New Sharon is a small Mahaska County town north of Oskaloosa, with plenty of rural homes and acreages around it. Top Notch Chimney Sweep & Services travels to New Sharon for chimney sweeping, inspections, repairs and vent cleaning. We’ve been serving Central Iowa since 2002. If your home relies on a fireplace or wood stove when the weather gets serious, keeping the chimney in good shape is a big deal.
Wood Stoves Work Hard Out Here
A stove that runs most of the winter produces a lot more creosote than a fireplace used a few weekends a year. Creosote collects on the inside of the flue and stovepipe, and it burns hot if it ignites. How fast it builds depends on the wood, how the stove is run and the condition of the chimney. Damp wood and low, smoky fires make it worse.
If you heat with wood, have the chimney swept at least once a year. Some heavy-use systems need it more often. A chimney sweeping removes the creosote and soot and gives us a chance to check the connections and the flue.
Keep the Critters Out
Out in the country, birds, raccoons and other animals see an open chimney as a good place to move in. Nesting material is flammable and can block the flue completely, which sends smoke and carbon monoxide back into the house. Rain and snow come straight down an uncapped chimney too, which rusts dampers and wears out the masonry from the inside.
A properly fitted chimney cap handles all of that. If your damper is rusted, stuck or doesn’t seal, we can replace it as well.
Older Chimneys Deserve a Closer Look
Plenty of farmhouses and older homes in the area have chimneys that have been through decades of Iowa winters. Freeze-thaw cycles crack crowns and loosen mortar. Liners crack. We use camera equipment during a chimney inspection so we can see the inside of the flue and tell you honestly whether it’s safe to use.
Options for a Cracked Clay Liner
When an inspection finds cracked or crumbling clay tiles, tearing out the liner isn’t always the answer. Our technicians are certified HeatShield® installers. HeatShield is a refractory sealant made to repair clay tile liners and hold up to the heat and corrosive byproducts of burning.
For a liner with a few gaps, we fill the joints. For one that’s cracked throughout but still structurally sound, we can resurface the whole flue. When it needs more help, a sleeve system adds a reinforced layer inside the old tiles. Afterward, we run the camera through again to confirm the result, so you can see the finished surface for yourself. If HeatShield isn’t a good fit, a stainless steel liner may be, and those carry a lifetime warranty when professionally installed. Read about HeatShield.
Crowns and Flashing on Country Chimneys
A chimney on an open acreage often has little to break the wind. Older farmhouse chimneys may also have been rebuilt or patched over the decades, sometimes with materials that don’t hold up. That means more weather on the crown and more wind-driven rain against the flashing than a chimney tucked between houses in town.
The crown should be concrete, at least 2 inches thick, sloped and extended past the brick so water drips off the edge instead of running down the face. Mortar crowns and flat crowns crack early. The flashing at the roofline should lie tight, with no lifted edges or rust holes. We repair both. See chimney crown repair.
Warning Signs Around the House
New Sharon homeowners who burn wood get to know their stove pretty well, so trust it when something changes. Call before the next fire if you notice:
- A smoky or sour smell in the house on humid days
- Smoke that rolls into the room when you open the stove door
- White, chalky staining on the outside brick
- Rust on the damper or water pooling in the firebox
- Bits of tile or mortar falling into the firebox
- A stove that’s harder to get drafting than it was last winter
A change in how the stove behaves is often the first hint of creosote buildup or a partial blockage. It’s far easier to deal with in the fall than in the middle of a January cold snap, when you’re relying on the stove for heat.
Dryer Vents on Long Runs
Rural homes sometimes have dryers on an inside wall with a long vent run to the outside. The longer the run and the more bends it has, the more lint it can trap. That means longer drying times and higher fire risk. Our certified dryer vent cleaning clears the full length of the line.
Gas Fireplaces Out in the Country
Not every home out here burns wood. A gas fireplace or gas log set is easy to use, but it still produces carbon monoxide, and vented units need a clear chimney and a working damper to get it outside. Burners collect dust, logs get bumped out of place, and pilots act up. We check the installation, valves, connections, pilot, venting and log placement as part of gas log service, and we can do it on the same trip as a wood stove chimney.
Selling an Acreage or Farmhouse
When a property changes hands, NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 chimney inspection, which includes a camera look inside the flue. That matters on rural properties, where a house may have a stove chimney, a fireplace and sometimes an old flue that hasn’t been used in years. Knowing the condition of each before closing keeps the sale from stalling. We work with buyers, sellers and real estate professionals, and we’ll walk you through what we saw on the camera.
Ductwork in Older Farmhouses
Older homes in and around New Sharon may have ductwork that’s never been cleaned. Years of dust, debris and pet hair settle in the runs and get stirred up each time the furnace starts. Our certified air duct cleaning uses a HEPA vacuum and specialized brushes to get it out. We look over the system first and point out holes or defects that waste heat. If anyone in the house has allergies or asthma, clearing that buildup is worth doing while we’re already on site.
Who We Are
Top Notch is a family business, run by Tom Hunkele since 2002. Tom is a Past President of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, and the technicians who travel out here include a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, a Certified Chimney Professional and a certified chimney reliner. The farmhouse floor gets covered and the dust stays in our vacuum, as our mess-free guarantee promises.
We also serve Oskaloosa and Pella.
Call (515) 249-6337 to set up a visit to New Sharon, or send us a scheduling request.
