Chimney, Masonry, and Stove Services in Grafton, MA
On Duty Chimney, Masonry & Stove serves Grafton from our Leominster base, and we work regularly on both the antique homes the town is known for and the older mill-village housing along its rivers. Founded by Bryan LeBlanc, On Duty is built on nearly two decades of fire service experience with the Leominster and Ashburnham Fire Departments, which is why every job centers on fire prevention, safety, and code compliance.
Our crew of roughly 20 technicians brings a camera to every sweep and repair, so a Grafton homeowner sees the true condition of each flue on a screen before any work begins. That documented, evidence-first approach is how we replace guesswork with a clear plan, and it is why so much of our work comes from repeat customers and referrals.
Why Grafton Chimneys Need Attention
Grafton is a classic New England town centered on one of the most picturesque commons in the region, ringed by antique homes and the historic buildings that made the town a center of early American clockmaking. Beyond the common, Grafton is really a town of villages, including the old mill neighborhoods of North Grafton, Saundersville, and Fisherville that grew up along the Blackstone and Quinsigamond rivers.
That history leaves two kinds of chimneys. The antique homes around the common and the outlying farmhouses were built around masonry, often a large center chimney serving several flues, and after a century or two those crowns, mortar, and liners need attention. The mill-village housing tends to be older and closely built, sometimes multi-family, with tall brick chimneys that have carried heat for generations.
Grafton’s older homes have usually seen additions and updates over the years, and a chimney may have been altered, capped, or partially rebuilt somewhere along the way, changes that are not always visible from the ground. A camera inspection is the reliable way to understand what has been done to a Grafton chimney over its life and whether every flue still vents safely.
Many Grafton homes still burn wood, and the combination of old masonry and steady wood heat is exactly what puts a flue to work. A yearly sweep and camera inspection is the simplest way to keep an older chimney ahead of the wear that age and use bring.
Common Chimney Problems in Grafton Homes
On Grafton’s antique homes and mill-village housing, we regularly find cracked crowns, eroded mortar, and unlined or under-lined flues, along with wood stoves tied into chimneys never sized for them. Some older center chimneys serve more than one flue, so one issue can affect more than one hearth.
Camera documentation is the right approach for old masonry. We diagnose from the inside, avoid disturbing sound brick, and give a clear, flue-by-flue picture so repairs are targeted and the character of the home is preserved.
Services We Provide in Grafton
Everything we do at our other Central Massachusetts jobs, we do in Grafton:
- Chimney sweeping and cleaning: creosote and debris removal matched to your specific flue type, with a camera inspection included.
- Camera-assisted inspections: Level 1, 2, and 3, photo-documented so you see the findings for yourself.
- Chimney repair and masonry: crown rebuilds, tuckpointing, brick replacement, and full rebuilds to Massachusetts code.
- Chimney relining: code-compliant stainless liners for fireplaces, wood stoves, furnaces, and boilers.
- Caps, chase covers, and waterproofing: custom-fit covers and sealing to keep water, animals, and debris out of the flue.
- Stove sales, installation, and repair: wood, pellet, gas, and electric, including permitting and final safety testing.
- Fireplace repair and restoration: from firebox and damper repair to gas conversions and aesthetic updates.
- Dryer vent cleaning: lint removal that lowers fire risk and improves dryer efficiency.
How We Work, and the Area We Cover
Every job starts with a camera. A technician runs each flue, documents the crown, liner, and masonry with photos, and walks you through what we find in plain language, separating what needs attention now from what can safely wait.
Grafton sits along the Blackstone River corridor south of Worcester, and we serve the towns around it, including Shrewsbury, Millbury, Northborough, Westborough, and Auburn.
What It Costs
Pricing depends on your chimney and the work involved, but to set expectations: a standard chimney cleaning runs $349 to $550 per flue, with $200 for each additional flue, and a camera inspection is included with that service at no extra charge.
A standalone Level 2 camera inspection, the kind often needed for a home sale or after a chimney fire, runs $200 to $500. Masonry and relining are quoted after the inspection, once we can show you exactly what the chimney needs.
If you own a historic or mill-village home in Grafton and the chimney is overdue for inspection, missing a liner, or showing worn mortar or a cracked crown, call On Duty at (978) 696-7933 or book online. We will document its condition and recommend a careful fix.
Frequently Asked Questions about General Fireplace Repair
Do you serve Grafton’s common and the mill villages like North Grafton and Fisherville?
Yes. We work throughout Grafton, from the antique homes around the common to the older mill-village housing along the rivers. Our Leominster base keeps scheduling straightforward.
My Grafton home is an antique with a big center chimney. Can you inspect all the flues?
Yes. We camera each flue in a central chimney, document the crown and liner, and give you a flue-by-flue report so you know the condition of every fireplace it serves.
Can you repair historic masonry without damaging the home?
Yes. Our camera-first process diagnoses from the inside to avoid unnecessary demolition, and when repair is needed we match materials and methods to the age of the home.
I burn wood in Grafton. How often should the chimney be swept?
At least once a year, more for heavy burners. Wood heat builds creosote quickly, and an annual camera inspection is the most reliable way to catch a problem before it becomes a chimney fire.
Are you licensed and insured in Massachusetts?
Yes. On Duty is fully licensed and insured in Massachusetts, Bryan LeBlanc holds a Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License and Home Improvement Contractor registration, and our technicians are trained to Massachusetts code.
What happens if you find a problem during the inspection?
We show you the issue right on the camera screen, explain what it means for safety and everyday use, and give you a photo-documented estimate. There is no obligation to have us do the work, and we always separate what needs attention now from what can safely wait, so you can make an informed decision.
What Our Customers Are Saying
Customers here in Leominster and beyond love our chimney services! Here are a few things they have to say