While much of the economy shut down over the last year, Southern Chimneys kept providing excellent service to the Atlanta community.

Well, 2020 was…quite a year, huh? By April, all Georgia residents were ordered to stay at home and this meant the closing of all nonessential businesses. This only lasted a few weeks, but things still haven’t gone back to normal as the virus continues to rage on and people continue to mostly stay put. Luckily for us, Southern Chimneys, LLC falls within the definition of essential business as defined in the Executive Order, and we remained open all year.

At Southern Chimneys we pride ourselves on maintaining the highest safety standards even during the best times, so we will continue to practice safety as long as the COVID-19 pandemic remains. We’ll perform our chimney and fireplace inspections, cleanings, and repairs while maintaining social distancing and safety protocols. 

With the number of Coronavirus cases in the area growing rapidly, it’s best that all non-essential employees stay home and stay healthy to stop the spread. Now that a vaccine is on the horizon, hopefully, we can get our economy back to “roaring” as it was just a year ago. Remember, wearing a mask in public, washing your hands regularly, and covering your face when you sneeze or cough is the best way to prevent spreading the disease. 

For any questions, give our office a call from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, at 678-744-4046. 

The post Take on 2021 with Southern Chimneys first appeared on Southern Chimneys. This post first appeared on https://southernchimneys.com

Wood burning fireplace inserts are made from plate steel or cast iron. The cool thing with them is that they come with glass doors that allow you to view the fire while it’s burning. There are some inserts that sit flush with the fireplace while others protrude onto the hearth.

To increase efficiency, there are some inserts that come with built in blowers. These blowers increase efficiency by increasing circulation of heat throughout the room. You can mount the blowers at the front or sides of the insert. Depending on the model that you have bought, you can go for an insert that is manually or automatically controlled.

Factors to consider when making the purchase

There are many factors that you should consider when buying fireplace inserts. These factors include:

Amount of heat needed: the amount of heat that you need is of great importance. If you need a lot of heat you should go for a large unit. The same thing applies when you need just small amount of heat. It’s usually challenging to know the right size of wood inserts that you should go for. Heat output is usually measured in BTUs (British thermal units) per hour.

To avoid making mistakes you should work with an insert expert who will not only recommend the right size of inserts to go for, but also the right type to buy.

Venting system: the other factor that you should consider is whether you want to install a venting system. If you will install the system, you should ensure that the insert you buy is compatible with the venting system.

Design: the fireplace insert becomes part of your house once you install it; therefore, you should ensure that you install an insert that compliments the look of your home.

How to install a wood burning fireplace insert

The installation process requires expert skills; therefore, you shouldn’t attempt installing the insert if you don’t have the right skills. For ideal results you should ensure that the work is done by a qualified wood burning fireplace insert professional.

During installation you should ensure that the insert is connected to the chimney liner that runs from the stove to the top of the chimney. This is to ensure that no smoke goes up the chimney directly. Doing so also minimizes combustible deposits that end up condensing in the fireplace.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

This post first appeared on https://www.firstclasschimneyservices.com

At Boston’s Best Chimney, our priority is to keep our customers safe by ensuring that their chimneys are in working order. Do you need roof snow removal, chimney repairs, or a chimney inspection? Click here or call (781) 893-6611 to contact us today.

Now, we’ll discuss ice dams, why they are dangerous and ice dam prevention tips.

What Are Ice Dams?

Ice dams are a build up of ice on sloped roofs. They occur when snow that’s under a snowpack melts and then refreezes – usually caused by warm attic air. This creates a layer of ice that can wreak havoc on the roof and chimney system.

Why Ice Dams are Dangerous

Damage to Your Chimney

There are multiple reasons why ice dams are dangerous for your home. First, they can cause damage to your chimney. If your chimney is on the ridge of your home, it will most likely be safe from ice dams. Chimneys that are located on other parts of a roof can actually cause ice dams to form, however.  Be on the lookout for ice dams if your chimney is located on one of the corners of your roof or on a sloped section of your roof.  Ice dams can also damage the masonry or flashing of your chimney, causing it to pull away and crack.

Damage to Your Roof and Gutters

In addition to damaging your chimney, ice dams can cause roofing and gutter issues. They often cause roof flashing to bend, which can allow water to penetrate your attic. Ice dams can also warp  your gutters as the ice expands and contracts. Sometimes gutters even fall off of homes because of this!

What to Do if You Have Ice Dams

If you see an ice dam on your roof, it is best to address the issue right away. We recommend calling snow removal professionals to get rid of any snow that might stay throughout the winter. Our team of experts does snow removal every winter. Click here or call (781) 893-6611 if you would like to take advantage of our snow removal service!

Ice Dam Prevention

There are some steps that you can take to avoid ice dams. First you can have a chimney professional check the flashing that is around your chimney. If there are cracks in your chimney flashing, it can separate from your chimney structure and allow water to enter your home.

We also recommend adding more insulation to your attic floor to keep warm air inside of your home and out of your attic, which should be the same temperature as outside.

Get Your Boston Area Chimney Inspected

During a chimney inspection, we can assess the state of your chimney’s masonry, flashing, and more to assess if it has been damaged by ice dams or if it is vulnerable to being damaged by ice dams or winter weather in the future. Boston’s Best Chimney has been serving the Boston area since 1989 and we look forward to helping to make sure that your chimney is equipped to take on New England winter weather. Click here or call (781) 893-6611 to get in touch for an estimate or inspection.

The post Why Ice Dams are Dangerous for Your Chimney appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.

As 2020 comes to a close, we wanted to thank all the fans of the fireplace for keeping your chimney and fireplace clean, safe and fun with Superior Chimney.

We appreciate your comments and responses to our numerous articles including:

Being positive in 2020 was certainly a challenge. But these fantastic customers kept their chins high and commented on our technicians and service received.

• 92 on Facebook
• 54 on Houzz

“I had a chimney cleaning and a rebuilt on a 60+ year old house just recently. The chimney was not properly maintained by previous owners. Used this company in the past for a cleaning and inspection and they impressed me. Hired them again without hesitation. The guys who came out at every phase were very nice and they took the time to explain everything. The did a great job with the rebuild and left my roof clean. You can’t go wrong”. Facebook May 17

“Chris and Nick were amazing! They had a cancelation and I was fortunate enough to have them come out in one day. They kept me well informed the whole Way and we’re very professional! Thanks so much. great company!” Houzz December 5

“We recently purchased a new home and it had a fireplace (which we have never had before) and it needed a good cleaning. The service guys were great, professional, and willing to take the time to not only service the fireplace/chimney, but also to explain to us how to use it and what options there were for gas and wood. They provided info on future service recommendations, as well. They seemed trustworthy and did a great job with the initial cleaning. We will use again!” Facebook June 3

“Our experience with Superior was very positive. Lexi who scheduled our appt was very pleasant. We were given a 8 to noon window and received a call at 8 letting us know fhey would arrive about 8:30. Upon arrival Chris and Mike introduced themselves and verified what they were doing. They took before pictures, showed them to us, and explained what repairs were needed. After the work was complete, we were shown pictures of the completed job. Highly recommend this company.” Facebook Aug 12

“My husband and I just bought a house and wanted to ensure our fireplace and chimney were usable and water tight for the winter. We called this company and they took great care of us. Both employees were super friendly, helpful, and courteous. We are planning to schedule them again for the summer. Would definitely recommend!” Houzz October 16

We can’t forget about those who continuously follow us on other social media.

• 500+ Connections on LinkedIn
• 99,732 Tweet Impressions

From all of us at Superior Chimney, thank you for a great 2020 and happy times around the Fireplace with family and friends. 877.244.6349

This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net