Chimney Repair & Chimney System Services in Des Moines
Professional Chimney Repair, Maintenance & Protection
Over the years we've helped homeowners all across the Des Moines area — from Beaverdale and Waveland Park to Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale, and Pleasant Hill — solve chimney problems that range from small repairs to full structural rebuilds.
The truth is, most chimney issues start small. A missing chimney cap, a cracked crown, or moisture getting into the masonry can slowly lead to bigger repairs if left alone.
That’s why our approach is simple: diagnose the real problem first, then recommend the right repair to fix it for the long term.
Our chimney services include everything from leak prevention and chimney caps to liner installation, damper repairs, structural rebuilds, and more.
Chimney Leak Repair & Waterproofing
Every fall and spring we start getting the same calls from homeowners across the Des Moines metro:
"I think my chimney is leaking."
Sometimes the homeowner notices water in the fireplace. Other times it's a ceiling stain near the chimney or a musty smell coming from the firebox.
Last winter a homeowner in Des Moines called us because water was dripping down the inside of their fireplace after a snow melt. The problem wasn’t the roof — it was deteriorated mortar joints and flashing around the chimney.
Water is the leading cause of chimney deterioration in Iowa, especially with the freeze-thaw cycles we experience every winter.
Our team focuses on identifying where the water is entering and fixing the root cause through services like chimney leak repair, stopping leaks where the chimney meets the roof with chimney flashing repair, and restoring damaged chimney tops with chimney crown repair.
If the masonry has started absorbing moisture, we may recommend professional chimney waterproofing to protect the brick from further weather damage. In many cases, a combination of repairs and preventative treatments provides long-term water leak prevention so the chimney stays protected year after year.
Chimney Cap & Chimney Top Protection
One of the most common service calls we receive starts like this:
"I hear something moving in my chimney."
Homeowners in neighborhoods like Urbandale, Clive, and Johnston often discover raccoons, squirrels, or birds have moved into their chimney because there’s no cap protecting the flue.
The easiest way to prevent that problem is installing the proper chimney protection at the top.
We provide professional chimney cap installation designed to keep rain, animals, and debris out of the chimney system. If an existing cap has rusted out or blown loose in a storm, we also offer chimney cap repair.
For factory-built chimneys, the structure is often enclosed in a siding-covered chase. In those cases, we install protective metal covers through chimney chase cover installation and repair exterior deterioration through siding chase repair to keep water from entering the chimney structure.
In situations where fireplaces burn wood or solid fuel, we can also provide chimney spark arrestor installation to reduce the risk of sparks or embers escaping the chimney.
Proper chimney top protection is one of the simplest ways to extend the life of your entire chimney system.
Chimney Cap Installation Gallery
Chimney Chase Cover Gallery
Siding Chase Repair Gallery
Chimney Liner Installation & Chimney Relining
A lot of homeowners are surprised when we start talking about chimney liners during an inspection.
We hear it all the time:
"We've lived here for years and never knew the chimney even had a liner."
The liner is one of the most important safety parts of a chimney system. It protects the masonry from extreme heat while safely carrying smoke and combustion gases out of the home.
In many older Des Moines homes — especially in neighborhoods like South of Grand and parts of Beaverdale — liners can deteriorate over time or may no longer meet modern safety standards.
When that happens, we may recommend chimney relining to restore safe and proper venting.
Many homeowners choose durable stainless steel systems because they hold up well to heat and moisture. These liners are custom sized to match the fireplace, wood stove, or heating appliance so the chimney drafts properly and performs efficiently.
Updating the liner is often recommended when installing a wood stove, converting appliances, or correcting draft problems that cause smoke to enter the home.
When properly installed, a new liner helps protect the chimney structure while improving the overall safety and performance of the fireplace system.
Chimney Relining Gallery
Chimney Damper Installation & Repair
If your fireplace feels like it's letting cold air pour into your house during the winter, the chimney damper may be the culprit.
We hear homeowners describe it like this:
"It feels like the fireplace is letting all the cold air into the living room."
Traditional throat dampers can rust or warp after years of heat and moisture exposure.
Our technicians can restore proper airflow through chimney damper repair, ensuring the fireplace opens and closes correctly.
Many homeowners also choose to upgrade to a modern top-sealing damper, which seals the chimney at the top rather than inside the firebox. These systems provide better weather protection and improved energy efficiency through top-mount damper installation.
A properly functioning damper helps prevent drafts, keeps animals out, and reduces energy loss.
Smoke Chamber & Venting System Repairs
Another common issue homeowners call us about is smoke entering the house when a fire is burning.
Usually the conversation starts like this:
"Every time we light the fireplace the living room fills with smoke."
The problem often isn’t the fireplace itself — it’s the smoke chamber above it.
The smoke chamber funnels smoke from the firebox into the chimney liner. If it’s rough, deteriorating, or poorly shaped, airflow can become restricted.
We provide professional smoke chamber repair to smooth and restore this area so smoke drafts properly up the chimney instead of back into the home.
Correcting smoke chamber issues can dramatically improve how well a fireplace performs.
Firebox Repair & Fireplace Interior Restoration
The firebox is the part of the fireplace that handles the direct heat of every fire you burn. Over time, the bricks and mortar inside the firebox can begin to crack or deteriorate.
Homeowners often notice:
"The bricks inside my fireplace are cracking."
"Pieces of mortar are falling out of the fireplace."
When this happens, it’s important to repair the firebox before using the fireplace again.
Our technicians provide professional firebox repair to restore the structural integrity of the fireplace and ensure it can safely contain the heat of a fire.
These repairs often involve replacing damaged firebrick and restoring heat-resistant mortar joints so the fireplace remains safe and functional.
Chimney Rebuild & Structural Restoration
Iowa weather can be brutal on masonry chimneys.
After decades of exposure to rain, snow, and freezing temperatures, chimney structures can begin to deteriorate.
Homeowners sometimes call us after noticing things like:
"Bricks are falling off the chimney."
"The chimney looks like it’s leaning."
When structural damage becomes severe, a full chimney rebuild may be necessary.
Our masonry team specializes in rebuilding chimney structures above the roofline or reconstructing entire chimneys depending on the extent of the damage. Rebuilding the chimney ensures the fireplace system is stable, safe, and ready to withstand many more Iowa winters.
Some homeowners don’t wish to rebuild a failing masonry chimney. In those cases we offer complete tear down service and reline existing appliances if applicable.
Tear Down Service Gallery
Prefabricated Chimney System Services
Many homes in the Des Moines area use factory-built fireplace systems instead of traditional masonry fireplaces.
These systems use metal chimney components designed to vent heat and smoke safely.
When homeowners call us about prefab fireplaces, it’s often because something doesn’t seem right:
"Our fireplace rattles when it's windy."
"There’s water coming down the metal chimney pipe."
Our team provides professional prefabricated chimney service to inspect and repair these systems. We diagnose issues with chimney pipe connections, caps, and termination components to ensure the system vents properly and remains safe to use.
Maintaining prefab chimney systems helps extend their lifespan and prevent costly repairs down the road.
Trusted Chimney Repair for Des Moines Area Homeowners
Homeowners throughout Des Moines, Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Norwalk, and West Des Moines rely on our team for honest chimney inspections and reliable repairs.
Whether you’re dealing with a chimney leak, smoke problems, structural damage, or simply want to make sure your fireplace is safe to use, we’re here to help.
At Freedom Chimney & Masonry, our goal is simple:
help homeowners understand what’s going on with their chimney and fix the problem the right way.