As the winter home of our nation’s first president, George Washington, Morristown is a historic town with a wide variety of architectural styles, from older Victorian and Colonial Revival to newer Cape Cod and spacious ranch-style residences. Many chimneys in this area were constructed with corbelled brick smoke chambers, and they require repair due to safety risks and code compliance issues. Approved Chimney is northwest Jersey’s most trusted contractor, specializing in safe, durable, and efficient smoke chamber repair, reducing the risk of fire and exposure to toxic carbon monoxide fumes.
Where is The Smoke Chamber and What Does It Do?
The smoke chamber is located between the damper assembly and the chimney flue liner. Its upside-down funnel shape compresses heat, smoke, and hazardous combustion gases from the firebox, efficiently directing combustion byproducts up the chimney flue and out of your home at the top of the stack.
The Dangers of Corbelled Brick Smoke Chambers in Morristown, NJ
In older homes (built before 1985), smoke chambers were typically constructed using a technique called “corbeling.” The primary danger of corbelled brick is in its jagged, stair-step design. These rough surfaces create significant airflow turbulence, trapping flammable creosote deposits in the nooks and crannies. This results in three issues:
- Excessive Creosote Buildup: Soot and creosote (a highly flammable byproduct of combustion) get trapped in the gaps and crevices of the stepped bricks’ jagged edges, drastically increasing the risk of a chimney fire.
- Heat Transfer: High-temperature fires can exploit gaps and cracks in aging mortar joints, transferring extreme heat (and deadly carbon monoxide exhaust) to nearby wooden framing and combustible materials within your home’s walls.
- Code Compliance: Because of these hazards, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Rule 211, which the State of New Jersey has officially adopted, mandates that all smoke chamber surfaces “shall be parged smooth” with an insulating, refractory mortar.
What is SmokTite®?
At Approved Chimney, we are bringing older and historic chimneys up to modern safety codes without demolishing the masonry with SmokTite®. This code-compliant, proprietary spray-on ceramic refractory coating is manufactured specifically to seal, smooth, and insulate chimney smoke chambers. When applied by a certified technician using specialized equipment, it seamlessly coats the entire interior surface without requiring removal of the damper frame or surrounding brickwork.
Why We Recommend SmokTite for Smoke Chamber Repairs
Approved Chimney trusts SmokTite® for its superior results and advanced performance:
- High Heat Resistance: SmokTite® is tested to withstand extreme temperatures up to 2,291°F, providing an exceptional thermal barrier between the chimney and the rest of your home.
- Water Resistant: Once cured, it forms a seamless ceramic shell that is entirely impervious to water, corrosive acids, and moisture vapors.
- Improves Airflow & Draft: By smoothing out rough surfaces, it eliminates turbulence, drastically improving draft and preventing smoke from flowing back into the living room.
- Cost-Effective Restoration: SmokTite®’s specialized spray-on application takes a fraction of the time, lowering costs while creating a superior, uniform layer of protection.
- Lifetime Warranty: Installed exclusively by factory-authorized chimney technicians, SmokTite® is backed by a lifetime warranty for peace of mind.
Warning Signs of Smoke Chamber Damage
Homeowners should keep an eye out for these warning signs that indicate the masonry is deteriorating:
- Smokey Fireplace: Smoke constantly backs up or billows into your fireplace or living space.
- Burnt Smell: A distinct, heavy smell of smoke or soot persists even when the fireplace is not in use.
- Crumbling Debris: Bits of mortar, spalling brick fragments, or flakes on the damper or inside the fireplace.
- Excessive Creosote: Visible oily, tarry, or shiny creosote deposits and excessive soot.
Professional Smoke Chamber Repair in Morristown, NJ
At Approved Chimney, we provide the industry’s most advanced repair and maintenance solutions, delivering long-lasting, cost-effective results. If your home was built before 1985, your chimney may still have its original corbelled-brick smoke chamber.
Our certified technicians are repairing smoke chambers in masonry chimneys across Morristown and surrounding communities in Morris County and Northwest New Jersey, including Morris Plains, Madison, Union Hill, and Mendham Twp. Contact us today to speak with a Certified Chimney Sweep®.
