Month: March 2024

Winter is coming to an end in the Chicago area, which so happens to be the best time to schedule for a chimney repair. In this blog, we will play a game of Fact or Fiction! We will ask you a question about one type of chimney inspection. Before you read on to the answer, think if you have seen this before in your chimney. Can you answer if the question is fact or fiction? Let’s find out…

Fact or Fiction? Tuckpointing is the process of repairing the mortar on the chimney. It’s important, but you don’t have to do it every single year. That’s too labor intensive and expensive.

Now, what do you think?

Answer: Fiction. Your chimney should be checked for repairs every year. If that repair calls for tuckpointing, then it’s very necessary to complete those repairs. Leaving deteriorating masonry will cause your chimney to eventually collapse! If you don’t remember the last time you’ve gotten your chimney tuckpointed, it’s necessary to make an appointment with a chimney professional as soon as possible. Tuckpointing also keeps up the appearance of your chimney, so if you notice any chunks of masonry falling out or a discoloration on the outside of the chimney, you may need tuckpointing. A little goes a long way, and it’s true that tuckpointing is labor intensive. But, it is worth it, your chimney will be in good condition for the next winter burning season.

Fact or Fiction? The masonry on a chimney is very porous. The water can be blocked out of the masonry to keep it from damaging the material.

Answer: Fact. Chimney professionals at Superior Chimney use a waterproofing agent called Chimney Saver. This is a specially made product that releases the vapors from inside your chimney while protecting it from the water outside. The water that is naturally created through condensate from inside the chimney can be released. With the fluctuating weather in Chicagoland, the freeze thaw cycle is in full effect. Water inside the masonry is now freezing up, and with warmer temperatures, melting. The freeze thaw cycle results in serious damage to the chimney’s masonry. This is another reason why Chimney Saver is highly advisable by chimney professionals.

Fact or Fiction? Chimney fires cause more damage than water leaks. 

Answer: Fiction. Water is your chimney’s enemy. Rain, snow, freeze thaw cycles…the list goes on. Your chimney is constantly exposed to the elements, quickly deteriorating it. Water inside your chimney flue causes rust to the steel components and other metal parts. Water outside the chimney causes structural damage and potential rebuilds. A fire will not completely take down your chimney, but water will! A chimney professional often has to rebuild a customer’s chimney. Sometimes partially, with tuckpointing and repointing, and other times, they need a whole new chimney rebuild! Getting your chimney waterproofed by a chimney professional is the essential way to help protect it from water damage.

Thinking About a Chimney Repair?

If you noticed any water damage to the inside or outside of your chimney and suspect you need a chimney repair, contact a Superior Chimney professional today at 877-244-6349. We will perform a chimney inspection first, then help with any necessary repairs to bring you into the springtime season worry free. 

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

Fireplace smell is no secret to a chimney professional. Though you may want to hide a smelly living room from friends or neighbors, we are used to it! We hear this complaint about smelly fireplaces all the time. Superior Chimney is called throughout Chicago and the Chicago area to help inspect, clean and repair chimneys, and one of the most talked about issues is a fireplace smell. Here are some of the complaints we’ve heard over the years, and how we helped the homeowner repair their chimney.

“My family was on a cruise over the summer for one month. When we came back, the fireplace smelled horrible. The best way to describe it was humid and musty. Like going into an old stone cave, or something along those lines.”

During a chimney inspection, the sweep reported that there was very humid and waterlogged air inside the chimney. During the spring and summer in Chicagoland, it gets very rainy and wet. Mold grows in these conditions, which results in smelly air coming from the fireplace. When downdrafts occur, also known as the reverse flow of air pressure, the smell becomes even stronger and spreads through your home. The Superior Chimney professional swept the chimney, made some component upgrades and this helped to dissipate the smell.

“I lit my fireplace for the first time this winter. No…I don’t remember the last time I had it cleaned. We bought the house years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever called a chimney professional before! When my husband and I lit the wood in the fireplace, it started to smell like it was going to explode. What a strange burning smell. I told my husband to put the fire out immediately!”

This customer had a typical case of creosote buildup based on the burning smell. Creosote is found on the lining of the chimney and is built up over time. We suspect the chimney was in use for years before they decided to use it, as there was a ton of creosote buildup. Be aware of creosote, because it’s extremely flammable. A blockage of creosote will create hot vapors and eventually cause a flue fire. It’s a good time to get an inspection now and remove any creosote buildup. Even if you haven’t used your chimney before, it’s a good idea to make sure there is no creosote hidden in the chimney flue. 

“My family and I use the fireplace regularly, especially during the winter. We love the comfort it brings. But I started to hate it when it began to make my house uncomfortably cold. It felt like a faint breeze was going through my home. It smells strange too. Can you please get rid of that?”

We inspected this family’s chimney, and all looked okay. But we noticed that there were two problems to solve: the first was the fireplace’s damper was open. Simply closing the damper properly will help prevent a downdraft of bad fireplace smell and cold winter air into your home. Second, we noticed some damage to the chimney cap. Any damage to the chimney cap will result in buildup of water inside the chimney. Even animals can get inside and make a home in the flue. 

Can You Relate?

Can you relate to our previous customers’ experiences? Are you noticing any symptoms of fireplace smell in your home? If the answer is yes, it’s time to call Superior Chimney for an inspection. Contact us today at 877-244-6349.

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

Having trouble remembering to schedule a dryer vent sweep? We aren’t surprised! Ah, remember the days in December and January of the freezing cold weather in Chicagoland? Sweaters piled up in the laundry room waiting to be washed? These many sweaters consistently being washed over the winter do take a toll on your dryer vent. It’s important to keep it regularly cleaned, as you might guess, the lint buildup in the dryer along with high temperatures logically cause fires. There are certain signs to look out for, such as your clothes not getting dry as quickly as usual. We don’t judge, it’s easy to forget to care for your dryer vent. After all, the bathroom might need fixing, and that’s just the top of many home repairs. However, here’s why you should prioritize scheduling a dryer vent sweep, especially in the beginning of spring time.

A Tunnel of Lint

You might think that you clean the dryer of lint every time you do a load of laundry. This is just the small tray that collects a lot of lint, but certainly not all. There’s a vent connected to the dryer behind it, likely hidden in your walls. Imagine a tunnel coated in a layer of sticky dust. Walking through the tunnel will coat you in a layer of sticky dust and eventually, you’ll get stuck in the tunnel. The dust, otherwise known as lint, builds up to make blockages in the vent tunnel. A chimney professional will go into the tunnel with service equipment and get all the lint out. We then make sure the rest of the lint is cleaned using special tools. Oftentimes, we see a giant pile lint fall out! Because lint is so flammable, it can be dangerous. It also builds up quickly, over the course of less than a year. Logically, this in combination with hot temperatures from the dryer, result in house fires.

A Spring Cleaning Project for the Professionals

A dryer vent sweep seems like it’s not too hard. Remove the dryer and use a long brush from the local hardware store to sweep out the lint. Is it really that easy? We have to answer with a no. The way your machine is installed matters as well. A professional from Superior Chimney will be able to identify if your dryer vent is installed correctly, and if not, then you may have to clean your dryer vent more than you’d like. This is an expensive problem to have. Longer drying times and multiple cleanings cost money. Also, did you know it’s easy to get carbon monoxide poisoning from a buildup of gasses in the dryer vent? So, if you are noticing very high temperatures in the room of your dryer, haven’t cleaned the dryer vent in some time, clothes not coming out dry after 45 minutes, or even unusual smells, it’s definitely important to call a professional for a dryer vent sweep.

Contacting A Professional Unfortunately, dryer fires are one of the leading causes of home fires and even carbon monoxide poisoning. If you noticed any of the above symptoms of a partially or fully blocked dryer vent, contact Superior Chimney for a dryer vent sweep at 877-244-6349.

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

The freeze thaw cycle is an unfortunate way your chimney experiences damage in the fall, winter and spring months. Have you ever noticed the road during springtime? Even without salt, the very porous asphalt/concrete is freezing and thawing. This process causes annoying potholes & cracks. The same goes for chimneys! The material that holds masonry together is very porous and becomes easily damaged throughout the yearly freeze thaw cycles. However, this year in Chicagoland was rather different. We experienced the freeze thaw cycle a lot earlier, and it continued for much longer than average. The weather was very cold in the early winter months, with some ice. Then, in January and February, we experienced much warmer weather. According to weather forecasters, we will be getting extremely warm weather, followed by freezing temperatures. So, what does this mean for our chimney structures? Will they be collapsing by the time summer rolls around?

What is the Freeze Thaw Cycle?

The freeze thaw cycle occurs when water seeps into the masonry of your chimney and freezes and thaws repeatedly. The cycle is what causes spalling. This process can weaken the structure of the chimney over time, leading to cracks, spalling compromise, and other damage. As water freezes, it expands, putting pressure on the masonry. When the ice melts, it leaves behind gaps and cracks that can allow more water to seep in, creating even more damage. If you notice any pieces of brick or mortar falling off of your chimney’s structure, it’s probably a sign of spalling damage. If damage is left unrepaired for a long period of time, your chimney can collapse. In many big cities like Chicago, with old buildings that are often not taken care of, you can see crumbling chimneys from miles away! Have you seen one?

How Does This Cycle Affect My Chimney?

Understanding the chimney freeze-thaw cycle is important for chimney maintenance and safety. Ignoring the effects of this cycle can lead to costly repairs and potentially dangerous situations. Cracks and damage to the chimney can result in structural instability, leaks, carbon monoxide and even chimney fires.

Protecting Your Chimney from the Freeze Thaw Cycle

The first thing you need is a chimney professional to check the current state of your chimney. A Superior Chimney professional can find any damage with the interior or exterior and repair it. With the help of a waterproof applicant such as ChimneySaver, you can protect your chimney from the freeze thaw cycle. ChimneySaver creates a permeable barrier between the weather/water and the porous mortar. The vapors inside the chimney can still escape, preventing harmful condensation. Plus, water from the outside cannot get inside, which is the beginning of the damaging freeze thaw cycle.

Contacting A Chimney Professional

If you suspect your chimney has experienced or is experiencing damage from the yearly freeze thaw cycle, contact Superior Chimney today at 877-244-6349, and ask for a chimney inspection! We will be happy to help with all your chimney needs.

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