41 guides
Plain-language answers on chimney maintenance, inspections, leaks, wood and gas fireplaces and dryer vent safety, written for Central Florida’s rain and humidity, with the sources we relied on.
MaintenanceSeasoning firewood in a humid climate, storing it away from the house, what never goes in the fireplace, and how to build a hot, clean fire that leaves less creosote.
5 min readRead guide
Start here
Work out what you have and what it needs.
What inspections cover, and what they skip.
Why Florida chimneys leak and smell.
Airflow, fire risk and the code.
3 guides
Inspection levels, what a home inspector does and doesn’t check, and what Florida’s 4-point insurance inspection covers.
InspectionA Florida 4-point inspection covers the roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC, and the chimney isn’t one of the four. Here is what that means for homes with a fireplace and when a separate chimney inspection makes sense.
5 min readRead guide
InspectionFlorida’s home inspection standards don’t require inspectors to look inside chimney flues. Here is what that leaves out, what a Level 2 chimney inspection adds, and how to fit one into a home purchase.
5 min readRead guide
InspectionThe three chimney inspection levels in NFPA 211 explained: what a Level 1 covers, the specific events that call for a Level 2, what a full-length flue scan looks for, and when a Level 3 is justified.
9 min readRead guide
10 guides
How chimneys fail in a hot, wet climate: crowns, flashing, chase covers, liners and waterproofing, and when repair becomes a rebuild.
RepairGalvanized, galvalume, stainless or copper: how chase cover metals hold up in Florida humidity and rain, and the slope, drip edge and collar details that decide whether any cover sheds water.
5 min readRead guide
RepairCrown, wash, cap: the top of a brick chimney has a vocabulary of its own. What a properly built crown looks like, poured versus precast crowns, what crown coatings can and can’t do, and how long crowns last.
5 min readRead guide
RepairStep flashing, counterflashing, the apron and the cricket each handle water differently. How the system fits together, which metals last in Florida, and how tile and metal roofs change the details.
6 min readRead guide
RepairClay tile, stainless steel, aluminum and cast-in-place liners each suit different fireplaces and appliances. How they compare, what sizing means, and how repair versus relining is decided.
6 min readRead guide
RepairRepointing, spot brick replacement, rebuilding above the roof line or a full teardown: what each masonry repair involves, how the scope is decided and why stopping the water comes first.
6 min readRead guide
RepairBreathable water repellents reduce how much rain soaks into brick. What they are, why film-forming sealers and paint can make things worse, and why waterproofing comes after repairs, not instead of them.
5 min readRead guide
RepairCap, crown, chase cover, termination cap: the tops of masonry and factory-built chimneys use different parts to keep out water and animals. Here is what each one does, why metal tops rust in Florida and how to tell which your home has.
5 min readRead guide
RepairA top-to-bottom tour of masonry and factory-built chimneys: what each component does, how heat, humidity and summer storms wear it out, and a summary table that points to the right repair page.
10 min readRead guide
RepairA new roof is the best chance to fix the chimney-to-roof joint properly. What to inspect before the roofers arrive, how new step and counter flashing and a cricket fit in, tile roof details, when to replace a chase cover, and which trade handles what.
7 min readRead guide
RepairFlorida rain doesn’t fall like rain elsewhere. How sea-breeze storms, wind-driven rain and tropical systems find different weak points in a chimney, how to tell a flashing leak from a crown, cap, chase cover or siding leak, and what to record after the storm.
7 min readRead guide
9 guides
Masonry versus factory-built fireplaces, refractory panels, dampers, inserts, clearances and how gas fireplaces work.
FireplaceThe code sets minimum distances between a masonry fireplace opening and combustible trim, and minimum hearth extension sizes. Factory-built and gas units use their own listed clearances. What that means for a remodel.
5 min readRead guide
FireplaceGas, wood and electric inserts compared, why most need a new liner, what makes a fireplace a good or poor candidate, and the special rules for factory-built fireboxes.
6 min readRead guide
FireplaceConvenience, ambience, upkeep, humidity and safety compared for Central Florida homes, and what converting a wood fireplace to gas actually involves: logs, inserts or a new unit.
6 min readRead guide
FireplaceDirect-vent, natural-vent (B-vent), vent-free, gas log sets and inserts compared, plus how standing-pilot and electronic ignition work and what the safety sensors do.
7 min readRead guide
FireplaceRefractory panels line factory-built fireboxes. What they are, how they differ from firebrick, how much cracking manufacturers allow, and why replacements must match the model.
5 min readRead guide
FireplaceThroat dampers sit just above the firebox; top-sealing dampers close the flue at the chimney top. How each works, how well they seal, and what changes with gas logs and factory-built fireplaces.
5 min readRead guide
FireplaceThe smoke chamber funnels smoke into the flue. When it is built with rough, stepped brick, smoke tumbles, creosote collects and the fireplace may smoke. What parging is and how the chamber is inspected.
4 min readRead guide
FireplacePrefab fireplaces don’t come with an expiry date. Here is what the commonly quoted numbers are (and aren’t) based on, what shortens or extends a unit’s life, the signs it’s nearing the end, and a simple way to decide between repair and replacement.
7 min readRead guide
FireplaceThe rating plate, the firebox lining, the flue shape and the chimney’s outer walls each point to masonry or factory-built. Here is how to read them, what a chimney chase is, and why the answer decides how the fireplace is maintained, repaired and inspected.
8 min readRead guide
5 guides
How often to sweep and inspect in Florida, humidity and firewood, gas fireplace upkeep and a yearly checklist.
MaintenanceThe owner’s part (batteries, glass, clearances, alarms), what a technician’s annual service and inspection should include, and a simple fall routine for Florida’s long off-season.
5 min readRead guide
MaintenanceBrushes, rods and vacuums: what happens step by step during a chimney sweep, how it differs from an inspection, and the simple prep that makes the visit go faster.
6 min readRead guide
MaintenanceFour seasonal checkpoints for Florida chimneys and fireplaces, a homeowner-versus-professional task table, separate items for masonry and factory-built systems, and a reminder about the vent most homes forget.
7 min readRead guide
MaintenanceHumidity works on a chimney even when it isn’t raining: rusting dampers, fireboxes and chase covers, mold in damp chases, white efflorescence on brick, and warm, wet air drawn down the flue. Here is what to look for and what actually keeps the moisture out.
7 min readRead guide
MaintenanceNFPA 211 calls for a yearly chimney inspection and cleaning when it’s needed. Here is how that plays out in Central Florida, where fireplaces see little use but rain, rust and animals don’t take the year off.
5 min readRead guide
4 guides
Chimney fire warning signs, carbon monoxide, dryer vent fire risk and preparing a chimney for hurricane season.
SafetyWood fires, gas logs, inserts and vent-free units can all release carbon monoxide under the wrong conditions. What causes it, the warning signs, and the alarm placement the CPSC recommends.
5 min readRead guide
SafetyA clogged dryer vent is a real fire risk, and gas dryers add a carbon monoxide concern. What the USFA and NFPA data show, and the checklist that prevents most of it.
7 min readRead guide
SafetyWhat to check on your chimney before the June 1 start of hurricane season, and what to look for (from the ground) after a storm passes, with lessons from Ian, Nicole and Milton in the Orlando area.
5 min readRead guide
SafetyA roaring sound and dense smoke are the obvious signs of a chimney fire, but many burn unnoticed. The clues a quiet one leaves behind, what to do after a chimney fire before lighting the fireplace again, and how to keep creosote from building up.
7 min readRead guide
8 guides
Cleaning frequency, Florida dryer vent code, duct and cover types, booster fans, DIY versus professional cleaning and vacation rentals.
Dryer VentLouvered hoods, single-flap hoods, pest-resistant designs, low-profile covers and roof caps compared on airflow, lint buildup and pests, with the Florida code rules that apply.
5 min readRead guide
Dryer VentRigid metal, semi-rigid aluminum, foil accordion hose, vinyl and periscope connectors compared: where each is allowed, how they affect airflow and lint, and what to use in tight spaces.
5 min readRead guide
Dryer VentShort-term rentals near Orlando’s attractions run dryers hard. Why their vents clog faster, how to set a cleaning interval, a turnover checklist for cleaning crews, and what to record for each property.
5 min readRead guide
Dryer VentWhen a dryer vent kit is enough, when it isn’t, what any professional cleaning should include, and why dryer vent cleaning isn’t the same as air duct cleaning.
8 min readRead guide
Dryer VentDryer duct booster fans help on long runs that can’t be shortened, but only listed units are allowed and they add upkeep. When to use one and when to reroute instead.
7 min readRead guide
Dryer VentA safe, step-by-step way to tell a dryer fault from a vent problem, so you call an appliance technician or a vent service, not both.
8 min readRead guide
Dryer VentA plain-English reference to Florida’s residential dryer exhaust rules, section by section, with a worked equivalent-length example and what it means for roof vents and home buyers.
11 min readRead guide
Dryer VentOnce a year is the baseline for a dryer vent. Here is what moves that interval up (long runs, roof caps, heavy use, rentals) and how to set a schedule that fits your house.
8 min readRead guide
1 guide
What to ask before you book, and how to compare quotes and credentials.
HiringWhich chimney work Florida licenses and which it doesn’t, how to verify certifications and insurance, the red flags consumer agencies warn about, the questions worth asking, and what a useful inspection report looks like.
9 min readRead guide
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