Service illustration · not a completed customer projectTHE WORK, EXPLAINED
Start with the condition.
Understand the scope.
Describe when smoke or operating problems occur and identify the connected appliance. Ask which venting, combustion-air and damper checks are proposed and how the findings will support the next diagnostic or repair step.
What may be involved
- inspection tools
- draft tools
- written findings
Ask the provider to distinguish existing parts to inspect, proposed replacements, and tools, materials or reports included in the service. Confirm the work and exclusions after assessment; this list does not mean that every item will be supplied or replaced.
LOCAL RESEARCH / Los Altos
Local exposure
Santa Clara County sits inside the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, whose Regulation 6 Rule 3 governs wood burning. The District’s own FAQ describes winter months starting 1 November through the end of February, and says Winter Spare the Air Alerts are issued when pollution reaches unhealthy levels — roughly 20 days each winter, when burning is not allowed. It also states that excessive smoke is not allowed beyond a 20-minute start-up period, and describes a Sole Source of Heat exemption for households whose only heat is a registered EPA-certified device. Check the alert status before you light a fire. This District FAQ was last updated in October 2017; confirm the current rule and alert status with the District.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
Before the visit
If smoke is entering the room, stop using the fireplace and arrange an assessment.
