DraftSmoky Fireplace Fixes
Draft testing, makeup air, smoke guards and chimney extensions for fireplaces that won't draw.
- Pressure and draft tests
- Outside air kits
- Chimney extensions
24/7 dispatch · Princeton
Stone Hearths, Rumford Fireplaces& Fires That DrawChimney and masonry work for Princeton, Hopewell, Pennington, Lawrenceville and West Windsor
The country around Princeton is full of fieldstone farmhouses, some old enough to have walk-in cooking hearths and bake ovens. In town, many owners want a fireplace that actually heats the room, which is what the tall, shallow Rumford design was invented for. And in tightly built newer homes, a fireplace that smokes every time the kitchen fan runs is one of our most common calls. We work from Alexander Road near Route 1, with dispatch available 24/7.
08540Alexander Rd shop
1700sstone hearths
24/7dispatch
Late call · Princeton
9:41
PH
Princeton Hills
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Newer, tighter homes
Why your fireplace smokes when the range hood is on
Modern homes are sealed tight, and powerful kitchen hoods, bath fans and dryers pull air out. The fireplace becomes the easiest way for air to get back in, bringing smoke with it. Here's how we fix it.
TEST
Measure the draft
We test pressure and draft with exhaust fans on and off to see what's pulling against the chimney.
SIZE
Check the flue
An undersized or oversized flue, or a chimney too short for the roofline, can also cause smoke.
AIR
Add makeup air
Outside air kits or makeup air for the range hood give the house air without robbing the fireplace.
TUNE
Fix the opening
Smoke guards, damper changes or a chimney extension finish the job.
Services
Chimney and stone work around Princeton
From 18th-century farmhouses in Hopewell to houses near Nassau Street and new construction in West Windsor.
Draft
RumfordRumford Fireplaces
Existing fireboxes rebuilt in the tall, shallow Rumford shape that throws much more heat into the room.
- Firebox rebuilds
- Streamlined throats
- New Rumford installs
ColonialCooking Hearths & Bake Ovens
Walk-in hearths, beehive ovens and cranes in old farmhouses stabilized, repointed and made safe to show or use.
- Hearth stabilization
- Bake oven repair
- Period mortar
StoneFieldstone Chimneys & Walls
Stone chimneys, house walls and property walls repointed with lime mortar that matches the old joints.
- Lime repointing
- Stone resetting
- Property wall rebuilds
LinersLiners & Old Flues
Unlined or cracked flues in old houses relined so fireplaces, stoves and boilers vent safely.
- Stainless liners
- Cast-in-place options
- Boiler and stove venting
SweepsSweeps & Inspections
Careful sweeps and video inspections for homeowners and buyers across Mercer and Somerset counties.
- Drop-cloth sweeps
- Video flue reports
- Pre-purchase checks
Loose stones, cement patchesFailing
Lime repointingSound for generations
Hopewell · Pennington · Montgomery
Hearths built when cooking happened in the fireplace
Walk-in fireplaces
Wide, deep cooking hearths often have shifted lintels and loose back walls. We stabilize before anyone lights a fire.
Beehive ovens
Domed bake ovens beside the hearth are repaired with matching brick and clay-based mortar.
Lime, not cement
Old fieldstone walls need soft lime mortar. Cement patches trap water and push stones out.
Use or display
We'll tell you whether a hearth can safely take a fire again, or should be preserved as a showpiece.
Princeton area coverage
From the Sourland foothills to Route 1
We're on Alexander Road near Route 1, between Princeton and Princeton Junction. Pick a town.
Crew toDowntown Princeton
About8 min
Where's the house?
Dispatcher answers
Crew leaves Alexander Rd
Text when close
Inspection & quote
Estimated from 743 Alexander Rd. Route 1 and downtown Princeton traffic can add time, especially during university events, so dispatch confirms on the call.
Fireplaces that actually heat
The Rumford: an 18th-century design that still works best
Count Rumford designed his fireplace in the 1790s: tall, shallow, with angled sides that reflect heat into the room and a streamlined throat that pulls smoke cleanly. Many older homes had them, and many modern ones would benefit.
Tall and shallow
A shallow firebox with wide-angled sides puts the fire closer to the room.
Streamlined throat
A rounded throat lets smoke flow smoothly up the flue instead of rolling back.
Rebuild in place
Many existing fireboxes can be rebuilt as Rumfords without changing the chimney.
Built to code
Proper hearth extensions and clearances for a safe, warm fire.
Deep box, most heat lostCold room
Rebuilt as a RumfordWarm room
Towns
Princeton and the towns around it
Mercer, Somerset and Middlesex county communities within easy reach.
- Downtown Princeton
- Western Section
- Riverside
- Littlebrook
- Kingston
- Rocky Hill
- Montgomery
- Hopewell
- Pennington
- Lawrenceville
- Princeton Junction
- Plainsboro
Is someone really available at night?
Yes. A dispatcher takes calls 24/7 and lines up a crew for leaks, storm damage or smoke pouring into the house. In an actual fire, with a gas smell or a sounding CO detector, go outside and call 911 first.
Why does my fireplace smoke only when the kitchen hood is running?
The hood pulls air out of a tight house, and the chimney becomes the replacement air path. Makeup air for the hood or an outside air supply for the fireplace usually solves it.
What is a Rumford fireplace?
A tall, shallow fireplace with angled sides and a rounded throat, designed in the 1790s. It radiates much more heat into the room and drafts well.
Can my existing fireplace be converted to a Rumford?
Often yes. We rebuild the firebox and throat inside the existing opening. We'll measure first to confirm the flue size works.
Can we cook in our old farmhouse hearth?
Sometimes, after stabilizing the lintel and back wall and checking the flue. Some hearths are better kept as showpieces. We'll give you an honest answer.
Do you work on houses in Princeton's historic districts?
Yes. Exterior changes there may need review by the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission. We supply photos and material details for your application.
Which towns do you serve?
Downtown Princeton, the Western Section, Riverside, Littlebrook, Kingston, Rocky Hill, Montgomery, Hopewell, Pennington, Lawrenceville, Princeton Junction and Plainsboro.
A fire that draws, a hearth that lasts.
Call any hour. Princeton Hills Chimney & Masonry keeps its dispatch desk staffed every day of the year.
(609) 252-0686 Call Princeton Hills
Princeton Hills Chimney & Masonry
743 Alexander Rd unit 102
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 252-0686
Map the shop →
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 252-0686
Map the shop →
| Sun | Dispatch desk staffed |
| Mon | Dispatch desk staffed |
| Tue | Dispatch desk staffed |
| Wed | Dispatch desk staffed |
| Thu | Dispatch desk staffed |
| Fri | Dispatch desk staffed |
| Sat | Dispatch desk staffed |