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Independent chimney guide for Philadelphia homeowners · not a contractor · if you ask, we refer you to one local contractor who may pay us · how this works

Guide

Carbon monoxide, alarms & your chimney

A chimney that serves a gas or oil appliance is part of your carbon monoxide safety. Here’s what the City requires and what to keep an eye on.

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Emergency? If you smell gas, leave the house and call PGW at 215-235-1212 from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or anyone feels sick, get everyone outside and call 911. Don’t use this form for emergencies.

How the chimney is involved

L&I says chimney and vent clearance rules exist to “ensure proper exhaust to avoid any backdraft that may increase levels of carbon monoxide.” HomeGuide notes that cracks or failed mortar joints in clay liners can let carbon monoxide into the home. Blockages matter too: the Rowhouse Manual’s annual chimney check is specifically for “animal nests and soot build up.”

What Philadelphia requires

  • L&I Code Interpretation 0801: the Fire Code requires carbon monoxide alarms “in any new or existing building with a Group R-3 or Group R-4 occupancy” where fossil-fuel or wood-burning appliances are installed or a garage is attached.
  • In existing R-3 and R-4 buildings, the alarms don’t need to be hardwired or interconnected.
  • Combination smoke/CO alarms are permitted but not required.

Simple habits

  • The Rowhouse Manual says to test smoke and CO detectors and replace batteries twice a year.
  • Have the chimney cleaned and inspected once a year, as the Rowhouse Manual recommends.
  • Get a Level II inspection when you add or change a heating appliance or fuel, per CSIA.

References

  1. L&I: Chimney & vent clearance information sheet, Rev. 4.2025 (PDF)
  2. L&I: Code Interpretation No. 0801, Carbon monoxide alarms (PDF)
  3. City of Philadelphia: Philadelphia Rowhouse Manual (PDF)
  4. HomeGuide: Chimney liner cost
  5. Chimney Safety Institute of America: Levels of chimney inspection (NFPA 211)
  6. PGW (Philadelphia Gas Works): emergency line on pgworks.com

Checked October 30, 2026. Codes, fees, programs and prices change; confirm with the source. Cost figures are published ranges, not quotes.

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We’re an independent guide, not a contractor. If you want help, we’ll pass your request to one local chimney contractor. If we don’t have one for your job yet, we’ll tell you. They may pay us for that referral; you never pay us anything. Who gets this: one independent Philadelphia chimney contractor, not a call list. We send them your name, phone, ZIP and what you write here, and they call or text you about this request only. If we don’t have a contractor for your job yet, we’ll tell you instead of passing it on. They may pay us for the referral. We don’t sell your details to lead brokers.

If you smell gas, leave the house and call PGW at 215-235-1212 from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or anyone feels sick, get everyone outside and call 911. Don’t use this form for emergencies.

Have a chimney question you want a pro to look at?

Tell us your ZIP code, what the chimney serves and what you’re seeing. We’ll pass it to one independent Philadelphia chimney contractor, who contacts you to set up an inspection and a written quote. If we don’t have one for your job yet, we’ll tell you.

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  2. We pass it to one local contractor, or tell you if we don’t have one yet
  3. They call or text you

Philly Chimney Repair is an independent guide, not a chimney contractor. If you ask for help, we’ll pass your request to one independent Philadelphia chimney contractor, who inspects, quotes and does the work. If we don’t have one for your job yet, we’ll tell you. That contractor may pay us for the referral. We are not affiliated with the City of Philadelphia, L&I or PGW. Disclosure.