in it to shed water off the sides. A cross break is where you bend an “X” in the lid from one corner to the opposite corner. The lid has a one or more inch skirt around the entire outer edge to prevent rain from going inward to enter the flue.
Custom chimney cap no 1 average cost is $450 to $650. It can cost more depending on the size and/or difficulty of installation. Multiple the steel cost by two and that is your average copper price installed.

Chimney Cap No 2

The chimney cap no 2 is the best upgrade to the No 1 in Dallas and Houston. The base, legs, and spark arrestor is the same as the chimney cap no 1. The lid is the big difference. It is a raised lid to look like a roof peak. It has an option of being different heights and to add standing seams.

The chimney cap no 2 is upgraded often to copper. Copper chimney caps patina nicely like the Statue Of Liberty over time. Copper does not rust or degrade like steel can if not properly sealed. If your house has copper gutters or copper gas lights then the custom cap no 2 is the chimney cap for your house.

You can upgrade the pitch too much higher and add arched windows to the no 2 chimney cap for a minimal fee.
Custom chimney cap no 2 average cost is $650 to $1000. It can cost more depending on the size and/or difficulty of installation. Multiple the steel cost by two and that is your average copper price installed.

Hayes Chimney Caps

Masters Services crown jewel of chimney caps. Offered in a lid that is the same size of the chimney OR offered with a lid expanding out over the chimney up to 6 inches. Options include standing seams, arched windows, shorter or taller lid, and can be left open at the top for factory built systems to act as a shroud.

The Hayes chimney cap is a decorate upgrade to any exterior. Hayes cost a bit more than our other chimney caps because it takes much more material to fabricate. It takes three people to fabricate from scratch. Hayes chimney caps also take up to 8 people to install and sometime a boom lift must be rented to get on the chimney top.

The average cost in steel for a medium sized chimney is $1600. Larger can go up to $2200 or more. Copper starts at $2500 and is often over $3000 because of the size and difficulty of installation.

Chimney Cap Facts

Chimney caps are an essential part of completing your chimney flue. Here are some facts about chimney caps…

• Keeps out rain!
• Bob Villa’s This Old House said in an article once that a chimney cap is the most important exterior functioning item on a house.
• Chimney caps stops raccoons, birds, squirrels, snakes, bats, rats, opossum, and any other varmint out.
• No chimney top is the same size
• Having a full coverage chimney cap may slow deterioration of mortar joints to double the lifetime of the linings.
• Chimney caps can be made by having a brick arch over the flue.
• Copper is the best chimney cap metal

Masters Services is not only a retailer and installer of chimney caps but a fabricator. Our sheet metal shop can make any style of chimney cap you present us. Our challenge is making your chimney cap design code correct and function properly. Call Masters Services in Dallas at 972-877-4650 and Houston at 713-723-4854 for a free estimate on the best chimney cap to install for your chimney top.

Jon Michaud Earns Certified Chimney Professional Certificate

A Dallas chimney sweep Masters Services earns second Certified Chimney Professional Certificate. Jon Michaud has studied and passed the Certified Chimney Professional test. Masters Services is proud of our general manager. Jon becomes the 2nd member of Master Services to earn the CCP certificate. Founder, Chad Murray, earned his CCP certificate over 8 years ago and now has become a Certified Master Chimney Technician.

Why are there not more Certified Chimney Professionals in Dallas TX?

Why are there not more Certified Chimney Professionals in Dallas? One can only speculate. A chimney services provider in Texas is not mandated to become certified for chimney sweeping and inspections. It is left up to the individual company to take it upon themselves to study and pass a chimney certification. For some reason Dallas has had a culture of not having certified chimney companies. Many of the old chimney companies did not get certified due to the governing bodies did not have a good Association for testing. Now in 2020, there are 3 good chimney certification organizations. The 3 organizations are the National Fireplace Institute, Chimney Safety institute of America, and Certified Chimney Professionals.

So, when looking in Dallas, Texas for a chimney service it is in your best interest to find a company that has taken it to the level of becoming certified in the industry. It becomes a question of why would you not hire someone that has proven to know the codes and proper procedures to getting your chimney properly functioning and up to code. There are many companies out there that will sway you into they’ve been in business long enough and that they know what they’re doing however they have never done any studying to prove anything that what they’re saying is true. I myself before becoming certified thought I knew everything to only find out I knew not half of what I needed to know to service clients properly.

How do you know you got a good safety inspection for your chimney and fireplace?

Masters Services proves everything in all of it’s chimney safety inspections with images of what needs to be corrected and a video of the flue. We are looking to see if the chimney is up to code, free of animals and animal debris, crack free and a perfectly lined chimney flue, smoke chamber is crack free, and firebox is solid. We’re also looking to see if the structure was built correctly and is in good working condition. Being certified, we know exactly the condition your chimney or fireplace needs to currently be to pass inspection. We are constantly finding things out of the ordinary that should be corrected. Fireplaces and chimneys are man-made so the factor comes into is it build correctly or not.

Chimneys and fireplaces are not all built the same way. Knowing how to do a good fireplace and chimney safety inspection is important when the it is built a certain custom way. Custom built chimneys can work great as long as they are built up to code however they also can be built to where they don’t work and are still up to code. You know you got a good safety inspection when the oddities are pointed out and reported on your inspection report.

Prior to hiring a chimney servicing company you should ask if they provide a good safety inspection with pictures and a camera video inspection of the chimney flue. You cannot inspect a chimney flue with a flashlight or with the naked eye. Just last week one of my inspectors was camera inspecting a chimney that looked to be in good solid condition only to find out the clay tile chimney liner had then somehow moved out of place. This flue tile created an opening into the chimney chase. All liners must be solid at crack free to pass inspection and burn correctly for a safe fire. We would have not discovered this without our camera inspection. Also last week we had a customer call us that had a chimney cleaning an inspection by a non certified chimney company. upon our chimney safety inspection we learned their chimney pipe had separated and they had had a chimney fire. You would have not known this and less you ran a camera up the chimney pipe.

Jon Michaud is Masters Services General Manager

Jon has been working for master services for over 10 years. Under Chad’s watchful eye has learned to manage the codes and proper procedures for our Dallas chimney sweep clients. John deals with the codes and the proper repairs every day assisting our educators (sales people / inspectors) and installation crews. All of Masters services procedures have been driven from the NFPA 211 and the CCP manual. Jon has now studied and passed the Certified Chimney Professional test after years of preparing with experience.

Jon has been able to manage the increase in sales by almost double since he took over the day to day operations. Jon has thrived at managing our 35 full time employees all year round and over 50 employees during the peak fall season. Since we service 3 major cities Jon has help with an additional general manager Brian McMahon. Brian has been with us for over ten years. He is the reason for our expansion into the Houston market. Brian is studying to be a CSIA certified chimney sweep. He attends the week long training in April 2020.

Congratulations Jon Michaud on becoming a Certified Chimney Professional. If you are interested in hiring Masters Services for your chimney needs call 972-877-460 in Dallas and 713-723-4854 in Houston.

 

 

Masters Services, a Dallas chimney sweep starts video inspections.

You cannot inspect a chimney using a flashlight alone. Masters Services, a Dallas chimney sweep starts video inspections. It is impossible to see the middle of the chimney flue without using a camera.

Long before Masters Services was a chimney sweep Dallas professional most other chimney services did not use a camera. To this day most chimney sweeps in Dallas do not use a camera to inspect the chimney flue. Why? Most chimney companies in Dallas are not Certified.

What is inspected during a safety video inspection?
1.
Going from the bottom first the camera will look at the smoke shelf. The smoke shelf is the space behind the damper. Masters Services is looking to see if the smoke shelf is clear of any leaves or any other debris. We are determining if an animal or bird has been living in the chimney OR is still living on the smoke shelf. We want to see is its sold and not cracked up of missing any lining.

2.
Going up we then are looking at the smoke chamber. Is it parged and/or need to be lined. The NFPA 211 Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances states in 11.2.1.13 The inner surfaces of the smoke chamber shall be parge coated smooth, with an insulating refractory mortar, and not inclined more than 45 degrees from vertical. This means no stair stepping of the brick leading up to the flue.

3.
The chimney flue. Chimney liners must be present free of cracks and a solid lining is present. Masters Services is Certified Thermocrete Installers. Here is a great before picture of a chimney that needs relining…

As you can see above the before picture shows a chimney that has clearly never been lined, ever! In Dallas this is common. The original construction crews building chimneys did not know to line the chimney. This is why our chimney sweep Dallas starts video camera inspections. Properly inspecting the chimney to get the chimney at minimum to code requirements is our goal.

The importance of chimney lining was brought to my attention only after getting some education from becoming a Certified Chimney Professional around 10 years ago.

Why is it important to be a certified chimney sweep Dallas? The simple answer is to prove you have studied the chimney industry and the current safety codes. It is not state required to become certified so hiring a company that has gone above and beyond to get certified shows that the company cares about being educated in chimney’s and fireplaces.

If given the choice would you choose a non-certified professional or a certified professional?

Here is the reasons to hire a certified professional:

1. Passed a professional level test in knowing the current codes.
2. Passed a professional level test in knowing the current best methods of repairs.
3. Passed a professional level test in knowing the current standards.
4. Committed to Certified Chimney Professionals “Code of Conduct”.
5. Took it upon themselves to better their chimney knowledge and education above the competition.

Masters Services owner Chad Murray has earned his Certified Master Chimney Technician accreditation. As of the writing of this blog he is the only CMCT in the Dallas market.

As a chimney sweep Dallas service we started camera inspections and learned the very first day the importance of putting a camera up in the chimney flue. On a one story chimney that was less than 14 feet tall we found a flue tile liner was cracked and missing four square inches of lining. You could not see this with the naked eye. Shocked us from the first day!

Video inspections have become Masters Services biggest asset over our competition along with our relining machine. Upon doing a camera inspection we see every little fire hazardous repair needed. Masters Services has followed up other chimney services and was able to locate smoking issues they could not solve due to not having a camera.

Chimney camera inspections also are recorded and uploaded to Masters Services chimney sweep Dallas service clients estimates. This shared chimney inspection video can be a tool to gauge the condition of the flue from year to year. Seeing the video from previous years can really help analyse your usage for safety purposes.

Here is a chimney flue safety video inspection we did in Dallas recently…

 

In this chimney sweep video inspection you can see the exposed brick at the top and the terra cotta flue liner coming down the chimney flue. You can see the joints all looked sealed. You could not see the joints from the bottom or top of the flue with just using a flashlight.

Our video inspections have a home inspector look to them with pictures and a video. All the parts of the chimney are viewed and evaluated for safety.

Masters Services inspects these components of the chimney…

• Mortar Crown, the very top of the chimney must be sealed and solid with no cracks.
• The chimney chase needs to be a good solid structure.
• The chimney chase needs to be crack free and no missing or loose bricks.
• The flashing needs to be installed correctly to maintain a good water shed away from the chimney.
• A chimney cap must be present.
• The chimney should be waterproofed every 8-10 years.
• The chimney must meet the code height requirements.

Chimney caps are the most important item if missing that needs to be addressed. Not having a chimney cap causes water penetration into the chimney flue. Moisture creates mortar deterioration and rusting of the damper. The moisture running down onto the smoke shelf creates fire hazardous cracking in the firebox. Getting your firebox rebuilt is an expensive repair as well as relining the flue which all could of been avoided. Chimney caps slow down deterioration and stop invaders from entering the chimney flue.

The fireplace components that are inspected include…

• The Damper. It must open and close completely and easily.
• The smoke chamber must be parged and lined.
• The firebox walls mush be free of any cracks and must be solid.
• The lintel must be sealed. The lintel is the angle iron holding the window of brick over the opening fireplace.
• The chimney flue must be lined without cracks or missing mortar.
• If present the gas starter pipe must be working and rust free.
• If present the fireplace doors must be installed properly directly on the firebox.
• The firebox must meet the code for proper sizing of the flue opening for drafting.

An issue that comes up often is a fireplace door installed on a masonry fronted prefabricated firebox. This is against code because it creates an extension of the firebox outside the fireplace. It creates a major fire hazard. Doors again must be installed directly on the firebox.

Masters Services has been in Dallas as a chimney sweep for over 20 years. The video camera has allowed us to see repairs in nooks and crannies that you just cannot see with the camera. We can also prove the repair is needed by showing the client the damage. Many times we are a second opinion or the client gets a second opinion where the other chimney service doesn’t do a camera repair noticing the fire hazard present. I couldn’t tell you the countless times we get call backs hiring us that tell us about other services not inspecting their chimney as thoroughly as Masters Services. Brings me great joy to know we are the gold standard of chimney inspections in Dallas, Texas.

There was a time as a chimney sweep I truly believed video inspections were not necessary. I was dead wrong! Now seeing what I’ve seen over the years doing camera inspections on video vs not doing them I am convinced there is no other way to evaluate a chimney for safety. The usage of your fireplace being the safest possible is Masters Services goal. Its true that no chimney sweep, certified or not, can guarantee the function of your fireplace to not have a chimney fire but studies have shown by having your chimney up to code slows the fire severity.

Too many factors are out of control of the chimney companies to stop chimney fires. The absolute best way to prevent chimney fires is to have an annual camera chimney inspection with a video. Many things happen to chimneys over the course of a year. High wind storms can create chimney cap damage. High usage can create too much soot making the fireplace not draw properly.

Draw is also an inspection guess. A perfectly built chimney may not draw the smoke up the chimney. The house may have a negative pressure spot in the room of the chimney creating back puffing. Masters Services rebuilt a chimney after a tornado that did not draw properly when the windows were not yet installed. The customer was furious at us until we showed up and saw the roof was exposed, the windows were all gone leaving the room the fireplace was in not under any house pressures. This house pressure pusses out the smoke and the outside pressure pulls. An inspection typically can see the drafting issue but sometime not. For example if someone just moves in and has never used the fireplace before. A learning curve may be necessary to learn how to stat your fireplace drafting. A window may need to cracked or closed.

As you can see many factors outside the camera inspection can occur. Having the same Certified Chimney Professional inspect your chimney year after year is also a good idea. See previous video inspections could help with knowing the functions of that particular fireplace can be very helpful. Having documented the chimney over the years also could be good for resale of the house. Showing the inspection reports over the years shows you have taken care of your chimney.

Often we get negative comments on how thorough our inspects are in detail. Not everything is a code violation. Waterproofing a chimney is a recommendation, not a code violation. Having a chimney cap just cover the flue opening is not a code violation. However, having a cap cover the entire chimney top does protect the chimney much better than not have it cover the top. Be aware of what needs to be brought up to code and what is a just good preventative maintenance.

Masters Services, a Dallas chimney sweep starts video inspections to bring the best reporting to the chimney industry. Call 972-877-4650 for your video camera safety inspection