The fireplace is the center of the house, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere that truly makes the house a home. Historic fireplaces, even more so than others, with their unique characteristics and personality. Regardless of their charm, this pinnacle of the home is not immune to problems, especially historic fireplaces. There are a lot of things to consider with a historic fireplace restoration project, so where do we begin?

It is important to maintain your historic chimney for both safety and aesthetic reasons; either or both might lend to considering restoration.

Safety Reasons for Historic Fireplace Restoration

If you experience smoke entering the home while using your fireplace or notice traces of gasses, those are indications that restoration and repairs are needed. Older fireplaces can have cracks, damages, chimney obstructions, or creosote buildup that cause larger issues and are not always easily seen with the common eye. In an effort to avoid extensive chimney repairs or masonry work, it is highly recommended to have your chimney and fireplace professionally inspected each year.

Aesthetic Reasons for Historic Fireplace Restoration

Though not as time-sensitive as safety reasons, aesthetic reasons for restoration are often just as important, especially in historic homes. Sometimes visible damages require repairs in addition to the fireplace seeming outdated compared to other home decor. Fireplace restoration can be as simple as repairs to the mantle or as complex as tile and masonry work. There are endless possibilities to refresh everything from the mantle to the masonry that can update the fireplace while preserving its unique history.

Start with the Chimney Liner

Regardless of the reason for your project, the chimney liner is a great place to start. Many historic chimneys do not have chimney liners, so while they are beautiful, they are not functional. It is difficult to install a chimney liner in a unique historic chimney, but it is not impossible. There are options to use the existing chimney shape to create a unique liner and design a flue liner rendering your fireplace operable again. This is the best place to start with your restoration project, so it provides a foundation for the remaining repairs and remodeling.

Follow with the Firebox

After safely lining the chimney, focusing on the firebox is a great next step to honor the home’s history and add charm. Many historic homes host a firebox still in its original form or a similar design. Each time period showcases a different architectural style, and the fireboxes mirror these styles. For example, Victorian-style homes boast square fireboxes with decorative and intricate mantles, while bungalow-style homes display more rounded fireboxes with extensive brickwork and masonry. The difference in these two styles alone is a great example of restoring historic fireplaces to their unique beauty and mirroring the history of the home in the fireplace.

Can I Add Fireplace Restoration to My DIY Project List?

It might seem tempting to tap into your creative side with your historic fireplace restoration project and do it yourself, but we are going to discourage taking on the entire project alone. It is a great opportunity for you to be artistic and showcase your DIY skills by choosing the aesthetic changes to the fireplace. The unique challenges with historic homes, however, are best left to the professionals. Let us save you from dangerous and costly fire-causing mistakes.

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

There’s nothing quite like having a wood-burning fireplace to relax in front of during a cold Connecticut evening. With that season quickly approaching us, one way to make the most of it is to use fireplace tools to maximize your experience. Of course, not everyone knows how to properly use their tools. Let’s go over the six basic tools, their purpose, and how to use them properly.

How to use your fireplace spade or shovel

A spade or shovel is an essential fireplace tool. It’s how you remove ash or debris from your firebox. You can do this both while a fire is burning and after. Just be sure that, if you shovel ashes with an active fire, use a long-handled one so that your hands can stay away from the flames.

The right way to use your fireplace tongs

There will come a time that, while burning logs in your fireplace, you’ll want to move them around. A set of fireplace tongs is what you’ll need in this situation. A nice long pair can easily grasp the log you want to reposition from the outside, keeping yourself safe while helping your fire stay warm and vibrant.

The purpose of a fireplace broom or brush

Fireplace brooms and brushes are smaller than your standard house broom so that they can easily fit inside your firebox. After your fireplace has fully burnt itself out and the firebox has cooled off, use this fireplace tool to clean your hearth from the soot build-up on the walls and floor of your fireplace. This is not as thorough of a job as a trained Northeastern Chimney technician will do when they sweep the inside of your flue, but it does a good job for your firebox.

Do you need to use a poker?

In a word, yes. This is possibly the most used fireplace tool. It’s made of fireproof iron which helps you prod the burning wood as well as reposition logs instead of grabbing them with a set of tongs. If there’s only one tool in your fireplace arsenal, this is the one
to have.

What are the bellows used for exactly?

Bellows are a less common fireplace tool though we’ve probably all seen them, especially in movies set in years gone by. By squeezing your bellows, it sends a burst of oxygen into the fire. This acts as a boost for a fire that might not be catching as quickly as you’d like. You can also adjust the volume of air with the small valve on the end.

Finally, the purpose of an andiron

An andiron is a long horizontal bar or support structure that your wood sits on. It allows air to pass below the burning wood, encouraging them to burn brighter and more efficiently than otherwise.

Do you need help with how to use fireplace tools? We can help!

The next time we visit your home for a chimney sweep and inspection, be sure to ask one of our team members if you have any questions about how to use fireplace tools.

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

How often do you hear on tv or online about chimney fires in the home? With all of the bad news out there, is there time to cover chimney fires?

What are Chimney Fires?

According to the CSIA, the Chimney Safety Institute of America, most chimney fires are caused by a dirty chimney. They usually start inside of the flue where there’s a buildup of creosote, a byproduct of wood burning, or a blockage within the flue.

Let’s take a look at some nearby chimney fires.

Fire #1: Philo, IL 2022

The homeowners reported a flickering of the lights that evening, so they decided to light a fire in the gas fireplace to keep light and warmth in the home. Investigators are still working on why the fire occurred. Fortunately, no one was hurt as two separate individuals passing by witnessed flames coming out of the chimney. However, the home is no longer livable.

Fire #2: Winthrop Harbor, IL 2022

Firefighters were quick to respond to a chimney fire and saved the home! When the firefighters got on the scene, they saw smoke coming from the two-story home. They quickly went into action and began with hitting water on the home. This stopped the fire from spreading into the attic.

Fire #3: Geneva Township, MI 2022

This was a bad one. The good news is that the family and their pets are all safe. The bad news is that the fire spread throughout the walls and roof, destroying the infrastructure and their possessions.

I searched each article for time of day that the fires occurred, and no pattern emerged. Everything from the middle of the night, late afternoon and early evening. There’s no telling when a chimney fire may have the right conditions to ignite and spread. And, it doesn’t matter if it’s a gas fireplace, wood burning fireplace or if it’s used often or not. Each story had these various conditions and a fire still broke out.

In fact, there are over 25,000 chimney fire in the U.S. each year. We don’t want you to be a statistic.

What Can You Do?

CSIA, the fire department and the certified technicians here at Superior Chimney all agree that if you want to avoid chimney fires, it is essential to get the fireplace swept and inspected each year. And if you think cutting corners will work, there’s a price to pay. A potential fire.

What to Watch for?

Be sure that you use a company like Superior Chimney to perform the chimney inspection. There are 14 points our chimney technicians perform during their visit, along with photo documentation. Customers enjoy the photos as many times they can’t get on top of the roof to see it for themselves. The photos serve as a way to describe the issue and why the repairs (if any) need to be performed.

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

Do roofers repair chimneys? You may be asking yourself this question if your chimney has been having issues and you already have a go-to, trusted roofing company. After all, finding a trustworthy chimney company can be a hassle, especially if you already know a good roofer. Although some roofers repair chimneys, it is always best to hire an expert chimney company for chimney-related problems.

Now, we’ll discuss why it is best to contact a chimney company for chimney problems.

Why You Should Contact a Chimney Company for Chimney Issues

Even though some roofers repair chimneys, contacting a chimney company for chimney issues is the best option. Here are some reasons why:

Chimney-Specific Experience

Chimney companies spend all day every day diagnosing and solving chimney problems, while roofers spend their time identifying roof issues and repairing or replacing roofs, while only occasionally working on chimneys. Because of this, chimney companies are far more qualified to detect what might be going on with your chimney and properly carry out the necessary next steps than roofers.

CSIA Certification

Many chimney technicians are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). We recommend ensuring that the company that you choose carries technicians with this certification. There are many reasons why you should hire a CSIA certified chimney specialists to cover your chimney needs. For one thing, chimney professionals with this certification have had to go through rigorous training and testing to make sure that they uphold industry safety regulations. In addition, having this certification is an indication that professionals take excellent quality workmanship seriously. Look for this certification on chimney companies’ websites or inquire about it when you are considering different companies. 

Equipped to Handle Chimney Leaks

Chimney leaks are one of the most common issues that people reach out to roofers about rather than chimney companies. This is because the resulting water damage often shows up on the ceiling near the chimney, leading people to think that calling a roofer is the best option. This is not the case, however, and many roofers will even recommend that you contact a chimney company instead to work in conjunction with any roofing related repairs needed. 

Since chimney leaks can have multiple causes, hiring a chimney company is a smart move. Some common reasons include: 

• Damaged flashing 
• Missing bricks 
• A cracked crown
• Missing or undersized cap
• And more 

The post Why You Shouldn’t Call a Roofer for Chimney Issues appeared first on Boston’s Best Chimney.

When we recommend to clients that they have their chimneys repointed, many want clarity on what this entails. Understanding your chimney’s needs and how it works  is essential, so today we will explain chimney repointing and why it matters.

What is Chimney Repointing

This process involves repairing the mortar joints between the bricks of the chimney. These mortar joints maintain the chimney’s strong structure. Over time, they often begin to decay due to exposure to weather and freeze/thaw cycles. The chimney repointing process is a possible solution to this problem in situations when the chimney’s bricks are still in good shape.

 Here are three major benefits:

1. Fortifies the structure of the chimney
2. Improves the appearance of the chimney
3. Protects the chimney’s mortar from future water penetration

Signs That Your Chimney Needs Repointing

If you see cracks in your chimney’s mortar, this is a sign that your chimney needs repointing. If this is the case, be sure to call a professional to schedule a chimney inspection. Promptly dealing with cracks in the mortar will help prevent further, more costly damage. Whether or not you notice issues, we recommend having your chimney swept and inspected every year. This will help keep your chimney in working order, while promptly catching any problems that may arise.

Steps to Repointing a Chimney

We recommend hiring a team of experienced professionals to diagnose the need for a chimney repointing and then to repoint your chimney. When our team repoints chimneys, we start by carefully removing old mortar, making sure not to damage the structure of the chimney in the process. Then, we apply fresh, new and long-lasting mortar to ensure the longevity of the chimney and to make it stronger than ever.

When Chimney Rebuilding is Necessary

Chimney repointing is not always a feasible solution. As previously mentioned, it is only possible when the chimney’s bricks are in good condition. Chimney rebuilding is called for when there is structural damage to both the brick and mortar due to years of neglect. Check out our blog about the difference between repointing and rebuilding for more information!

The post What is Repointing a Chimney? appeared first on Boston’s Best Chimney.

A fireplace is normally the nicest part of any home. However, fireplaces require a specific amount of maintenance. Even if winter is the best time to enjoy your fireplace, spring and summer are ideal to make sure that your fireplace is ready for the next cold season. Spring could even be a little better compared to summer for scheduling chimney cleaning and inspection since the weather temperature has not ramped up yet. Humidity and heat cause your chimney to give off an unpleasant odor in your home. There are good reasons why spring or summer cleaning is the best for chimneys.

You should know the reasons why you should choose summer or spring for a chimney sweep.

Bad Smell

Chimneys do not always smell good. There is debris build-up, which gives off a smoky smell. This smell seeps into your home, which will disturb your family and guests. It is unappealing, especially if your fireplace is near the dining room or kitchen.

After a while, the smell only worsens, especially with the heat. Luckily, if you do regular cleaning, you can clear out gunk and make your home smell great.

You Can Catch Problems Early

The fireplace and chimney problems can go from small to major – you should catch them right away. Your chimney should be inspected for any issues that you need to address. If you require repairs, you can be provided with estimation and a long-term care plan specifically for your fireplace and chimney.

Prevent Animals and Birds from Living in Your Chimney

Squirrels, birds, and small animals are normally attracted to chimneys since they give off a safe and warm place to reside in. However, those animals can cause a lot of chimney damage and create a fire hazard. When you have your chimney cleaned and inspected on a regular basis, you can prevent animals from living in your chimney.

You Can Keep Chimney Fires from Happening

The best way to keep a chimney fire from happening is to go through a chimney inspection and cleaning by a professional chimney sweeper. You must not skip chimney cleaning simply because you waited and could not get an appointment prior to lighting the first fire.

Inspection

The majority of chimney cleaning services also do inspections. You will be aware if there is any chimney damage, like cracks. You need to catch any damage right away. Over time, the damage worsens. Repairs might end up costing more money. in addition, requiring extensive work done lowers the value of your home. Things that cause chimney damage are:

• Time
• Trauma
• Water damage

Hair hits your chimney hard and it can create cracks. Natural destruction can happen over time. Lastly, water breaks down the chimney or freezes and expands creating damage as well. There are small cracks that can easily be fixed, but in other situations, different parts of the chimney should be replaced.

Protects Your Investment

Your home is the investment you made that provides warmth and shelter for your family in the next decades to come. However, similar to any investment, a home needs regular maintenance so it does not deteriorate. It is the same thing for your chimney and fireplace system. Preventative maintenance is normally cheaper compared to repairs.

Avoid Smoke Damage

Smoke damage completely ruins your furniture, ceilings and walls, and other items you have. Smoke causes discoloration, and the smell is almost impossible to eliminate. Regular fireplace cleaning prevents smoke damage.

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

The insufficient draw on your chimney’s fireplace leads to a lot of issues when you have a fire on, which includes the fire going out after it has been started. It produces more smoke than usual, or you find it harder to maintain your fire.

Each fireplace is different. The fireplace’s size, chimney height, flue diameter, and other factors are all factors to how well the chimney draws.

You want your chimney to be more efficient, especially in the winter. Nothing is better than sitting in front of the fireplace with hot cocoa. While fireplaces are a great source of warmth in the colder months, if they are not maintained properly, they cause heat loss in your space. You would have to call chimney contractors for cleaning.

Read on.

Have Your Chimney Swept

In case you have not had your chimney swept within the past year, then you should have your chimney cleaned so it operates efficiently.

It is recommended that your chimney must be swept once a year, which is ideal before the burning season. However, you might have to you clean it more often than yearly if you burn wood often in your fireplace the entire year.

Burn Low Moisture Wood

The secret to fast and hot fire is to burn wood that has moisture of 20% or lower. Wood with high moisture burns slowly and loses most of the wood efficiency. Basically, the fire boils off excess moisture before the wood becomes fully combustible. Wood moisture is going to make the top-down fire-starting method very difficult.

If you want your wood to have low moisture content, you should stack it properly and store the wood. Similar to a building fire, the wood must be loosely stacked so that air can move around the wood. The wood has to be stacked outside and covered so no driving rain is going to hit the wood. This is going to allow the wind to move through the wood and then dry it out. Do not cover the wood with a tarp because it can trap the moisture in the pile, which causes condensation formation.

Keep the Damper Close

Your fireplace damper should always be closed unless there is a fire burning. You can easily forget to close the fire after it has burned out, but it keeping the damper open causes drafts and heat loss in other parts of the house. You need to be careful because you might open it when you start a fire.

Open Air Vents or Windows

If you want the chimney to draw well on your fireplace, the hot air gets lost up your chimney and it needs to be replaced by other air from inside your home. You can create a vacuum and a fire in your fireplace can start burning inefficiently in case the air that gets lost in the chimney is not replaced or quick enough.

The vacuum created is more of a problem in the newer homes, where they are made to reach higher standards and less air will make its way into the house.

Opening external air vents in the same room while you open your fireplace is going to help supply a fire with a lot of fresh air.

In case your home does not have an external air vent, you can slightly crack open the window, ideally, one that is in the same room.

Provide Enough Air to Replace Lost

The main component of burning wood is fresh air and oxygen. If there is more fresh air, the hotter the fire will be.

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

Fireplace screens have been around a long time – probably since the first person noticed fiery embers popping out of the fireplace and setting fire to things near the firebox. But it’s amazing how many people still operate their fireplaces without a screen.

What is a fireplace screen?

Fireplace screens are barriers that are placed just outside a fireplace. Typically made of metal or another non-flammable material, a fireplace screen should be bought in a size that provides solid protection from particles that could exit the firebox while a fire is burning.

Here are the four reasons to use a fireplace screen.

1. Reduce the chances of fire damage

A wood-burning fireplace can send sparks and embers out of the firebox in two ways: during a downdraft of air coming down the chimney; and when burning logs naturally settle and pop. The fiery particles that shoot out of a fireplace can easily cause burn marks on rugs and furniture. They can also cause nearby materials to catch fire. Additionally, a person too close to the fireplace can be injured by the hot materials. A good fireplace screen significantly reduces the likelihood of the above scenarios.

2. Keep children and pets away from the flames

Every year, young children and pets become injured from playing near an active fireplace. Older kids and adults should know better than to play close to a fire, but young kids and pets don’t always understand this. A fireplace screen places a secure barrier between the fireplace and the room and the people in it. The screen will do a very good job of preventing burns to skin and clothing from catching on fire. It’s important to note that young children should never be left unattended in a room with an active fireplace – whether or not a fireplace screen is being used.

3. Safeguard your glass fireplace doors

If you use a gas fireplace and have glass doors, those doors become very hot during a fire. While not as dangerous as flames, hot glass doors can injure children and pets. By installing a fireplace screen, you’ll keep curious children and rambunctious pets away from the glass.

4. Enhance the appearance of your hearth area

Aside from their safety features, fireplace screens are also nice-looking amenities that bring a touch of elegance to the area around your fireplace. Many different styles, sizes, colors and finishes are available, so you’ll find it easy to add just the right accent to your hearth.

The post 4 Important Reasons to Have a Fireplace Screen appeared first on Fluesbrothers Chimney Service.

Even if you only use your chimney for a few months out of the year, it should still be inspected before the start of each season. There are five things to keep in mind when hiring a chimney sweep. The first tip looks at what the company includes with their basic chimney sweep package.

What services do they perform during a sweep?

A typical chimney sweep appointment should last no less than one hour. During your sweep, however, your technician should do more than simply sweep the ashes out of your firebox and call it a day. Instead, they should: Perform an in-depth inspection of the chimney system, including the firebox, flue, brick
and mortar, crown, and cap; Remove all blockages such as leaves or any animals that made their way into the flue; Offer to repair a broken or missing crown; And remove any buildup of creosote, the sticky, tar-like substance that can eventually lead to a chimney fire.

Is their team knowledgeable?

Each Northeastern Chimney team member receives extensive training to ensure that our technicians are knowledgeable in all aspects of chimney maintenance and repair. Training and education are vital. When hiring a chimney sweep, be sure to look for context clues on their website and marketing materials that indicate if they train their team members.

The last thing you need is someone who doesn’t know much about the industry giving your chimney a passing grade when, in fact, it needs repairs before you use it again.

Do they offer free estimates?

A small yet important thing to consider when hiring a chimney sweep is if they offer free estimates for repair. All legitimate chimney sweep firms will offer free quotes for their services. This is important especially if your chimney hasn’t been serviced for a while and may require more than normal focus during your sweep.

What prices do they charge?

Finally, do they tell you the price of a sweep and inspection before performing services? Are they transparent with their overall pricing when asked? And as a minor note, does their pricing seem fair, fitting into your budget?

Do they offer repair services?

As we already alluded to, your chimney sweep company must offer repair services. Some can be taken care of on the same day, such as replacing a missing chimney cap. Others may require a second appointment, especially if during the inspection your technician discovers problems with the structure or gaps in the brick and mortar. If all they offer on their site is to clean your chimney and nothing else, consider finding another option.

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

This has been a bit of a rough summer with the rain storms and high winds. It has resulted in numerous homes needing brick chimney repair. Now, that’s not to say those with stone chimneys or chimney’s made of siding don’t need repair, because they certainly do. Let’s talk about what goes into a brick chimney repair and chimneys made from other materials.

What is a Brick Chimney Repair?

A brick chimney repair is when a highly skilled masonry specialist restores the chimney materials back to their original state. This can include, but not limited to the bricks, mortar, chimney crown and chimney fire tiles.

Repair Chimney Bricks, Stone and Other Materials

Chimney repairs made from bricks, stone, siding or concrete deteriorate over time. This can cause the chimney materials to fall off, flake or chip as too much moisture has absorbed in the materials which causes them to fall apart.

It’s hard to know when these materials become loose as the chimney is the highest point on your home. It’s not like you look at the chimney every day to notice the changes. However, this can be rectified when you have a yearly inspection on the fireplace and chimney, even when you don’t use the fireplace or if the fireplace is gas.

Repair Chimney Mortar

Chimney mortar is the cement material in between the bricks and stones. It’s basically the glue that keeps everything together. But just like glue, it doesn’t stick forever. That’s why bricks and stones need to be tuckpointed when the mortar is no longer in between the bricks and stones or is loose to the touch. This is repaired by grinding and then inserting fresh mortar to ensure the material is secure.

Chimney Crown Cracking

Just like a real crown, which goes on top of a person’s head, the chimney crown sits on top of the chimney. This is to protect from weather elements as well as protect the surrounding chimney materials. As always, the chimney crown can crack allowing snow, and rain water to enter in between. In fact, it doesn’t matter how small of a crack it may be, the water can and will penetrate the crack.

Chimney Flashing Leaves a Void

Chimney flashing is the staircase looking material at the bottom of the chimney. The importance of the chimney flashing is to connect the roofing system to the chimney. This directs the rain and snow away from the chimney and onto the roofing system where it filters into the gutters. If the rain water or snow gets behind the chimney flashing, then it has direct access into your home. That’s why when the chimney technicians are at your home, they always check if the flashing is still flush against the chimney. Any spare room will immediately welcome the elements and create chaos.

Why Now is the Best Time

Getting repairs done on the chimney is most commonly completed in the spring, summer or fall. The seasons allow for the best conditions for the materials to dry and adhere to the chimney structure. If you are not sure what condition your chimney is in, or you know it’s in need of repair, now is the best time to contact us before the winter sets in.

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