Month: May 2021

A chimney is a portable outdoor fireplace that is made from clay or cast iron. For the fireplaces to last for long you need to know how to live with them. Here are tips on how to go about it:

Place them at the right place

Clay chimney are the most common and as you know, they can break. To protect them from breaking you should place them in an area that is clear for hanging trees, brushes and branches. You should place them in a flat surface that is fireproof. Best places to place your fireplace are on a rock, bricks, pavers and concrete.

Consider your safety

Just like any other fireplace, the chimney also poses a safety concern. The first safety measure you should take is to place the fireplace in a place where you can see the flames from inside of the house. This will help you control the fire before it gets out of control.

The other thing that you should do is to be cautious of the wood that you use. You should use small logs for the fires. If fire is getting out of the fireplace, it’s probably too much.

To avoid fire you should avoid using firelighters or other accelerants. The firelighters damage the fireplace thus requiring you to call a chimney repair company to repair the fireplace.

Protect the fireplace

As mentioned, the chimney is delicate and you need to protect it for it to last for long. You should protect the unit from rain and frost using a chimenea cover. Chimenea covers are also effective in protecting the fireplace from the harmful UV rays thus ensuring that the paint lasts for long.

Regularly clean the fireplace

Just like your indoor fireplace, you need to clean the chimney. You can hire a chimney cleaning company or clean the fireplace by yourself.

To make your work easier, you should have sand or lava rock at the bottom of the chimney. To remove the ashes you should use a small shovel to remove the sand together with the ashes. When removing the ashes you should be keen that you don’t crack the fireplace.

Conclusion

The chimney serves as a great place to relax with family and friends. For it to last for long you need to put the above tips into consideration. To be certain that the unit is safe and efficient, you should hire a chimney contractor at least once a year to inspect it.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

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

Although rare, chimney fires have devastating consequences. You risk losing your property, injuring yourself or even losing your life.

The fires are characterized by dense smoke that has a strong, hot smell. You will also experience shooting flames coming out of the chimney top. If there is a lot of fire you will hear a low, rumbling sound that resembles the sound of a freight train.

If the chimney is burning slowly, you might not notice it and only be caught by surprise when the chimney collapses on you all over a sudden.

The major cause of chimney fire is creosote buildup. If a lot of creosote has accumulated it can easily catch fire thus burning your house.

How to prevent chimney fire

There are many things that you can do to prevent the fires from occurring. Here are some of the things you can do:

Installation: chimney installation problems can cause chimney fires. If you are constructing a new house, you should hire a qualified chimney contractor to install the chimney for you. This is to ensure that the unit is professionally installed.

If you are buying an already constructed house, you shouldn’t rush to make the payments. You should first ask a certified chimney sweep to inspect the chimney and ensure that its perfectly installed.

Regular cleaning: As mentioned, one of the major causes of chimney fires is a dirty chimney. It’s recommended that you hire a chimney cleaning professional at least once a year to clean the fireplace. If you use the chimney more often, you can hire the professional twice a year.

In addition to cleaning the chimney, the professional should also undertake chimney repair. To save money you should hire a chimney masonry repair professional with both chimney cleaning and repair skills.

Burn the right wood: the wood you use greatly determines the amount of creosote that is deposited. As rule of thumb you should avoid burning fresh wood. Wood contains water that mixes with smoke forming a lot of creosote.

To avoid creosote deposition you should burn seasoned hardwood. Great woods that you should go for are: hickory, oak, ash, beech and maple. For ideal results you should ensure that the wood has been seasoned for at least a year.

In addition to seasoned hardwood burning efficiently and producing a lot of heat, they produce very little creosote thus protecting your house and eliminating the need of regularly hiring a chimney sweeping professional.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

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

As you drive around any of the suburbs or within the City of Chicago, you will quickly find many homes that were built prior to 1960. Although older homes are beautiful and exhibit characteristics of the time, it also lacks the safety codes that are standard in newer homes built after 1960. Sadly, these codes have changed/improved due to property and life loss.

As many of the chimneys were masonry based, it wasn’t until homes built after 1950 that metal hearth systems were installed. Let’s take a look at some of the challenges faced with a vintage chimney.

Chimney Lining

Older chimney’s lack the metal lining needed for safety. Superior Chimney recommends a chimney lining for numerous reasons. Here are the top 3:

1. Gases can leak into the home and heat can transfer to adjacent home construction materials
2. Bring your chimney up to current/safer building code standards
3. If you’re burning wood in the fireplace, tar and creosote is forming

House Continues to Settle

You might have heard the phrase, ‘the house is settling’, meaning that the ground on the sides and under the home shifts a bit. Sometimes we’ll see small hairline cracks in the basement walls and/or floor.  Over the years, your chimney may experience mortar cracks, cracked bricks or even a separation of the bricks to the mortar. Getting an annual inspection will help to identify any issues before they become large and/or expensive.

Weather Elements Cause Deterioration

The weather elements of hot, cold, wind and rain do cause the mortar to deteriorate. As you’ve read from us many times, mortar is a perfect place for water leaks to occur. Disappearing mortar can also cause bricks to loosen, especially if the deterioration is deep within the bricks.

Longevity from the Chimney with Waterproofing

The old brick chimney structure may still be intact, but remember, old bricks absorb lots of water from rain and snow. The best way to preserve the brick and mortar is with a waterproofing solution like our Chimney Saver product. The Chimney Saver prevents water into the brick, minimizes deterioration and future repair costs.

Give your old chimney some new life with the care from our Certified Chimney Technicians. Contact us today at 877-244-6349.

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

Although masonry chimneys are durable structures, wear and tear, seasonal temperature changes, and intense storms can damage the masonry, chimney cap, flashing, and other components allowing water to leak inside the chimney. It can also increase the risk of fire and exposure to harmful gases making your fireplace unsafe to operate. If you suspect a chimney leak, it is essential to hire a Certified Chimney Sweep® to quickly find the source of the chimney leak to prevent significant water damage that can lead to extensive repairs.  Here are four common sources of chimney leaks.

Chimney Cap is Damaged or Missing

One of the most common causes of a chimney leak is a damaged or missing chimney cap.  The chimney cap is installed on top of the chimney to keep rain and snow out of the flue. Its constant exposure to seasonal weather changes can eventually cause the chimney cap to crack, corrode, or rust allowing water to leak in the chimney and fireplace. Strong wind gusts can cause it to separate from the chimney. If you notice water dripping in the fireplace or pooling in the firebox, your chimney cap may be damaged or missing.

Chimney Flashing is Worn or Installed Incorrectly

Another common cause of a chimney leak is damaged or improperly installed flashing. The flashing is the sheet metal covering the gap with a water-tight seal where the chimney and roof meet. Improper installation, normal wear and tear, and periodic bouts with inclement weather conditions can damage the flashing allowing water to seep through the gaps between the chimney and roof.  Some of the signs of a flashing problem are water stains on the ceiling and walls around the fireplace. Damaged flashing requires immediate repair to prevent extensive water damage to the attic and roof deck.

There are Cracks in the Masonry

Masonry chimneys are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. Its exposure to freezing rain, snow, and ice can cause cracks in the bricks and gaps in the mortar joints providing multiple entry sources where water can leak in the chimney. As the masonry damage continues to progress, bricks will begin to flake, chip, and crumble. The deteriorating mortar can cause bricks to separate from the chimney leaving gaping holes in the structure. Extensive water damage can also result in a partial or complete chimney collapse causing significant damage to your home.

The Damper Doesn’t Close Completely

When the damper is closed, it should form an airtight seal to prevent energy loss when you’re not using the fireplace. It also keeps the fireplace dry when it’s raining outside.  If the damper or gasket is worn or damaged, moisture can leak inside the fireplace. Creosote build-up on the damper can also interfere with its operation allowing water to leak inside.

Preventing Chimney Leaks

Annual chimney inspections are the most effective way to prevent chimney leaks. The chimney technician will examine the entire structure for damages that can lead to a chimney leak.  If any damage or leaks are discovered, repairing them quickly will prevent further chimney damage and more expensive repairs later.  Your chimney professional can also apply a vapor-permeable waterproof sealant to protect the exterior masonry from water damage.

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