Fireplace Repair in St. Louis, MO
Almost every fireplace fault belongs to one of three systems: the gas appliance, the firebox you burn wood in, or the chimney above it. They fail for different reasons, get fixed by different work, and the prices are not comparable — so the first job is working out which one you have. A $69 inspection tells you, with photographs, and the $69 comes off the repair when you book it.
Most people describe it the same way: the fireplace is not working. That covers a dozen different faults. A gas fireplace that will not stay lit is usually a thermocouple, a thermopile or a dirty pilot assembly. A wood fireplace that pushes smoke into the room is almost never the firebox — that is draft, and draft is set by the chimney above it. A cold draught coming down when nothing is burning is a damper or a missing cap. Same complaint, three different trades, three very different bills. That is why we look before we quote instead of guessing on the phone.
How this gets priced
$69 inspection, credited back
The $69 covers finding out what is actually wrong and showing you photographs of it. Repair pricing depends entirely on which system failed — a thermocouple and a rebuilt smoke chamber are not in the same universe — so we quote after we have looked, not before.
How do I know I need fireplace repair?
If any of these describe your situation, it is worth having someone look. Most are cheap to fix early and expensive to fix late.
- The fireplace will not light, or it lights and shuts off after a few minutes
- Smoke comes into the room instead of going up the chimney
- The flame is yellow and lazy, or the glass is going black and sooty
- There is a cold draught coming down the chimney when nothing is burning
- You can smell smoke or soot indoors, worst on humid days
- You hear scratching, chirping or fluttering above the firebox
- You have just moved in and have no idea when it was last serviced
- You are not sure whether you have gas, wood, or a gas insert fitted into an old wood fireplace
Why it matters
A fireplace that is not working properly is not only an inconvenience. On the gas side, a blocked vent or a failing burner puts carbon monoxide into the room, and carbon monoxide has no smell. On the wood side, the same poor draft that pushes smoke back at you is often creosote narrowing the flue, which is what chimney fires are made of. Both are much better found in September than in January.
Call (314) 887-7250What’s included
Exactly what happens when we come out, step by step.
- 1
First we work out what you actually have
There is a rating plate on every gas appliance, usually behind the lower louvre or under the logs, and it gives the make, the model and whether it is vented. On a wood fireplace we look at the firebox, the damper and the flue. On a gas insert fitted into an old masonry fireplace, which is common in St. Louis, both systems matter at once.
- 2
Then we test the system that is failing
Gas: pilot, thermocouple or thermopile, gas valve, igniter, burner ports, and a carbon monoxide reading before we leave. Wood and masonry: draft, damper, smoke chamber, liner and cap. We do not replace parts to find out whether that was the problem.
- 3
Photographs, then one fixed price
You see what we saw, not a description of it. Then one number in writing, agreed before any work starts. If the fault turns out to belong to a different trade entirely, such as a damaged gas supply line, we tell you that instead of working around it.
- 4
The $69 comes off
Book the repair with us and the inspection fee comes off the bill in full. If you decide not to, you still keep the photographs and the written findings.
Fireplace Repair: common questions
How do I know if my fireplace is gas or wood-burning?
Look for a gas line and a control knob or switch, and look at the logs. Gas logs are ceramic, identical every time, and sit in a fixed arrangement over a burner. Wood fireplaces have a grate, ash, and no gas connection. The confusing case is a gas insert fitted inside an old masonry fireplace, which looks like a wood fireplace from the room but is a sealed gas appliance. If you are not sure, send us a photograph and we will tell you.
My fireplace smokes into the room. Is that a fireplace problem or a chimney problem?
Almost always the chimney. Smoke goes up because warm air rises through a flue that is the right size, clear, and warmer than the air outside. Break any one of those — a closed or stuck damper, creosote narrowing the flue, a cold exterior chimney, a blocked cap, or a house sealed too tightly to let replacement air in — and the smoke comes to you instead. The firebox itself is rarely the cause.
What does fireplace repair cost in St. Louis?
Every chimney is different, so we do not publish repair prices. We inspect, show you photographs of what we found, and give you one fixed price in writing. You approve that number before any work starts, and it does not change unless we find something nobody could have seen — in which case we stop and talk to you first.
Can you repair a fireplace you did not install?
Yes, and that is most of our work. We service and repair whatever is already in the house, whoever put it there. On gas appliances the make and model on the rating plate is what matters, not who fitted it.
Is it worth repairing an old fireplace, or should it be replaced?
Usually repairing, and we will say so plainly when it is not. Masonry fireplaces built before 1940 in St. Louis are often in better structural shape than the flue inside them, which means a liner rather than a rebuild. On the gas side, the parts that fail most — thermocouples, thermopiles, igniters and valves — are serviceable on appliances well over twenty years old. The case for replacement is usually a cracked firebox or a heat exchanger that is no longer safe, and that is a decision we make with photographs in front of you.
How long does a fireplace repair take?
The inspection takes about an hour. Common gas faults are often fixed in the same visit. Masonry work, relining, and anything needing a part ordered to the model comes back as a scheduled second visit with the price already agreed.
Fireplace Repair across the St. Louis metro
We cover the full metro from University City. Chimney problems differ by neighborhood because the housing stock differs — here is what we see where.
Fireplace Repair in St. Louis
Predominantly 1890–1930 brick
Fireplace Repair in University City
Largely 1920s–1940s brick, Tudor and Colonial
Fireplace Repair in Clayton
1920s–1940s masonry, plus newer infill
Fireplace Repair in Kirkwood
Victorian through 1950s, wide mix
Fireplace Repair in Webster Groves
Victorian, Craftsman and 1920s bungalows
Fireplace Repair in Chesterfield
Mostly 1980s–2000s construction
Also serving Ladue, Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Maplewood, Brentwood, Florissant, St. Charles, Des Peres, Fenton, St. Peters, Arnold, High Ridge, Festus.
Related services
Gas Fireplace Repair
Most gas fireplace problems come down to a failed thermocouple or thermopile, a dirty pilot assembly, a bad igniter, or a blocked vent. We diagnose with instruments rather than replacing parts and hoping, then quote the repair before doing it.
Chimney Repair
Chimney repair covers everything from a cracked crown or leaking flashing to a damaged flue liner. We start with a $69 inspection so you get photographs and one fixed price for exactly what your chimney needs — and the $69 comes off that price.
Chimney Sweep
A chimney sweep — chimney cleaning is the same job under a different name — removes creosote, soot and blockages from your flue so the chimney drafts properly and will not catch fire. We quote your chimney before we start, and you approve the price first.
Smoky Fireplace & Draft Repair
A fireplace that smokes into the room has a draft problem, not a fireplace problem. Either something is restricting the flue, or your house is pulling harder on the air than the chimney is. There are about six real causes, they need completely different fixes, and the $69 inspection tells you which one you actually have instead of guessing.
Need fireplace repair in St. Louis?
Start with a $69 inspection and a photo report. Credited back in full when you book the work. Call (314) 887-7250.
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