A Lake County city built mostly this century
Clermont is the largest city in Lake County, about 22 miles west of Orlando. It was founded in 1884 and lived on citrus for decades, but its population grew by more than 250% between 2000 and 2020 (Clermont, Florida). The housing reflects that: in Census estimates for 2020–2024, the median home was built in 2006 and 75.8% of homes date from 2000 or later. Only 7.3% predate 1970. The median home value is $418,400 and 69.2% of homes are detached (Census ACS via Census Reporter).
Homes of that age are more likely to have factory-built fireplaces, gas units or electric fireplaces than site-built brick ones. That’s an inference from build dates rather than a count of fireplaces, and the older houses near downtown and the original lakefronts can be different. For most Clermont owners, though, the chimney is a framed chase with a metal cover, and the questions are about how well it sheds water and wind.
Hills, lakes and weather exposure
Clermont occupies the northern end of the Lake Wales Ridge, with rolling hills that are unusual for peninsular Florida, and the Clermont Chain of Lakes runs through and around it. A house on a ridge or at the edge of open water has nothing upwind to slow a storm gust, so it’s reasonable to expect its roof penetrations to take a harder beating than those on a sheltered lot. The chase cover, the termination cap and any roof dryer vent cap are the parts that stick up into that wind.
| Feature | Sheltered lot | Hilltop or open-water lot |
|---|---|---|
| Wind on the chase | Broken up by trees and neighboring roofs | Arrives at full strength |
| Rain direction | Mostly falls on the chase cover | Driven sideways into siding seams and the storm collar |
| Cap and cover fasteners | Loosen slowly over years | Worth checking after every named storm |
| What to watch | Rust streaks, a dished cover | Shifted caps, lifted cover edges, wet chase siding |
Wind on the chase
- Sheltered lot
- Broken up by trees and neighboring roofs
- Hilltop or open-water lot
- Arrives at full strength
Rain direction
- Sheltered lot
- Mostly falls on the chase cover
- Hilltop or open-water lot
- Driven sideways into siding seams and the storm collar
Cap and cover fasteners
- Sheltered lot
- Loosen slowly over years
- Hilltop or open-water lot
- Worth checking after every named storm
What to watch
- Sheltered lot
- Rust streaks, a dished cover
- Hilltop or open-water lot
- Shifted caps, lifted cover edges, wet chase siding
A tight, custom-fitted chase cover with a sloped or cross-broken top and properly fastened skirts is the main defense. Where water has already soaked the chase, the prefab chimney and chase repair work deals with the siding, trim and framing first.
Lightning country
South of Clermont along US 27 is Four Corners, the unincorporated area where Lake meets Orange, Osceola and Polk counties. In a Vaisala report on 2022 data it ranked first in the US for lightning density (FOX 35). Later data shifted the national rankings (First Coast News), but the area remains among the most lightning-dense in the country. A metal flue running up through a chase is often the highest point on the roof.
After a strike nearby, look for these from the ground
- A termination cap that is tilted, blackened or missing
- A chase cover with a lifted edge or a new dent
- Scorch marks or split siding on the chase
- A burnt smell from the fireplace with no fire lit
- Anything that looks different from before the storm, even if nothing leaks yet
If anything on that list shows up, don’t light the fireplace until it has been checked. A storm damage chimney inspection covers the roof-level parts, the flue sections inside the chase and the firebox. For the difference between a basic look and a full post-event inspection, see Level 1 vs. Level 2 inspections.
Gas lines and gas fireplaces
About 10.2% of Clermont households heat mainly with utility gas, one of the higher shares in the region. That measures heating fuel, not fireplaces, but it suggests natural gas service is more widespread here than in much of Central Florida, and gas fireplaces with it. A gas unit usually sits in the same kind of framed chase as a wood unit, so the chase cover, siding and roof termination can leak the same way. The burner, pilot, valve, logs and glass are serviced and repaired as gas fireplace work. Installing or altering the gas supply line is separate, permitted work that we also carry out (F.S. 489.105). If a gas fireplace won’t start, this troubleshooting page explains the common causes and when to call the gas company.
Dryer vents in new two-story homes
Many newer Clermont houses put the laundry upstairs or deep inside the floor plan. The duct then climbs through the attic to a roof cap, where lint collects at the hot top end and nobody can see it from the yard. Roof dryer vent cleaning clears the run from both ends and checks that the cap has a working damper and no screen. For wall-vented homes, a wall-vent cleaning in Clermont is simpler. Either way, how often to clean a dryer vent depends mostly on household size and run length.
Chimney and fireplace services across Clermont
Many communities with Clermont mailing addresses are in unincorporated Lake County. Inside the city, the City’s own planning documents place developments such as King’s Ridge and Lost Lake Reserve, along with the older streets around downtown and the lakefronts. Wherever the house is, most visits start from the same short list:
Buying, or haven’t used the fireplace in years
A chimney inspection in Clermont covers the cap, chase, flue and firebox, and is the right follow-up after a nearby lightning strike.
Water, rust or storm damage
Help with a leaking chimney traces the entry point first. Damaged chase siding, covers or flue sections are repair for damaged chimneys.
Regular wood fires
Local chimney sweeping before the cool months, or a deeper flue and chimney cleaning when nests or heavy soot have built up.
A fireplace that won’t work properly
Cracked panels, a stuck damper or a gas unit that won’t stay lit are fireplace repair jobs.
Clermont’s neighbors to the north and west have similar newer housing: Minneola chimney and vent service, Groveland homes and the town of Montverde on Lake Apopka.
Outdoor fires in Lake County
Clermont is in Lake County, so Orange County’s open-burning rules don’t apply here. Before using a wood-burning outdoor fireplace or fire pit, check the City of Clermont’s fire department and any current Florida Forest Service burn restrictions, plus your HOA rules.
References (5)
Facts and figures on this page come from these references.
