Fireplace Repair and Service in St. Augustine, FL
Get the fireplace drawing, sealing and safe to use again.
- Family run
- Locally owned
- Licensed and insured
- Same-day service
Get Your Free Inspection
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
Or call us at (904) 943-7482
Short version
Fireplace repair covers the parts you use from inside the room: the firebox, firebrick, damper, hearth, smoke chamber and the draft that pulls smoke up. St. Augustine Chimney & Sons inspects the fireplace for free, explains the cause of the problem, and repairs the part that is failing.
Inspect First, Then Save 10%
The fireplace inspection is free. Book the repair within 72 hours and take 10% off.
Why Homeowners Call Us Back
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Family run
The company is run by one family, so the people who price the job are the people who answer for it.
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Upfront, honest pricing
The price is on paper before we start. If something changes, we ask before doing more.
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Workmanship warranty
Our workmanship warranty backs every repair we complete.
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Licensed and insured
Licensed and insured, with an experienced crew on every roof and hearth.
Fireplace Repair Service, Part by Part
A fireplace is the room end of the chimney system. The firebox holds the fire and is lined with firebrick set in refractory mortar. Above it, the damper closes the flue when the fireplace is not in use. The smoke chamber funnels smoke into the flue, and the hearth in front protects the floor.
Our fireplace repair service starts with all of them, because a smoke problem can come from the damper, the smoke chamber, the flue or the cap. We check each before recommending a fix. Component work such as firebox, hearth and damper repairs has its own page with more detail.
Wood Burning Fireplace Repair
Wood burning fireplace repair most often means replacing cracked firebrick, repointing the firebox joints with refractory mortar, and fixing or replacing a damper that has rusted. A wood fireplace repair may also involve the smoke chamber, where rough or open walls slow the draft and collect deposits.
Masonry fireplace repair follows the Florida Building Code, Residential, Section R1001, which covers masonry fireplaces, and NFPA 211. Factory-built metal fireplaces are repaired with the maker's parts; see our prefab fireplace page.
Smoke in the Room and Other Draft Problems
Smoke spilling into the room usually means the draft is too weak. Common causes are a closed or partly closed damper, a cold flue, a blocked cap, a smoke chamber that is too rough or too steep, or a house that is so tightly sealed that the fireplace cannot get air. We test the draft and look at each cause in turn.
Sometimes the fix is simple, like a damper adjustment. Sometimes it means parging the smoke chamber or adding a taller cap. The written estimate explains which.
Fireplace Maintenance and Quick Fixes
Regular fireplace maintenance is mostly a yearly look and a sweep when needed. A fireplace fix like a new damper handle or a reset firebrick can often be done in one visit. As a fireplace repair company we also tell you when a fireplace is beyond sensible repair and a new unit or insert would serve you better.
Urgent Chimney Problem in St. Augustine?
The 24/7 emergency line is answered at any hour. Once the house is safe, the family sorts out the repair plan with you.
If there is fire, a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm, get everyone out and call 911 first. Report a gas smell to your gas utility from outside the house.
What We Check For
- Smoke drifting out of the opening
- A weak draft. We check the damper, smoke chamber, flue and cap.
- Cracked firebrick
- The firebox is losing its heat protection. We replace the damaged brick and joints.
- Smell after rain
- Damp deposits in the flue or water getting in. We check the cap and sweep the flue.
Request a Free Inspection in St. Augustine
- No-charge inspection, priced on paper
- Upfront pricing with no hidden fees
- Family owned and run
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
Related Repairs in This Group
Questions We Hear Often
Why is my fireplace not working properly?
A wood fireplace that will not draw usually has a closed damper, a blocked flue or cap, or a cold flue. A firebox that is too large for the flue causes the same trouble; the inspection checks each of these in turn, beginning with the damper.
Why does my fireplace smell?
Fireplace smells usually come from creosote and soot in the flue, made worse by humid air drawing down the chimney. A dead animal or a nest can also cause a strong odor. Sweeping the flue and checking the cap and damper seal clear up most of them.
Why does my fireplace smell after rain?
Rain wets the deposits in the flue, and damp creosote gives off a sharp, sour odor. If water is getting in, the smell is worse. A cap keeps rain out of the flue, a damper that seals stops the air from drifting into the room, and a sweep removes the deposits.
Why does fireplace smoke come into the house?
Smoke comes into the house when the draft up the flue is too weak. The damper may be partly closed, the flue may be blocked or cold, or the house may be pulling air down the chimney. Opening a window slightly when lighting the fire is a quick test before the inspection.
Does a fireplace produce carbon monoxide?
Yes, every fire produces carbon monoxide, which a working flue carries outside. Trouble starts when the flue is blocked, the damper is closed too soon, or the draft reverses; fit a carbon monoxide alarm in the room, and never close the damper while embers still glow in the firebox.
Proudly American
Owned and run by one St. Augustine family. Our experienced crew puts every estimate on paper and backs its repairs with a workmanship warranty.
Call Now (904) 943-7482Enjoy the Fireplace Again
Get the cause found for free and the fix priced in writing.