Norwalk sits just south of Des Moines in Warren County, close enough that our crews are in the area regularly. Top Notch Chimney Sweep & Services is a locally owned, family operated company that has been looking after chimneys, fireplaces and vents across Central Iowa for over 20 years. When we come to your Norwalk home, you get a certified technician who knows what to look for, not a guess.
Gas Fireplaces Need Attention Too
A lot of homeowners figure that a gas fireplace takes care of itself. It doesn’t burn wood, so there’s no creosote, so there’s nothing to check. That’s only half right. Gas units still have a venting system that has to carry combustion gases out of the house, and those vents can get blocked by nests, debris or damaged components. Logs can be set wrong, burners can get dirty, and the glass and gaskets wear over time.
Our gas log service covers the things that keep a gas fireplace burning clean and venting the way it should. If your fireplace has started making soot on the glass, smells odd, or the flame looks lazy or yellow, that’s worth a call.
Wood-Burning and Factory-Built Fireplaces
If you burn wood, every fire leaves creosote on the inside of the flue. Enough of it, and you have fuel for a chimney fire sitting right above your living room. That’s why we recommend a sweep and inspection every year. Factory-built (prefab) fireplaces have their own parts list: metal flue sections, firebox panels and caps that need to stay in good shape for the system to work as designed.
During a chimney inspection we look at the whole system, from the cap down to the firebox. We’re trained in Level 1 and Level 2 inspections and use camera equipment to see inside the flue where a flashlight can’t reach.
What we commonly check in Norwalk homes
- Chimney caps and dampers that are missing, rusted or not sealing (caps and dampers)
- Creosote buildup and blockages in the flue
- Gas fireplace venting, logs and burners
- Signs of water getting into the chimney after a hard Iowa winter
Parts That Wear Out on a Prefab Fireplace
A factory-built fireplace is designed and tested as one unit. The firebox panels, the metal flue sections, the chase cover on top and the cap all come from the same manufacturer and are meant to work together. Newer subdivisions tend to have these units, and Norwalk has plenty of newer construction.
The refractory panels that line the firebox can crack after years of heat. The chase cover, which does the same job as a crown on a brick chimney, is usually metal and can rust through or get bent by animals and weather. When a part fails, it has to be replaced with the correct part for that model, not something that looks close. We can usually identify the unit and find out whether parts can still be ordered. Read more about factory fireplace repair.
What a Warren County Winter Does to a Chimney
Brick chimneys and prefab chases both sit out in every storm. Rain and snowmelt soak into masonry, freeze overnight and thaw again the next afternoon. Repeat that through a Norwalk winter and hairline cracks turn into open ones. Wind-driven rain also finds any gap in the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, and ice tends to build along that same joint.
The crown takes the most direct hits. A good one is poured concrete, at least 2 inches thick, sloped to shed water and extended 2 to 3 inches past the brick so runoff drips onto the roof instead of down the chimney face. Many crowns we see are thin, flat or made of mortar, and those are the ones that crack first. If yours has, chimney crown repair is usually the place to start.
When Something Seems Off
You don’t have to wait for the yearly visit if the fireplace starts acting differently. Give us a call if you notice any of these:
- Smoke rolling into the room after the fire is lit
- A sharp, tar-like smell from the fireplace on muggy summer days
- Water or rust flakes in the firebox after a rain
- Brick faces chipping or flaking near the top of the chimney
- A damper handle that won’t budge
Most of these turn out to be manageable repairs when they’re caught early. Left for another season, they usually aren’t. Stop using the fireplace until we’ve had a look.
The Dryer Vent Counts Too
The same crew that services your chimney can clean your dryer vent. Lint builds up in the duct even if you clean the lint trap after every load. A clogged vent makes the dryer run longer and hotter, wastes energy, and is a real fire risk. If your clothes are taking two cycles to dry or the dryer is hot to the touch, schedule a dryer vent cleaning.
Cleaner Ductwork for the Whole House
Your furnace and air conditioner move a lot of air through the ductwork over an Iowa year, and dust, pet hair and debris settle along the way. If anyone in the house has allergies or asthma, that buildup is worth getting out. Our air duct cleaning uses a HEPA vacuum system so loosened dust is captured instead of blown back into your rooms. We also watch for holes or defects in the ducts that cost you efficiency.
Booking Around the Fall Rush
Most people remember the chimney on the first cold weekend in October, and so does everyone else. Our off-season runs April through August, and that stretch has the widest choice of appointment times. It’s also the better season for repairs, since crown and masonry work needs decent weather.
If you burned steadily all winter, spring is a natural time to have the creosote cleaned out instead of letting it sit in a damp flue all summer. Gas units can be serviced any time of year, as long as it happens before you need the heat. If you’re not sure what your fireplace needs, call and describe it. We’ll tell you what kind of visit makes sense before anything goes on the calendar.
Why Norwalk Homeowners Call Top Notch
Tom Hunkele, who owns the company, is a Past President of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, and the people he sends out include a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and a Certified Chimney Professional. Drop cloths and dust control go down before any brush comes out, and the visit is backed by our mess-free guarantee. You’ll get a straight answer about what we found and what, if anything, needs to be done.
We also serve nearby Indianola and West Des Moines, so if you have family close by, we’re probably in their neighborhood too.
Ready to get on the schedule? Call us at (515) 249-6337 or request an appointment online.
