Buying & Selling

Mt Freedom Chimney is a small, service-focused company, and large repair projects aren't taken on. Since the purpose of an inspection is to assign a dollar amount towards necessary repairs and to aid in negotiating a credit amongst the buying and selling parties, it would be disingenuous of me to sell an appointment, knowing I'm unable to provide itemized repair estimates. Furthermore, company policy states services are offered only to the legal homeowner (sellers), and potential buyers are ineligible as a client. It is recommended for parties seeking to purchase a house to consult with a larger, repair-based chimney company for repair estimates. Grandfathering and outdated construction information can be found below, and buyers should be aware that costly chimney liner installation is required for all homes where the house was built prior to 1996 and the chimney is of masonry construction (not "pre-fab").

It is recommended for parties seeking to sell their house to label solid-fuel applications (wood, coal, pellet) such as fireplaces and stoves "as-is" in their home's listing. New Jersey doesn't recognize solid-fuel applications as primary; homeowners insurance underwriters doing business in New Jersey will drop policy holders that disclose a solid-fuel appliance being utilized as primary. The state recognizes class-2 diesel (oil), natural gas (NG), propane (LP), and electric as main home-heating applications, whereas solid-fuel applications are categorized as supplemental or luxury appliances. As mentioned above, if a home was built prior to 1996 and the chimney is if masonry construction, chimney liner construction will not meet the current construction definitions under the recent building code standards. While possible to label solid-fuel appliances "as-is" in your home's listing, be advised this is not possible for the flue for oil and gas heating systems and water tanks.

It's common practice for licensed chimney professionals to cite chapter and paragraph for building code deficiencies and violations, regardless if the home and property are for sale. Observable building code violations will be documented and disclosed. This is to transfer liability to the home owner if the appliance(s) are continually used post-servicing and inspection. Asking me to omit such findings or supplementary service and repair recommendations is unethical. Asking me to remit a new invoice stating only chimney sweeping was performed will not be humored (but thoroughly laughed at).

If I am hired and you're selling your house, I will definitely NOT humor the request of omitting defects and violations. The sale of your house will not be more easily facilitated at the expense of my company's liability. I take these requests as a great insult as it shows a complete lack of value in my work and my good standing. If you feel I'm not the right fit for your chimney service needs based on the above-mentioned, you're not the right fit for me as a customer. All reputable chimney service providers will not honor such requests or demands.

Interpreted under R1003.1, painting a masonry chimney's exterior surface is one of the worst things a home owner can have done. All masonry is porous, and will absorb water and precipitation. This is especially important when located in the northeast, as there's no short supply of rainy springs, summer humidity, autumn hurricanes, and snowy winters. Paint acts as a sealant, and painted masonry will lose its ability to breathe when warm-weather temperatures would normally allow for the evaporation of internal moisture.

Additionally, the chemical process of combustion yields water and condensation within the exhaust mixture (especially for gas applications). Some fuel types have either a high or low condensation content; gas applications have the highest. When an adequate volume of trapped, internal moisture isn't able to breathe and evaporate, the chimney structure will undergo freeze-thaw damage over the winter into the spring. This may occur over just one year, but most times will take several years.

Aside from the unsightly polka-dot aesthetic, this will also compromise the chimney's structural integrity, and most times the corrective repair is a roofline-up or ground-up (and costly) rebuild. It is always recommended to have a painted chimney's surface sandblasted to remove paint.

Install Violations

All appointments start as a level-1 inspection conducted in accordance with NFPA-211 standards, and cross-references against the latest edition of IRC building code. Chimney sweeping is performed when only when dirty enough, and when viable without jeopardizing company liability. Chimney sweeping is retracted, and an invoice with a service charge for an inspection will be remitted for the below examples stating the application is "unsuitable for use due to violations under ICC-IRC building code / NFPA standards and regulations / UL testing and compliance, and that continued usage may result in property damage or injury; and appliance usage should cease immediately until necessary repairs are completed." Liability for continued usage of such an application is transferred to the homeowner/property owner once full disclosure has been provided.