Chimney services in University Place
- Chimney InspectionA close look at the flue, firebox, masonry and roof flashing, with photos you keep and a plain account of what’s urgent, what can wait and what can be left alone.
- Chimney Sweeping & CleaningCreosote, soot and debris cleared from the flue, smoke chamber and firebox, with before-and-after photos and a plain account of what the cleaning turned up.
- Gas Fireplace Service & RepairService and repair for gas fireplaces and gas inserts: pilot and ignition trouble, sooty glass, odd flames, odors, and the vent or chimney the unit uses.
- Chimney Cap InstallationChimney caps measured to your flue, single or multi-flue, to help keep rain, animals, debris and embers out, with the crown checked before anything is fitted.
- Chimney Leak & Flashing RepairTracing where water really gets in around your chimney, then repairing the flashing, crown, cap or masonry responsible, with a written scope before any work.
- Masonry Repair & TuckpointingRepointing worn mortar joints and replacing spalled brick on chimneys, using new mortar matched to the old so the repair does not harm the brick around it.
Houses from the 1960s through the 1990s
The median University Place home dates from 1981, according to Census estimates. Roughly 7 in 10 were built between 1960 and 1999, about 1 in 8 before 1960, and fewer than 1 in 5 in 2000 or later.
Houses from that period can have either a brick chimney lined with clay tile or a prefabricated unit venting through a metal pipe in a framed chase. Knowing which you have changes the job: masonry calls for attention to mortar, crown and liner; a factory-built system is repaired with parts that match its listing. If you are not sure, an inspection settles it.
The Pierce County stove rule and burn bans
University Place lies within the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s Tacoma–Pierce County Smoke Reduction Zone. There, an uncertified wood stove or insert may not be bought or used, and has to be removed and recycled or made inoperable, unless the household holds an approved “no other adequate source of heat” exemption.
The city is also covered by the agency’s Greater Pierce County burn ban zone. A Stage 1 ban rules out wood-burning fireplaces and uncertified stoves; a Stage 2 ban rules out certified wood stoves and pellet stoves as well. The status page and 1-800-595-4341 have the current stage.
Permits in University Place
The City of University Place’s Planning and Development Services Department issues building, plumbing and mechanical permits. Its permit page states that a permit is required any time you construct, alter or repair a building or structure, or install, alter, repair or replace any gas or mechanical system.
That makes it worth describing chimney, fireplace or gas insert work to Development Services (253.460.2509) before it starts; they decide what your scope needs. Applications go to Permits@cityofup.com, and the main office is at 253.566.5656.
What you can tell us about
You do not need to know the cause. These are things homeowners describe when they get in touch — each one is something to assess on site, not a diagnosis.
Water where it should not be
Drips in the firebox, stains on a ceiling or wall beside the chimney, or a damp smell after rain.
Leak & flashing repairLoose mortar or damaged brick
Crumbling joints, brick faces flaking off, or bits of masonry on the roof or in the gutter.
Masonry repairA missing or damaged cap
No cap on the flue, a bent or rusted one, or signs that birds or animals have been getting in.
Cap installationSmoke or draft trouble
Smoke rolling into the room, a fire that is hard to keep going, or odors when the fireplace is not in use.
Chimney inspectionBuildup and a sweep that is overdue
You cannot remember the last cleaning, or you have bought a house and do not know the chimney's history.
Chimney sweepingA gas fireplace that will not light
A pilot that will not stay lit, ignition trouble, or soot on the glass. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
Gas fireplace service
How a visit works
- 1Send the short form or call. Say what you have noticed; photos you took are welcome when we talk.
- 2We arrange a time with you, look at the chimney, and photograph what we find.
- 3You hear plainly what is urgent, what can wait, and what does not need doing.
- 4Repair work comes with a written scope and price. Nothing starts until you approve it.
- 5We photograph the finished work from the same angles, and the photos are yours to keep.
What affects the price
Prices come after the chimney has been seen, in writing. These are the things that move them:
- Condition
- What the inspection finds, and whether the cause of the damage is still active.
- Access
- Roof pitch, height, how many stories up the chimney sits, and whether staging is needed.
- Chimney size
- Height above the roof, width, and how many flues the stack carries.
- Materials
- Brick and mortar matched to what is there, crown and cap materials, liner type.
- Scope
- One targeted repair, several at once, or rebuilding part of the stack.
- Permits
- Whether the work needs a permit from the city or county that has jurisdiction at the address.
University Place chimney questions
Does chimney repair need a permit in University Place?
The City’s permit page says a permit is required to alter or repair a building or structure, or to install, repair or replace any gas or mechanical system. How that applies to a particular chimney job is for Development Services to decide, so check with them before work begins.
Can a gas insert go into my existing wood-burning fireplace?
Often it can, but the chimney has to be checked first: the flue, liner and damper area need to suit the insert’s venting, and the City requires a permit to install a gas system. Gas fireplace service covers the appliance side. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
How can I tell whether my fireplace is masonry or factory-built?
Clues include a metal firebox with a manufacturer’s label, a round metal flue visible from the roof, and a chimney boxed in siding rather than brick. None of these is conclusive on its own, which is why an inspection is the reliable way to know.
Is my old wood stove still legal to use here?
Only if it is EPA- or Oregon-certified, which a label on the back or side will show, or your household has an approved “no other adequate source of heat” exemption. Even a certified stove has to stay cold during a Stage 2 burn ban unless that exemption is in place. If yours is uncertified, tell us when you request an estimate; it affects what chimney work is worth doing.
Useful local links
- Permit Information — City of University Place Planning and Development Services (opens in a new tab)
- When Is a Building Permit Required? — City of University Place (opens in a new tab)
- Tacoma-Pierce County Wood Stove Rule — Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (opens in a new tab)
- Census profile: University Place, WA — U.S. Census Bureau data via Census Reporter (opens in a new tab)