Chimney Services in Howell, NJ

What the numbers suggest for chimneys in Howell

Census estimates place about 44% of Howell's 19,613 housing units in 1980 to 1999 and 20% since 2000, with 24% from the 1960s and 1970s. That range takes in both masonry chimneys and framed chases around factory-built chimney pipe, two designs that react differently to wind. The difference is laid out in masonry vs. factory-built chimneys.

About 80% of occupied homes heat with utility gas, 11% with electricity, 5% with fuel oil and 0.9% with wood. Wood and oil flues collect deposits and need regular cleaning, and gas appliance vents need a clear path out. A cap knocked loose or debris dropped into a flue affects all three.

About 79% of units are detached houses and 11% are attached. These are township-wide estimates and do not describe a particular chimney.

What the county hazard plan says about Howell

Howell's section of the Monmouth County Hazard Mitigation Plan (2026) ranks nor'easters, floods and wildfire as high-priority hazards, and extreme wind, hurricanes and tropical storms, tornadoes and winter storms as medium. Its land use data show forest covering about 7,716 acres in 2020, roughly a fifth of the township. Wind is not the only way a storm reaches a chimney; falling limbs from nearby trees are another.

What wind does to the top of a chimney

• Caps and terminations can loosen, tilt or blow off, leaving the flue open to rain, leaves and animals. See chimney caps.
• Chase covers on framed chimneys can lift at an edge, and siding near the top of the chase can pull loose.
• Masonry above the roof takes the full wind load. The Building America Solution Center notes that tall, narrow brick or stone chimneys rising high above the roof are at increased risk of damage, and recommends connecting chimneys adequately to the roof framing.
• Flashing can bend or open where shingles lifted around the chimney, which may not leak until the next heavy rain; see chimney flashing repair.
• Attachments such as an antenna or dish strapped to the chimney add load to the masonry they hang on.

A storm check, from the yard to the flue

1. Look from the groundUse binoculars. Check for a missing or tilted cap, a lifted chase cover, a chimney that looks out of line, and brick fragments or mortar grit on the shingles or in the gutters. Stay off the roof.
2. Look insideDebris, mortar or water in the firebox, or new stains near the chimney, are reasons not to light a fire yet.
3. Think about the gas appliancesIf the cap is gone or debris could have fallen into a flue that vents a furnace or water heater, have it checked promptly. A sounding CO alarm means everyone goes outside and someone calls 911.
4. Book an inspectionCSIA lists weather events among the reasons a Level 2 inspection is warranted. We use a camera inside the flue when it allows. Our guide to checking the chimney after a storm covers what it involves.
5. Keep a recordDated photos from the ground and from the inspection help if you file a claim. Our guide to chimney damage and homeowner's insurance explains what to gather.

Local questions

Sources

1. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (tables B25034, B25040, B25024), via Census Reporter
2. Monmouth County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2026, Appendices Vol. I: Howell Township (PDF)
3. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Building America Solution Center: Chimneys Connected to Roof Structure
4. CSIA: The Three Levels of Chimney Inspections