An 1850s settlement between two lakes
Evander and Susannah Lee settled the area in 1857, and the City of Leesburg incorporated in 1875. It lies between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin at the head of the Ocklawaha River, and its Venetian Gardens waterfront park dates to Works Progress Administration projects that began in 1938 (Wikipedia).
That long history shows in the housing. Census estimates put 32.0% of homes before 1970 and another 10.7% in the 1970s, balanced by 32.0% built in 2000 or later. About 37% of homes are rented, and 9% are manufactured homes (Census Reporter).
Older masonry chimneys
Pre-1970 homes are the most likely in Lake County to have site-built brick chimneys. After 55-plus years of hot, wet summers, the usual problems start at the top and work down:
Where older Leesburg chimneys usually need attention
01Crown
- What you may notice
- Cracks across the concrete top, pieces on the roof, water in the firebox after rain
- How it’s confirmed
- Viewed from the roof; cracks traced to the flue tile
02Brick and mortar
- What you may notice
- Sandy joints, flaking brick faces, white staining
- How it’s confirmed
- Joints probed and brick faces checked above the roof line
03Flue liner
- What you may notice
- Often nothing visible from the room
- How it’s confirmed
- A full-length look at the flue during an inspection
If a fireplace hasn’t been used in years, start with a chimney inspection in Leesburg before the first fire. White deposits on the brick are covered in white stains on a chimney.
Rentals and dryer vents
With more than a third of homes rented, many dryer vents are cleaned only when someone notices a problem. Landlords with several properties can schedule rental dryer vent cleaning by use and keep a simple record per unit. For owner-occupied homes, a Leesburg dryer vent cleaning with an airflow check is the usual visit.
The historic district and the rest of the city
The Leesburg Historic District covers about 105 acres and more than 300 parcels, taking in the downtown retail core and the residential streets beside it (City of Leesburg). That’s where the oldest chimneys are most concentrated. Several subdivisions with Leesburg mailing addresses are outside city limits, so send the full address with any request.
- Crumbling crowns, sandy mortar or a damaged liner: chimney repair for older Leesburg homes. For exterior work in the historic district, ask the City about review first.
- Ceiling stains after summer storms: a leaking chimney traced and repaired, starting from the crown and flashing.
- Regular wood fires: local chimney sweeping each season. A flue closed up for years, with nests or heavy soot, needs professional chimney cleaning first.
- A stuck damper, a smoking fireplace or a gas unit that won’t light: fireplace repair options in Leesburg.
North along US 441, Fruitland Park chimney and vent service and the Town of Lady Lake are covered too. Tavares, the county seat, is across Lake Harris to the east.
References (3)
Facts and figures on this page come from these references.
