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Charles McCarthy, owner of Certified Chimney,
has been a leader in the chimney industry for
three decades, having started in the field when he
was just 16 years old. As one of the longest certified
technicians on Long Island, his services have
expanded over the years to include routine maintenance,
chimney rebuilding, brick oven cleanings,
animal removal, deodorizing, waterproofing
and more. Here, he discusses his services more in
depth, addresses common misconceptions about
chimney maintenance and more.
Which of your services are most requested
and/or vital during the summer months?
Most requested services during the summer
months are fireplace and woodstove cleanings. Fireplaces
and woodstoves give off odors in the summer
if they are not cleaned. The creosote buildup and
the humidity give off horrible downdrafts, and the
smell is overwhelming. So we recommend cleaning
these after you stop using them. But we get calls for
leaks, brickwork, chimney caps, nests, etc. as well.
How often does a chimney require cleaning,
and what issues may arise if someone
never thinks to clean it?
We require cleaning and inspection of all chimneys
and vents every year. The NFPA (National Fire
Protection Association) requires all homeowners to
schedule annual inspections and cleaning, if necessary.
If you don’t have an annual inspection, you can
have many different problems. Puff-backs, chimney
fires, water leaks, carbon monoxide, mold, etc.
What is a common misconception many
homeowners have about chimney care?
The most common thing homeowners think and
are told about their chimney is gas-heating chimneys
are clean and require no maintenance, cleaning
or inspection. Gas exhaust is carbon monoxide—
it is colorless, odorless, tasteless and deadly
if not vented correctly. Gas chimneys have to be
inspected once a year. They may not be as dirty as
oil or wood, but if they get obstructed or cracked,
they can become a deadly disaster for anyone heating
with gas!
If someone’s chimney gets damaged, what
are their options?
It all depends on what is damaged. We have a lot
of technology today and can offer many solutions to
any chimney problem. We specialize in every aspect
of chimney repair. We are constantly training and
updating our education with all the newest products
our industry has to keep our customers safe.
What can be done to prevent animals from
entering a chimney, and what actions can be
taken to remove one that’s already in there?
Animals love to nest and live in chimneys. Installing
a raincap and making sure it’s a well-made
chimney cap will help with keeping them out of
your chimney. But animals can get in other ways,
as well. This is why you need an annual inspection.
We check the brickwork, the crown holes and spaces
on the sides of the chimney. Prefab chimneys get
rusted out chase covers, and animals go in through
the holes in the chase covers. Just because you see
a raincap does not mean it’s covered. Sometimes
the cap is the wrong size and there are gaps they
enter through. Sometimes they don’t have screening.
If an animal or nest gets in your chimney, we
are trained to remove the animal humanely, and we
have all the latest tools needed to get any nest out.
Tell us about some of your other services
on offer.
As far as services, we are offering cleaning,
nest and animal removal, raincaps, chase covers,
flashing, brickwork, repointing, waterproofing,
stainless steel liners, dampers, odor removal, creosote
removal, smoke chamber repairs, rebuilds—
anything your chimney needs.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to add that I am a master certified
sweep, the highest credential in our trade. I’ve been
servicing our area for over 30 years. We are familyowned
and operated. My son is 24 and is a certified
sweep. We are very reputable and would love to service
your family so you can see for yourself and recommend
us to your family, friends and neighbors.
Don’t make an ash of yourself—have your chimneys
cleaned and inspected!
To learn more about Certified Chimney, call
877-793-3712 or visit certifiedchimneyny.com.
WHEN YOUR CHIMNEY NEEDS SERVICING, YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL
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Certified Chimney:
Solving Your Chimney Problems for
Over 30 Years
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