We have just come out of a cold, long winter. The days are getting warmer. The nights are getting shorter. We see flowers and trees budding all around us. The fireplace is becoming a thing of the past, for now. You have other chores and tasks to get your yard ready for the Summer. The fun and games are around the corner. We all have our lists of things to do this spring. Let’s get a chimney sweep appointment today. 

Book Today!

Don’t delay in calling your chimney sweep. Now is the perfect time to book your sweep. Along with everyone else, you may not think about cleaning out your fireplace until you need it again. But don’t wait. Now is the time to call Northeastern Chimney to set up your appointment. Don’t be stuck this fall without a clean chimney.

Why Book Now?

• Best services. If you delay in booking your chimney sweep until later in the year, all the 5-star companies will be booked. Waiting only gives you fewer options on the best companies to work with.
• Convenience. Booking now will allow you to get an appointment when you want it. Waiting only puts you on a waitlist with many others. With limited availability.
• The weather is perfect for someone to climb up on your roof. Waiting until the fall, or even worse until it snows is dangerous. It is dangerous for technicians to climb a ladder in thesnow.
• Spring discount offerings. Now is the time that chimney sweeps aren’t busy. They offer discount coupons to bring in the business, your business.
• Repair Parts backordered. If you wait until the heat of the season to get you your fireplace checked out, you may find a backorder of parts.
• Waiting until the weather starts turning bad may cause more of a mess in your home. The technicians have to bring their equipment into your house. Bringing in the snow, rain, and mud as well. 

Now is the time to call for a chimney sweep. Don’t be left out in the cold. Our suggestion is to call Northeastern Chimney at 860-233-5770. It’s time to make that appointment now.

Expert Chimney Care

When you plan on cleaning a chimney, it is important to contact a professional. Appropriate tools as well as safety precautions are all taken under consideration. This is a job for professionals. We at Northeastern Chimney have all the tools necessary to get the job done. Remember that a well-maintained chimney will allow for proper ventilation. It will prevent hazardous fumes and chimney fires. Fires run with proper cleaning also improve energy efficiency.

Schedule your inspection or cleaning soon by calling Northeastern Chimney at 860-233-5770.

We service all of Hartford, Tolland, and Litchfield Counties. All our chimney technicians are CSIA certified. We are active in the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)

In addition, Northeastern Chimney, Inc. maintains a rigorous training schedule and a strict code of performance and ethics.

The post The Best Time to Get Your Chimney Swept appeared first on .

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

Chimneys are integral to homes with wood-burning heating systems like stoves and fireplaces. However, most people take their chimneys for granted, leading to structural damage and poor performance. Let’s look at why chimneys are important and how you can protect yours.

Chimney Importance

The chimney’s primary job is funneling smoke, carbon monoxide, and other harmful combustion byproducts out of the house. This is crucial to maintaining healthy air quality and preventing health hazards. Moreover, efficient chimney operation maintains the fireplace or stove’s heating performance. An optimally functioning chimney creates a draft that feeds the fire with oxygen, which is essential for proper, efficient combustion.

Common Types of Chimney Damage

As mentioned, neglecting your chimney can damage it, impair performance, and create potential risks. Here are the dangers.

Creosote Buildup

One of the most common issues with wood-burning chimney systems is creosote accumulation. Creosote is a black or brown tar-like substance that builds up on the chimney’s interior walls and, in later stages, becomes highly flammable. According to a white paper by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, “There is no absolute minimum of creosote accumulation necessary for a chimney fire.”

Structural Damage

Chimneys are susceptible to various forms of structural damage, including cracks in the flue liner, mortar joint, brick deterioration, and damage from natural phenomena like wind and lightning strikes. Structural damage reduces the chimney’s efficiency and poses safety risks, such as the potential for toxic gases to seep into the home and increased risk of fires.

Blockages

Chimneys get blocked by nesting animals, debris, or fallen leaves. Blockages prevent proper airflow, which can cause smoke to back up into the house and increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Water Damage

Water is the chimney’s number one enemy and can enter through cracks or missing caps, leading to further deterioration. Water damage can also compromise the chimney’s metal components and cause the masonry materials to deteriorate prematurely.

How to Protect Your Chimney

Fortunately, you can prevent most chimney issues by following these tips.

Regular Cleaning

Regular chimney sweeping by certified professionals will keep creosote from building up to a dangerous level. The National Fire Protection Association recommend annual fireplace, vent, and chimney inspection for soundness, freedom from buildup, and blockages.

Install a Chimney Cap

A chimney cap is an inexpensive and essential component to prevent debris, animals, and rainwater from entering the chimney. It also blocks downdrafts and can help prevent sparks and embers from exiting and landing on the roof.

Repair Structural Issues Immediately

Repairing structural issues, like cracks or deteriorating mortar, is crucial as soon as you detect them. Repairing minor issues now will prevent them from escalating into major problems requiring expensive repairs down the road.

Waterproof Your Chimney

Another inexpensive but essential way to protect your chimney is to hire a professional to apply a waterproofing product. Waterproof sealants guard against moisture damage and can extend your chimney’s lifespan.

Monitor Rust

If your chimney has metal components, monitoring them for rust or corrosion is essential. Rust and corrosion signal the presence of moisture, and you may have an underlying issue like water leaks that could lead to significant damage.

Regular Inspections

Finally, it’s recommended you hire a professional chimney service to inspect your fireplace and chimney at least once a year, even if you don’t use them that much. This ensures there are no blockages or structural issues that could impede performance or create a safety hazard.

Call Northeastern Chimney Inc.

Northeastern Chimney Inc. has been the go-to chimney service in Connecticut since 1984. We’re fully licensed and insured, and our techs are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. They are always up to date on the latest technologies and techniques, so you can trust their expertise.

Whether you need chimney cleaning, inspection, repairs, installation, rebuilding, or anything else, you can rely on us.

Book your appointment today by calling 860-233-5770.

The post Why Are Chimneys So Important? appeared first on .

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

A brick-and-mortar fireplace is one of any home’s most aesthetically pleasing features, offering comfort and warmth to the entire space. Traditional wood-burning fireplaces are more efficient and cost-effective than wood stoves or other electric heating appliances.

As a responsible homeowner, you want the most heat from your unit. And it’s possible. Some of the things you need to do include: 

Keep the unit in top shape

Like your car, you can’t expect a poorly maintained fireplace to function optimally. At least once a year, contact reputable chimney contractors to have your fireplace cleaned and maintained. This repair and maintenance will improve airflow and increase heat output for your next fire. 

 You shouldn’t remove all the ash in the chimney but rather leave some on top to improve airflow to the fire. To lower the amount of ash in the chimney, remove a little ash on a regular basis.

Make a habit of monitoring the fireplace regularly, and you should never leave it unattended. 

When hiring a maintenance professional, ensure you work with an experienced one who knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is to hire a contractor only to find that they aren’t experienced enough and end up ruining your unit. 

Install a fireplace insert.

Studies show that instead of the normal 10% efficiency of a regular wood-burning fireplace, an air-tight wood-burning fireplace insert can increase your fireplace’s efficiency by 70-80%. 

 You should install a wood-burning fireplace insert within your existing fireplace, which serves as a well-insulated firebox constructed of steel or cast iron. 

The most efficient inserts are double-wall units with built-in circulating fans that direct warm air from the fire into the room.

Hire an expert to install your fireplace insert. The insert should be designed precisely for your current firebox and linked directly to the flue liner to ensure accuracy. 

Sometimes, the contractor may have to use a new flue liner to ensure the insert is appropriate. 

 When looking for inserts, choose those that are high-efficiency and EPA-approved.

Burn high-quality wood

Frequently, what passes for firewood has been in a pile for years, decomposing and producing mushrooms. Turns out that rotten wood produces less heat than rot-free wood. 

Good wood burns hotter for three reasons. One, it is substantially drier. When wood has moisture, it must burn to remove the water before it can produce heat. As you can tell, this means that it loses heat. 

Second, good wood doesn’t rot. Rotten wood is lighter than good wood, therefore there is less to burn. 

Third, good wood usually indicates good hardwoods. When you burn good oak or hickory, which are hardwoods, the fire is really hot.

For the best outcome, always burn well-seasoned wood. Well-seasoned wood has lower moisture content and burns more efficiently than moist wood. 

Do not use recently felled wood or wood with a greenish hue, as it may not burn in the long term. Dry logs of wood that have been dried for up to 6 months to remove moisture and are well-seasoned are the best to go for. 

Get a chimney damper

A chimney damper serves as an entryway for air in your chimney. It helps to maximize the amount of heat produced by your fireplace while minimizing heat loss when it is not in use. 

 Chimney dampers are sometimes used with glass doors to form a stronger barrier to heat loss when the fireplace is not in use. 

 When installing the damper, ensure that the handle for opening and closing is above the fireplace entrance. To open, you only need to slide it to the right.

When lighting a fire, open the damper as wide as possible to generate additional heat. A wide-open damper increases the air hitting the fire, improving combustion. As a result, the fire will become hotter. 

When not using your fireplace, close the damper to keep indoor heat from escaping.

Ensure the room is properly ventilated.

Ventilating a room is equally vital as keeping the chimney clean by opening the damper. Chimneys are designed to remove hazardous gases from your fireplace and home. 

 A lack of ventilation in the room from the chimney may result in a vacuum, mingling fresh air with the created smoke. This vacuum decreases the chimney’s ability to suck air from the fireplace while allowing fresh air into the flames. 

 Unfortunately, many homes are now securely built, leaving little space for air to enter. This can interfere with the air supply to the fireplace. To optimize the heating performance of a wood-burning fireplace, ensure that your room is well-ventilated and the fire is constantly fed with new air.

Remember that leaving the door to other rooms of the house open or leaving the room’s windows partially open will help enhance airflow to the fireplace. 

There is no need to open the windows wide; a few centimeters is plenty. 

Ventilation from the exterior through vents and windows allows warm air inside your home to be released from the outside rather than through the chimney, resulting in a perfect harmony between the fireplace and the air. 

Invest in chimney fans.

Chimney fans provide forceful drafts, resulting in hotter-burning fires. They improve a chimney’s draft by drawing air up and out while bringing more heat into the house. 

 Chimney fans also effectively keep soot and smoke out of the home. These fans draw soot and smoke from the chimney rather than allowing it to blow indoors.

As a result, you have a properly functioning chimney with minimal smoke entering the house. 

Parting shot

As you have seen, it’s not hard to always get an optimally burning fireplace. As mentioned, work with reputable chimney cleaning services Upper Marlboro that will not only help with the fireplace’s maintenance but also advise on the right features to install in your unit to make it more functional.

The post How to Get More Heat from Your Fireplace first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

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

A chimney heat shield is the crucial part of your chimney that protects your home from overheating and catching fire. If you’re noticing any burning smells, unusually high temperatures coming from the firebox, or are just overall concerned for the safety of your fireplace, a professional chimney sweep from Superior Chimney can help. Over time, the heat from the firebox will cause the mortar to crack and fall apart. With constant heat and even water exposure, the chimney heat shield will need to be replaced. As springtime rolls into summer in the Chicagoland area, and rainstorms come more frequently, your chimney (and home…) is more susceptible to water damage. This, in turn, damages your chimney heat shield. Do you suspect any damages to your chimney heat shield? 

What is a Chimney Heat Shield?

A chimney heat shield is a protective barrier installed on the outside of your fireplace primary firewall to reduce the heat transfer to your home’s walls. It acts as a barrier between the hot fireplace fire and the combustible materials in your home, such as wood framing, drywall, or insulation. By reducing the heat radiating from your fireplace, a heat shield helps prevent fires and protect your home from damage.

How Does a Chimney Heat Shield Work?

A chimney heat shield works by creating a layer of insulation between the fireplace fire and the walls of your home. This shield reduces the amount of heat that reaches the walls, preventing them from becoming too hot and potentially catching fire. Heat shields are made of stainless steel and are designed to withstand high temperatures without falling apart.

Why Should You Invest in a Chimney Heat Shield?

1. Fire Prevention: One of the most significant benefits of a chimney heat shield is its ability to prevent fires in your home. By reducing the heat transfer from your fireplace fire to your walls, a heat shield can minimize the risk of combustible materials catching fire.
2. Energy Efficiency: In addition to improving safety, a chimney heat shield also increases the efficiency of your home heating system. By reducing the amount of heat lost through your chimney, a heat shield will help keep your home warmer and reduce your energy bills.
3. Longevity: Installing a chimney heat shield will also extend the lifespan of your chimney and prevent damage caused by excessive heat. By protecting your chimney from extreme temperatures, a heat shield can help prevent cracks, warping, and other issues that can lead to costly repairs.

Installing a Chimney Heat Shield

Installing a chimney heat shield is a process that should only be done by a professional chimney sweep. The first thing a chimney sweep will do is to measure the dimensions of your chimney and determine the appropriate size of the heat shield. If you’re interested in installing, replacing or having your chimney heat shield inspected, contact us at Superior Chimney today by calling 877-244-6349.

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

You notice water and moisture coming from your chimney. This is a concern that you will want to get looked at before you have serious damage. A leak in the chimney can occur in several situations. Let us look at the five reasons that you may have a leaky chimney.

Water Coming In From The Top Of The Chimney:

If your chimney is not protected by a chimney cap, you may have rain and snow coming in from the top. The easiest fix for this would be to contact us for information on inserting a chimney cap. A cap is also beneficial to keep out debris and small animals that may search out your chimney for shelter.

Cracked Chimney Crown:

The chimney crown sits on the top of the fireplace. It is usually made of cement. The cement over time can age and crack. If you have a small crack water can enter. With the freezing and thawing of ice, the cement expands, making the crack larger. As the crack expands, more water can get into your chimney.

This can be fixed by applying a sealer around the chimney crown. Contact Northeastern Chimney at 860-233-5770.  We can help with this.

Masonry Bricks Absorbing Water:

The bricks used to construct your chimney are quite porous. Even more so if they go unattended over the years. Water can seep into the bricks and eventually come into the chimney. The freezing and thawing effect of ice can cause the mortar to expand and crack, giving way to leaks. Also, if your chimney is mostly in the shade this may be causing issue as well. The sun doesn’t hit the chimney to dry it out. Try to maintain the trees close to the house. Trim overhanging branches and limbs. A brick sealant can help as well.

Damaged Chimney Flashing:

The flashing is the part of the chimney where it joins the roof. If the flashing is not attached to the chimney, water will get into your chimney. This can cause a major issue if not addressed. A tight seal is used to connect the chimney to the roof, if damaged there can be considerable water issues.

Leaking From The Attic

When you have fires in your fireplace, gas fumes escape up the chimney.  With these fumes come condensation. The condensation attaches itself to the inside of your chimney and the flue. This condensation, if not recognized, can seep into your home, most commonly into the attic. The condensation or moisture can damage the drywall in the attic. It can cause moisture damage to the walls as well.

It is recommended to have your chimney inspected regularly. Experts suggest on an annual basis. By doing so, any issues can be found early, before the damage is too great.

Schedule your inspection or cleaning soon by calling Northeastern Chimney at 860-233-5770.

We service all of Hartford, Tolland, and Litchfield Counties. All our chimney technicians are CSIA certified. We are active in the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)

In addition, Northeastern Chimney, Inc. maintains a rigorous training schedule and a strict code of performance and ethics.

The post Why Would My Chimney Be Leaking? appeared first on .

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