Chimney Sweep in Downingtown, PA
Downingtown sits low, on the water, in a valley that holds damp. More of our calls here start with a stain on a ceiling than with a fireplace that won't draw.
Covering the borough, Caln, East Caln, Johnsontown and out toward Thorndale.
What we see most here
- Chimney leaks and interior water staining
- Cracked and flat mortar-wash crowns
- Flashing sealed with roof cement instead of cut in
- Saturated masonry on exposed elevations
- Rusted dampers and firebox staining
The chimney is the wettest thing on your roof
Along the Brandywine corridor the humidity lingers and stacks don't always dry out between storms, which is why so much of our Downingtown work starts with water.
The cheapest version of this is a missing cap, found in ten minutes and fixed the same visit. The most expensive is water that's been getting in for years and has reached the framing behind the masonry. We'd rather find you the first one, and we do, often.
What Downingtown homeowners call us about
- A brown ring or stain on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney breast
- A damp, sooty smell from the fireplace after heavy rain
- Water or drip marks in the firebox
- Rust on the damper, or rust streaking down the firebox wall
- A white powdery bloom on interior or exterior masonry
- Peeling paint or soft plaster near the chimney
- Rust-colored streaks running down siding from a framed chase
How the work usually breaks down here
Leak diagnosis and waterproofing
Our most requested service in this part of the county.
Read moreCrowns, caps and chase covers
The three parts up top that keep water out, and the three we most often find failed.
Read moreMasonry and repointing
Once the joints open up, water runs straight in.
Read moreChimney cleaning
Annual sweeping for fireplaces, inserts and stoves.
Read moreChimney inspections
A camera scan shows whether water has already cracked the tile.
Read moreDryer vent cleaning
Most of our Downingtown customers add this to the same visit.
Read moreDowningtown and the surrounding area
We cover the borough itself, the older housing east and west along Lancaster Avenue, the postwar and later developments through Caln and East Caln, and out toward Thorndale. Rural properties north of the borough toward Uwchlan are on the same route.
Not sure whether we reach you? Give us a call. The answer is usually yes, and it takes about thirty seconds to find out.
Local answers
Why do chimneys leak more around Downingtown?
It's less about the town than about exposure. Homes along the Brandywine corridor sit in damp, low-lying air, and a chimney that never fully dries between rainfalls holds more water than one up on a dry ridge.
There is a stain on my ceiling next to the chimney. What is it?
Almost always water getting in at the crown, the cap or the flashing and traveling down inside the structure. The stain is rarely right underneath the actual failure, which is why these get chased with the wrong repair for years.
Should I just have the chimney sealed?
Not until we know where the water is getting in. Sealing a chimney with open joints or a cracked crown traps the water that's already inside and makes the damage worse.
Do you cover Caln and East Caln as well?
Yes, along with Thorndale, Johnsontown and the developments off Business 30. It's all the same route for us.
Find out where the water is getting in
Chimney leak diagnosis, crown and flashing repair and waterproofing in Downingtown and Caln.