Some fireplace calls are simple: a damper that will not close, a pilot that will not stay lit, a smoke stain climbing the mantel that was not there last year. Others are bigger: a remodel that wants a new fireplace where there is not one yet, or a hearth from the seventies that deserves retirement. We handle the whole spectrum, wood, gas and electric, with the same habit of thinking about how fire behaves before touching what surrounds it.
Repairs and tune-ups
We repair dampers, smoke chambers, hearths, gas valves and burners, blowers, doors and the various small hardware that decides whether an evening fire is a pleasure or a project. Gas units get burn tuning, which matters at this elevation, where the factory air-fuel settings assume air Boulder does not stock; a properly tuned burner here means cleaner glass, steadier flame and fewer service calls. Wood fireplaces get their draft diagnosed rather than guessed at, because a smoky fireplace is a physics problem with a finite list of causes and we enjoy shortening the list.
New installations
For new installs we start with the honest questions: what is the room for, ambiance or heat, wood ritual or push-button, and what will the flue path allow? Then we spec a unit rated for the job at altitude, run the venting correctly, coordinate the gas or electrical trades where needed, and finish the surround properly. The install you want is the one that disappears into the house and just works; the install you do not want is the interesting one.
The smoky fireplace, solved
The most common complaint in the county after a windy week: a fireplace that breathes into the room. The usual suspects are a cold or oversized flue, a termination in the wind shadow of the ridge, a house sealed tight enough to starve the fire of makeup air, or a chimney that simply is not tall enough for its situation. Each has a fix, and the free inspection usually identifies which one you have before any money changes hands.
Fireplace service FAQ
Why does my fireplace smell in summer?
Downdraft through creosote is the usual answer: humid summer air falls down the cool flue and carries the smell of every past fire into the room. A sweep plus a top-sealing damper generally ends it.
Can you install a fireplace where there has never been one?
Frequently, yes. Direct-vent gas and modern electric units open placements masonry never could. Venting path and structure decide it, and a site visit tells us both.
Do electric fireplaces need any service?
Little beyond a clean and an occasional checkup, which is their charm. They heat modestly, install almost anywhere, and never ask about the flue.