Chimney care rooted in Appalachian craftsmanship

Most households here light the first fire in late October, and the calendar at every location fills quickly from mid-September on. If you burned through last winter, the ideal window for a sweep is late spring through August, when the creosote is dry, the schedule is open, and any repair we find can be finished before the first cold night in the Smokies. Call or contact the location nearest you to set a date.

Once the deposit on the flue wall reaches roughly an eighth of an inch, it is time to sweep. Third-stage creosote, the shiny black glaze that forms when green wood or a smoldering overnight fire cools in the flue, is the type that ignites, and it is common in homes that heat mainly with wood. A camera look during the inspection tells us which stage you have.

A Level 1 visual check covers a fireplace that is used the same way every year. A Level 2, which adds a camera scan of the full flue, is the standard for a home purchase, a new insert or furnace connection, or after a chimney fire or lightning strike, and it is the report Tennessee insurance adjusters typically ask for on a claim. A Level 3 is reserved for concealed damage. Every level comes with dated photos.

Each National Chimney Pros location is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and closed on Sunday. Inspections, sweeps, and masonry work are all scheduled by appointment through the location, so call or use the contact form and the staff there will find a date that works for you.

East Tennessee summers keep masonry damp for months, and brick that stays wet loses its face when the first hard freeze arrives in December. Humidity also feeds efflorescence, the white crust that signals water moving through the wall, and it turns old creosote acidic enough to eat clay tile joints. That is why we favor vapor-permeable repellents and lime-compatible mortars over products that trap moisture inside the brick.

Yes. The National Chimney Pros location in Sevierville handles a steady share of overnight-rental cabins, where a stone fireplace may see a fire every night from October through March with a different guest each week. We recommend a sweep and Level 1 inspection before the fall rental season and can coordinate access with a property manager. A photo report after each visit gives owners something to keep on file.