Emergency troubleshooting.
Smoke spilling into the room, suspected chimney fire, active leak, or CO alarm — Heart's Chimney prioritizes emergency response across the North Bay. Call directly, don't wait on the form.
What we'll
prioritize as urgent.
Smoke backing into the house
Spillage during a normal fire usually means draft failure — cold flue, negative pressure, undersized chimney, obstructed cap, or damper malfunction. Stop the fire, open windows, call us.
Suspected chimney fire
Loud roaring sound, dense smoke from the top of the chimney, sparks from the cap, intense heat from the flue itself. Call 911 first, then us — we will perform the required Level 2 inspection afterward.
Active water leak around chimney
Staining on the ceiling near the chimney chase, water dripping during rain, wet drywall on the wall adjacent to the chimney. Usually flashing, crown, or cap failure. Diagnosable same-week, repairable inside two.
Carbon monoxide alarm sounding
If your CO alarm is sounding, evacuate the house first, ventilate, then call the gas company. We can troubleshoot a compromised flue or leaking appliance after the home is confirmed safe.
Strong smoke smell with no fire
Often creosote residue absorbing humidity, sometimes a downdraft pulling residue back through the system. Usually a sweep + cap or damper service resolves it.
Animal in the chimney
Bird, squirrel, raccoon, or other wildlife trapped in the flue. We extract, install or repair the cap to prevent re-entry, and clean any debris left behind.
Describe what's happening.
If your situation isn't an active emergency but you want it looked at this week, fill out the form. We'll prioritize the visit based on what you describe.
About Chimney TroubleshootingDon't wait — call (707) 824-1019.
Emergency calls routed before scheduled work. We will get to you as fast as crew capacity allows.