Chimney sweep in Worcester, MA

Chimney care in the 508 area

Long heating seasons and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are hard on masonry around Worcester, Brockton and New Bedford. Water that soaks into a cracked crown or open mortar joint freezes, expands and breaks brick apart (spalling), and nor'easter rain drives water in at the flashing. An annual inspection before the first cold snap catches crown cracks and creosote build-up from a winter of wood burning.

The Census Bureau counts about 933,100 homes and apartments in the 508 territory. 63.3% were built before 1980 and 23.3% before 1940, lower than the Massachusetts figure of 68.9% built before 1980. The median home here dates from the 1970s, and 62.8% of homes are single-family detached houses.

48.3% of occupied homes heat mainly with utility gas and 29% with fuel oil or kerosene. Wood is the main heating fuel in 1.2% of homes, lower than the national rate of 1.5%.

With 23.3% of homes built before 1940, many chimneys here are older masonry. Older flues can be unlined or have clay tile liners that have cracked over the years, which a camera inspection of the flue will show.

Under the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, the territory is in climate zone 5A (cool, humid).

The 508 territory (with overlay 774) is home to roughly 2,093,000 people across 221 ZIP codes in Worcester County, Bristol County, Plymouth County, Barnstable County and 4 more counties.

Services in Worcester

• Chimney inspection in Worcester: Level 1, 2 and 3 to NFPA 211
• Chimney cleaning in Worcester: creosote and soot removal
• Dryer vent cleaning in Worcester: full vent run to the outside hood
• Chimney repairs, chimney relining and wood stove installs: ask your local company whether they offer them

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (tables B25034, B25040, B25024) for the ZIP codes in this territory; climate zones from PNNL, Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County (2022). Population from our ZIP code data.