Month: June 2025

Your fireplace may be out of sight—but it shouldn’t be out of mind and why

When summer rolls around, most homeowners shift their focus outdoors—grills get fired up, patios come to life, and the chimney and fireplace becomes an afterthought. But here’s something most people don’t realize just because your fireplace isn’t in use, doesn’t mean it’s problem-free.

At Best Chimney, we’re busy year-round for a reason. Chimney issues don’t take a vacation—and if left unaddressed during the summer, they can become serious (and expensive) problems by fall.

Why Summer Chimney Care Matters

Even when your fireplace is dormant, your chimney is exposed to the elements and vulnerable to a number of risks. Summer heat, humidity, storms, and even critters can all quietly contribute to chimney damage while you’re focused on other things. Let’s take a closer look at why now is the perfect time to get your chimney inspected and serviced:

1. Moisture Damage from Summer Storms

Warm-weather storms and high humidity can lead to water seepage in your chimney’s masonry. Over time, moisture causes cracks to expand and bricks to deteriorate. Left untreated, this can lead to structural damage, mold, and staining inside your home. A professional summer inspection can spot these issues early—before they spiral into bigger repairs.

2. Unwanted Guests: Animals & Nests

Your chimney is dark, quiet, and sheltered making it a perfect nesting spot for birds, squirrels, or raccoons during a summer storm. These nests block airflow and pose a major venting hazard when your home heating system calls for hot water. Summer is the ideal time to install a chimney cap and make sure your chimney is swept and clear.

3. Beat the Fall Scheduling Rush

Here’s a secret: Fall is our busiest season. Once the weather turns cool, we’re booked solid with inspections, cleanings, and emergency calls. Homeowners who wait until October or November are often left scrambling for an appointment. By scheduling in the summer, you can choose your preferred time—no rush, no wait, and complete peace of mind.

4. Early Action = Savings

Catching small issues now means avoiding bigger, more costly ones later. Masonry cracks, damaged liners, or blockages can be quickly and affordably handled in the summer. Waiting until fall or winter often means higher repair costs—and limited availability.

Protect Your Home, Even in the Heat

At Best Chimney, we’ve spent over 30 years helping homeowners stay safe, season after season. Whether it’s a simple sweep, a full inspection, or necessary repairs, we’ll make sure your chimney is in top shape long before you’re thinking “back-to-school”.

Don’t Wait. Book Now.

Your chimney’s not on vacation—and neither are we.

Let’s get ahead of the problems, not behind them.

Call us today at 781-893-6611 or schedule online at www.bestchimney.com

Enjoy the summer—and let Best Chimney handle what you can’t see.

The post Your Chimney’s Not on Vacation—And Neither Are We appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.

If you own a home in Georgia with a fireplace, one of the most overlooked — yet most essential — components of your chimney system is the chimney cap. This small but mighty piece of hardware sits at the very top of your chimney flue and acts as the first line of defense against the elements, pests, and other potential hazards. Whether you’re in Atlanta, the suburbs, or the more rural parts of the state, installing a properly fitted chimney cap is one of the smartest investments you can make for your home.

What Is a Chimney Cap?

A chimney cap is a full coverage protective cover that sits over the opening of your chimney. It’s usually equipped with mesh sides and a solid metal top. While it may seem like a simple addition, a quality chimney cap provides multiple layers of protection for your home and fireplace system.

Why Georgia Homes Need Chimney Caps:

Georgia homeowners face unique weather and environmental challenges that make chimney caps especially important:

1. Heavy Rain and Moisture Protection

Georgia’s humid climate and frequent thunderstorms make moisture intrusion a constant threat. Rainwater entering your chimney can lead to rusting damper components, deterioration of flue liners, mold growth, and even water stains on interior walls. A chimney cap prevents rain from pouring directly into the chimney, helping preserve the integrity of your chimney structure.

2. Pest Prevention

Birds (especially chimney swifts), squirrels, raccoons, and even snakes have been known to make themselves at home inside uncapped chimneys in Georgia. Not only can this create foul odors and blockages, but it’s also a serious fire hazard. A chimney cap with a mesh screen keeps wildlife out while still allowing smoke to exit properly.

3. Spark Arrestor

Chimney caps also act as spark arrestors, preventing hot embers from escaping the chimney and landing on your roof or in nearby brush. A capped chimney greatly reduces the chance of a stray spark starting an outdoor fire.

4. Debris Blocker

Leaves, twigs, and other debris can easily find their way into an uncapped chimney. These materials can clog the chimney flue or even your utility flue, obstruct ventilation, and contribute to creosote buildup — a leading cause of chimney fires. A chimney cap keeps your flue clear and your home safer.

5. Downdraft Prevention

Strong winds and changing weather patterns in Georgia, can cause downdrafts. These downdrafts push outside air (sometimes filled with smoke or ash) back into your home. A chimney cap helps reduce this risk by blocking sudden gusts of wind from entering your flue.

Custom Caps for Masonry Chimneys

At Southern Chimneys, LLC, we specialize in custom-fabricated full coverage hipped-roof chimney caps that match the size, shape, and design of your chimney. Whether you need a black cap or a cooper cap, enhancing your home’s curb appeal, we can create the perfect fit. Our caps are installed to meet or exceed National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and protect against water intrusion, nesting animals, and premature chimney deterioration.

Final Thoughts

Your chimney is a critical part of your home’s heating and ventilation system — and a chimney cap is critical to keeping that system safe, functional, and long-lasting. For Georgia homeowners, the cap provides year-round protection from storms, pests, debris, and fire hazards.

If your chimney is missing a cap, or if your existing one is rusted, damaged, or improperly sized, give Southern Chimneys, LLC a call. Our certified professionals can inspect your system, recommend the right chimney cap, and provide expert installation that stands the test of time.

The post Chimney Caps: Why They’re Essential for Georgia Homes first appeared on Southern Chimneys.

This post first appeared on https://southernchimneys.com

As we have all experienced in the suburbs of Chicagoland, wind can cause a lot of damage with branches from trees falling on the roof and all over the yard to finding roofing shingles and flashing on the driveway and in the yard as well. As these are cause for concern, the chimney cap blowing off is a serious one. We field many calls after a high wind day with homeowners stating that the chimney cap blew off! What do I do?

The Chimney Cap Blew Off! What Do I Do?

The chimney cap is an instrumental part of the chimney system and it is important to take care of the problem quickly. Every chimney needs a chimney cap for the same reasons every home needs a roof!  Not many homeowners have the ability to go on the roof to secure the opening of the chimney. And that’s okay. Going on the roof of the home can have safety implications. That’s why it’s better and safer for you to rely on a certified professional with years of experience working on chimney systems. When it happens, be sure to contact us 877-244-6349.

What Happens if the Chimney Isn’t Tended To?

If the chimney opening is left unattended, there are three problem areas that can occur. Let’s take a look at each one.

1. Water Damage: We have rain, and plenty of it. When it rains, water will enter the chimney opening and may lead to damage in the fireplace, masonry and the roof itself.
2. Pests and Animals: Where there’s an opening, there’s someone searching for a nice home. The opening will attract squirrels, birds, raccoons, bats and other animals that can climb right up onto the roof. You really don’t want an animal to get inside.
3. Downdrafts: This is a messy and smelly problem that occurs with a missing chimney cap. A missing chimney cap can pull smoke, soot or dusty debris from the fireplace and push it into your living space creating a safety hazard. You don’t want to breath that in, and walk on the flooring which tracks it in other areas of your home.

Schedule a Certified Chimney Inspection and Repair

When a serious issue occurs such as a chimney cap blowing off, contact Superior Chimney today to have the damages assessed. We will also evaluate the condition of the chimney cap (if it hasn’t blown a few houses down) to determine if the chimney cap can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced.

The Chimney Cap Blew Off! What Do I Do? During an inspection, we’ll also check the condition of the chimney crown, which is the concrete slab on top of the chimney that overhangs the brick or stone chimney. We’ll also check the health of the chimney liner for any issues. This can be affected if the missing chimney cap isn’t identified on time and the opening has been exposed to the elements. And of course, if the chimney cap needs to be replaced, it will be installed securely and properly by a certified professional. Check out what many customers say about us on Google, Yelp, Facebook and other social media platforms. With over 4,500 reviews, we have a 97% positive rating. Contact us today at 877-244-6349. See you soon!

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

When is the Best Time to Sweep the Chimney and Fireplace?

When we approach the month of May, we are confident that summer rolls right on in. If you are wondering where summer is, you’re not alone. These cool temperatures are inching upward, but very slowly. Many have vowed not to turn on the furnace anymore, challenging the weather to get better. Instead, in the nightly cool or cold situations, the fireplace gets kicked on again. It’s just too chilly to keep everything turned off. Phone calls have come in asking, with the cool weather looming, when is the best time to sweep the chimney and fireplace?

When is the Best Time to Sweep the Chimney and Fireplace?

A question that we receive quite frequently is when is the best time to sweep the chimney and fireplace. Traditionally, most homeowners sweep their chimney and fireplace in March, April, May followed by September, October and November. Is there a right time? Not really. Here are a few suggestions for the fastest service.

High users of the fireplace: If you are a frequent user of the wood burning fireplace, you may need to sweep it one or two times per year. The rule of thumb is once every face cord of wood burned, and that’s if everything is in balanced working order.  Because of the quick build up of creosote, any month you choose is fine. Creosote is a build up of the bi-products from burning wood in the fireplace. Because this material that builds up on the inside walls of the chimney is highly flammable, it is best to get that removed on schedule to prevent fires from igniting.

Low users of the fireplace / Non-users of the fireplace: You may say, that you can skip a year because of the low frequency or non-use of the fireplace. However, according to the CSIA, that’s the Chimney Safety Institute of America, sweeping the fireplace is essential for the safety and security of the home. You can have the sweep and inspection of your chimney done during non-busy months such as January, February, July, August, December. That is a chunk of months to choose from to get your chimney swept and inspected by a certified chimney professional at Superior Chimney.

Certified Chimney Inspection

You hear the words certified chimney inspection often from us. And for good reason. A certified chimney inspection is instrumental for the structural integrity and fireworthiness of the chimney, the performance of the chimney system which includes the fireplace and for safety. The Superior Chimney certified professionals will be able to identify and discuss in detail with you any potential hazards such as blockages in the chimney system, damages found inside and outside, creosote buildup as well as moisture intrusion. Our job is to ensure that fires don’t have the energy and characteristics they need to start and of course, ensure efficient operation.

Now that you know….

When is the Best Time to Sweep the Chimney and Fireplace? Now that you are armed with the right information to make great decisions, it’s time to schedule it on your calendar to give you the reminder when to call Superior Chimney to inspect and sweep your chimney and fireplace. Finally, when is the best time to sweep the chimney and fireplace? Take a look on your calendar. We’re also here to help. If you would like for Superior Chimney to give you the reminder call, we can help with that as well. Contact us today at 877-244-6349.

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

If you’ve ever had a chimney inspection or looked into getting repairs done, you’ve probably heard the terms chimney cap, chimney crown, and chimney cover thrown around like everyone is on the same page. And we get it—most homeowners aren’t chimney nerds (that’s our job). But understanding the difference between these three parts of the chimney can save you a whole lot of trouble—and money down the road.

Let’s break this topic down in plain English.

The Chimney Cap: Your First Line of Defense

Think of the chimney cap like a little roof for the top of the chimney. It usually sits over the stove and is typically made of stainless steel or copper.

What does it do?

• Keeps rain out of the flue.
• Stops critters like birds, raccoons, and squirrels from turning your chimney into a condo.
• Blocks debris like leaves and twigs from falling in.
• Some caps have spark guards to prevent hot embers from shooting out and landing on the roof.

Why it matters

Water is the number one enemy of your chimney. A cap stops water from going straight down the flue and causing damage to your fireplace or stove—and prevents expensive issues like rusted dampers or mold buildup.

The Crown: The Unsung Hero

If you move your eyes a little lower from the cap, you’ll see a flat, cement-like structure around the top of the chimney. That’s the chimney crown.

What does it do?

• Shields water away from the brickwork and flue liner.
• Helps protect the masonry from cracking, crumbling, and deteriorating.

Why it matters

A damaged or poorly built crown can lead to serious water damage (remember that water is a chimney’s primary enemy). Cracks in the crown allow water to seep in, which freezes and expands during cold weather, known as the freeze/thaw cycle. This constant freezing and thawing will eventually destroy your chimney from the top down. A good crown is sloped to send water away and sealed to keep it out.

The Chimney Cover: Isn’t That The Same as a Cap?

Not quite, but many people confuse the two and use the terms interchangeably, and to be fair, they can be similar. But here’s the scoop: a chimney cover usually refers to something that covers the entire top of the chimney, not just the flue. They’re commonly used in a factory-built chimney. It may have sides with vents to allow smoke out while keeping everything else (rain, animals, debris) from getting in. These are sometimes called full-coverage chimney caps.

Why would you need one?

• More complete protection for the entire chimney top.
• Extra defense against wind-driven rain
• They look neat and polished and can improve your home’s curb appeal.

So, Which One Do You Need?

Here’s the short version:

• The cap protects the flue itself.
• The crown is the concrete surface that seals the top of the chimney’s structure.
• The cover is a larger version of the cap that protects the whole top of the chimney and is usually used with factory-built chimneys.

Ideally, you’d want all three working together. A sturdy, well-built crown to keep the chimney’s structure intact and dry, a properly sized cap or cover to keep water, wildlife, and debris out of the flue, and if the crown is cracked or damaged, get it fixed ASAP.

Don’t Wait for a Rainy Day

Chimneys are tough, but they’re not indestructible. Little issues up top can snowball into big, expensive-to-repair problems in short order.

Call Northeastern Chimney today for a professional chimney inspection. Our certified technicians will give your chimney a thorough look over and alert you to possible issues with the cap, crown, or cover. We’re Central Connecticut’s top-rated chimney and fireplace experts with nearly three decades of experience. Get in touch with us today!

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