El Segundo Chimneys, Checked for Their Age

Why does the age of my chimney matter?

Because chimneys from different eras fail in different places. An old brick chimney tends to lose mortar, crack at the crown and open up between its clay flue tiles. A postwar fireplace often shows it first in a rusted damper or a worn firebox. A factory-built unit from later on is more likely to rust at the chase top or loosen at a pipe joint, and a gas fireplace has its own list. Knowing the era tells us where to look first.

How do you tell how old a chimney is?

Mostly by looking. Brick size, the mortar, the type of flue liner, the damper and the shape of the firebox all point to when a chimney went in. A factory-built fireplace has a model plate, usually inside the firebox or behind a panel. If you know when the house was built or remodeled, tell us when you call. In El Segundo, where cottages, postwar houses and rebuilds share the same streets, it saves time.

Our house was rebuilt but the old chimney was kept. What should we check?

The seam between old and new. When a remodel keeps the original chimney, newer framing, roofing and flashing end up pressed against older brick, and that joint is where water and gaps tend to show up first. We also check whether the old flue suits whatever now burns in it, since a gas insert or a new firebox may not match a liner built for wood.

Does a newer house still need a chimney visit?

Yes. Newer houses usually have factory-built or gas fireplaces, and those wear too, just in different spots. We check the cap and chase cover for rust, the pipe joints, and on gas units the burner, pilot and vent. NFPA 211 calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, whatever their age.

We are selling a house in El Segundo. Which inspection do we need?

NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 inspection when a property is sold or transferred, and it includes a camera run through the whole flue. On an older chimney with clay tile, that camera run is where most of the useful information comes from. If you can, book it before listing, so any repair happens on your timeline.

What do you tell us after the visit?

Which era the chimney comes from, what we checked because of that, and what we found. Items that affect safe use go first. Wear that only needs watching goes on a separate list, so you can plan instead of fixing everything at once. If the chimney is in good shape for its age, we say that too.

Can an older chimney be fitted with a gas insert or gas logs?

Often, yes, but the old flue has to suit it. Older masonry flues were sized for wood, so we check the liner and the firebox before suggesting an insert, and size any new liner to what is there. Gas logs in a vented firebox also need the damper clamped open, which matters on an older damper that may not close well to begin with.

What should we do before you arrive?

Let the fireplace go cold for a full day and clear a few feet in front of the hearth. If you have paperwork on the house, such as an earlier inspection or a remodel permit, have it out. It helps us date the chimney and see what has changed.