Newton is the Jasper County seat, east of Des Moines along I-80. Top Notch Chimney Sweep & Services makes the trip out to Newton for chimney, fireplace and venting work, and we’ve been doing this kind of work in Central Iowa since 2002.
Who’s Coming to Your Door
Anyone can buy a brush and call themselves a chimney sweep. Before you let someone up on your roof and into your living room, it’s fair to ask what training they have. Here’s ours:
- Owner Tom Hunkele served as President of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and is a Certified Master Chimney Technician
- We have a Certified Chimney Professional and a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep on staff
- We’re certified in air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning
- We perform Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspections
- We’ve completed the CSIA’s Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Course and the Ahern Masonry Chimney & Fireplace Building Course in Minnesota
- A certified chimney reliner is part of the team
We’re also a family owned and operated business. Nobody likes soot on the carpet, so the floor gets protected, dust gets controlled, and the job comes with a mess-free guarantee.
Iowa Weather Is Hard on Masonry
Brick and mortar absorb water. In an Iowa winter, that water freezes, expands and thaws again, over and over. Each cycle opens cracks a little wider. The parts of the chimney that take the most abuse are the ones you can’t see from the ground: the crown on top, the mortar joints near the roofline, and the flashing where the chimney meets the shingles.
Left alone, that damage turns into leaks, stained ceilings, rotted framing and loose bricks. Caught early, it’s usually a much smaller job. Our chimney repair work includes crown repair, minor masonry repair and relining. If water is the issue, we can also apply chimney waterproofing to help the masonry shed moisture while still letting it breathe.
Begin With a Look Inside
An annual chimney inspection is the easiest way to stay ahead of problems. A Level 1 inspection covers the accessible parts of the chimney and fireplace. A Level 2 inspection adds a camera look inside the flue and is the right call when you’re buying or selling a home, changing fuel types, or after a chimney fire or major storm.
We also look at the chimney cap, the damper and the firebox while we’re there. A missing cap or a damper that doesn’t close is a small fix, but left alone it lets in rain, cold air and animals all year long.
If you burn wood, pair the inspection with a chimney sweeping to remove creosote and debris. It’s one visit and it covers both safety and maintenance.
Two Kinds of Chimneys We See in Newton
Newton has older houses with brick chimneys and newer homes with factory-built fireplaces, and the checklist changes with each. With brick, we look at the crown and mortar up top, the clay liner tiles inside, the smoke chamber above the damper and the firebrick in the firebox.
With a prefab unit, the focus moves to the metal flue joints, the refractory panels, the chase cover and the cap, all of which need to stay matched to the manufacturer’s design. Our Chim-Scan camera lets us see the inside of either type without taking anything apart.
Caps and Dampers: Small Parts, Big Jobs
The cap sits over the flue and keeps out rain, snow, birds and leaves. Strong winds can carry one off, and animals sometimes work them loose. Without a cap, water rusts the damper and soaks the inside of the chimney all year. The stainless steel caps we put on come with a lifetime warranty.
The damper sits in the throat of the fireplace. Old throat dampers tend to rust in place or warp, and then they won’t open fully or won’t close. One that’s stuck open sends heated air up the chimney all winter and lets the air conditioning escape in summer. We can replace it. See chimney caps and dampers.
Don’t Wait on These
- Smoke drifting into the room instead of going up the flue
- Water in the firebox, or rust flakes on the damper
- Pieces of brick or mortar in the yard or on the roof
- Scratching, chirping or rustling sounds in the chimney
- A stain or soft spot on the ceiling next to the chimney
Any one of those is a reason to hold off on fires and have the system looked at. Most are straightforward fixes when they’re handled early.
What Wood and Gas Each Need
A wood fireplace or stove needs sweeping to remove creosote and an inspection to confirm the flue, liner and firebox are sound. A gas fireplace doesn’t make creosote, but its venting still has to be checked, along with the burner, pilot, valves and log placement. Ask about gas log service when you book, and we’ll handle it on the same visit.
Some houses have both: a wood stove in the basement and a gas fireplace upstairs, each with its own flue. Let us know how many fireplaces, stoves and inserts you have so we can check every one of them. A flue that serves a furnace or water heater can share a chimney with a fireplace, and we’ll look at how those are arranged too.
Selling a House in Newton
Under NFPA 211, a sale or transfer of property is one of the triggers for a Level 2 inspection. If you’re listing a home with a fireplace or stove, having the chimney inspected ahead of time means you know what a buyer’s inspector might flag. If you’re the buyer, it tells you what you’re taking on. We work with real estate professionals and insurance agents as well as homeowners, and we’ll explain the findings in plain terms.
Laundry Room and Ductwork
Because the drive out takes a while, it makes sense to look after the vents on the same day. A dryer vent packed with lint makes every load take longer and is a known fire hazard. Our certified dryer vent cleaning clears the full line and checks the duct for damage.
Ductwork for the furnace and air conditioner collects dust, pet hair and debris over the years. Our certified air duct cleaning loosens that buildup with specialized brushes and pulls it into a HEPA vacuum so it doesn’t land back in your rooms. Mention both when you call so we can set aside enough time.
Part of Our East-Side Route
Newton is one of several communities we serve east of the metro. We’re also regularly in Altoona and Des Moines. Because Newton is a drive for us, we’ll work with you to find a day that fits our route and your schedule.
Have a question about your chimney? Call (515) 249-6337 to talk with us, or request an appointment online.
