Chimney Cleaning, Inspection & Repair in Tacoma

Census estimates put the median year built for Tacoma’s homes at 1967, with about 4 in 10 built before 1960 and about 1 in 4 in 1939 or earlier. A chimney that old was built to earlier practice, so whether the flue is lined, and what shape the lining and mortar are in, is something to check rather than assume — especially before a new stove, insert or gas unit is connected to it.

From 2009 to 2015, Tacoma and much of Pierce County fell short of federal fine-particle standards, largely because of wood smoke, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The EPA redesignated the area to attainment in 2015, but the agency’s stove rule for it remains.

Since October 1, 2015, buying or operating an uncertified wood stove or stove-type insert has been illegal in the agency’s Tacoma–Pierce County Smoke Reduction Zone, which the Department of Ecology describes as most of greater Tacoma and nearby urban areas west of State Route 167. Such a stove must be removed and recycled or rendered inoperable. Certified stoves and open fireplaces fall outside the rule, though not outside burn bans.

If your stove has no EPA or Oregon certification label, check the zone map on the agency’s rule page before paying for work on the chimney it vents through.

The agency splits Pierce County into three burn ban zones. Tacoma is in Greater Pierce County, which the agency says sees bans more often than the rest of its region. Stage 1 stops wood-burning fireplaces and uncertified stoves and inserts, while certified stoves and inserts, pellet stoves and gas units may still run; Stage 2 stops every wood-burning fireplace, stove, insert and pellet stove. The agency’s status page and 1-800-595-4341 give the current stage.

The City keeps its own register of historic districts — North Slope, Old City Hall, Union Depot/Warehouse and the Wedge — and says any exterior work on a City Landmark or contributing property that is visible from a public right of way requires design review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. In the North Slope district, exterior changes that need a building permit also need design review.

National and State Register districts such as Stadium/Seminary and College Park are listed separately. The City’s Historic Preservation Office can say whether review applies at your address; raise a chimney rebuild or a change of brick with it first.

NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the in-city Tacoma No. 1 station show 40.81 inches of precipitation a year on about 156 days, about 16 inches of it in December through February against under 3 in June through August. The station averages about 27 nights at or below freezing but less than one day a year that stays frozen.

Wet brick, an overnight frost and a daytime thaw is one common way water works into worn mortar joints and a cracked chimney crown. Chimney4u picks repair materials for that wet climate, and the dry summer suits exterior masonry.