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Rental property landlords need to regularly maintain and update their properties to remain competitive and maximize rental income. Like wood flooring and stainless-steel appliances, fireplaces are also a very desirable and sought-after home feature that can increase property value. A 2017 survey by Angie’s List found that a fireplace adds about $5,000 to the property value. In addition to an increase in property value, properties with a fireplace rent at a premium, thus increasing rental income as well. However, there are some liability and safety issues to consider before investing in a fireplace for your rental property.

Consider Installing a Fireplace Insert

Fireplace inserts are self-contained heating appliances that offer a traditional fireplace ambiance at a fraction of the cost, making them an excellent choice for rental properties.  Fireplace inserts are available in several different fuel types, including wood, pellets, gas, and electric. Zero clearance fireplaces are an excellent fit for homes, condos, and townhomes that don’t have space for a traditional fireplace. Fireplace inserts are also cleaner, safer, and easier for tenants to operate and maintain.

HOA Regulations

Condominium and Homeowner’s Associations may have rules and regulations that limit or restrict the size and types of fireplaces and other heating appliances that could be installed in your rental property. For instance, they may prohibit installing a chimney but may allow landlords to install a vented or ventless fireplace insert. Landlords also need to check if COA/HOA approval is required before installing a heating appliance.

Liability Insurance

Landlords should also consult with their insurance carrier before installing a fireplace or heating appliance in a rental property. An insurance rider may be necessary to protect the landlord from liability in the event of accidental injury or property damage while using the appliance. Otherwise, the landlord may be held personally liable for property damage or injuries caused by the tenant. Also, it’s a good idea to require tenants to obtain a Renter’s Insurance policy to cover their possessions in the event of a fire.

Rental Agreement

Accidental injury and property damage can occur when a tenant doesn’t know how to use or maintain an appliance properly. Landlords should consider updating the Rental Agreement to include safety precautions and instructions on using the fireplace. Make sure the tenant understands their responsibilities for safely operating, maintaining, and caring for the appliance.  Tenants also need to know who to call if there is a problem with the fireplace.

Annual Maintenance and Inspection

Whether you’re installing a wood or gas masonry or prefab fireplace or an electric fireplace insert, landlords should have a certified fireplace technician inspect and clean the fireplace at least once per year. The fireplace should also be inspected before a new tenant moves into the property. Annual maintenance and inspections are essential to ensuring the appliance is safe to operate. It will also enable the landlord to uncover damage that may have been caused to the unit due to tenant misuse or neglect before any deposits are refunded.

The post Fireplace Considerations for Landlords, Property Managers & HOA’s appeared first on Fluesbrothers Chimney Service.

As a homeowner, you’ve come to realize that if you have a fireplace, the smoke needs to go somewhere, and preferably not in your home. Smoke or gases from your gas fireplace or woodburning fireplace goes up the chimney and out of the home.

Have you thought about where or how the exhaust from your gas heating appliances such as a furnace, boiler or water heater go? These heating appliances rely on the chimney to vent, or get rid of, exhaust gases.

Appliance Venting

We all have furnaces and hot water heaters. Depending on the age of your home, you may still have the ‘octopus’ or the old boiler system to heat the home. A family member of mine continues to use the original boiler…about 50 years old…and I think it takes up half the basement. Okay, maybe not that much, but needless to say, it is huge.

Regardless of age of the furnace, boiler or hot water heater, the combination of fuel, air and ignition is what creates combustion and heats the air or water. The combustion creates byproducts. As fireplaces creates byproducts or the black sticky, gooey creosote, furnaces and hot water heaters create carbon monoxide, condensate and other emissions. The difference is simple: you can ‘see’ and sometimes ‘smell’ creosote/smoke, but the corrosive deposits from furnaces or hot water heaters are not necessarily visible in the chimney. This is one of the many reasons to have the chimney swept and inspected annually.

All Chimneys Need to be Ventilated

Regardless if you use your fireplace or not, the chimney flue vent lining needs to be in proper working order. To keep moisture from building inside of the chimney, good draft, or venting, needs to occur inside of the chimney – This is a chimneys primary function. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, combustion of one cubic foot of natural gas requires more than 10 cubic feet of air to supply adequate oxygen.

The National Fire Protection Association requires that every chimney have a chimney liner. Superior Chimney recommends a stainless steel chimney liner. A stainless steel chimney liner is safe and durable for wood burning, gas or oil appliances. We also take the time to ensure that the chimney liner is a continuous piece of metal ensuring the safe passage of smoke and gasses while eliminating excess condensation which can appear as a leak. As you know, with any slight crack, or loose joint, smoke and moisture will find its way to the weak spots creating problems over time. Keep in mind the stainless steel chimney liner also protects from deterioration or corrosion build up on the chimney structure itself. With all of the time we’re spending in our homes, let’s keep it as safe and secure as we possibly can. Contact Superior Chimney today at 877-244-6349.

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

We want to take a moment to let you know how thankful we are to have customers and colleagues like you. We wish you and your family nothing but the best this Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many of us turn our attention to the joy of decorating our homes with holiday decor. Decorations do create a warm, welcoming, and celebratory environment to support your family meal.

Those of us with fireplaces know that a fireplace can be the central gathering place in the home because of their warmth and charm. Therefore, the mantle and hearth of a fireplace can be an ideal place for Thanksgiving decorations.

Please keep these safety tips in mind:

Eliminate all flammable items before lighting a fire

Many of the decorations we see around fireplaces this time of year are likely flammable. We recommend either not using flammable materials like paper, sticks, and leaves or removing them before starting a fire. Just because the above is not in direct contact with the flame doesn’t mean they can’t catch fire from exposure to heat or flying sparks.

Do not decorate your screen or fireguard

Do not place decorations directly on your fireguard. Your fireplace screen is meant to prevent sparks from your fireplace from igniting items in the room around it. Putting things directly on the screen can quickly ignite a fire outside the fireplace. In addition to this, always ensure your fireguard is in place while enjoying a fire.

Utilize only flame-retardant decorations

We are often tempted to bring the outdoors in and use natural materials for decorating during the fall season. While natural materials like pumpkins, gourds, and pinecones can be used safely from the fireplace (3 feet), there are many synthetic flame-retardant decorations sold in stores, and we recommend those the closer they are to the actual flame.

Have your fireplace inspected annually

Without a doubt, the biggest step you can take in safely operating your fireplace is ensuring it is inspected annually and cleaned as needed. It is a serious risk for a chimney fire and other issues that can destroy your home or sicken your family if you don’t take your fireplace seriously.

If you haven’t scheduled your annual chimney inspection with us, contact us today or give us a call at 781-893-6611.

The post Thanksgiving Greetings for a Safe and Warm Holiday – Safety Tips as you Decorate for the Holidays appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.

As people social distance this winter, they will be spending more time than usual at home. Having a working fireplace can make time spent inside cozy and comfortable. Whether you use your chimney all of the time or you are using it for the first time in several years, we are here to help you. At Best Chimney, we want you to enjoy your chimney and we understand the importance of having a safe and properly functioning chimney.

Are you looking for a chimney service in the Boston area? Click here or call (781) 893-6611 to get in touch with Boston’s Best Chimney.

Now, we’ll walk you through how to prepare your chimney for winter.

Get Your Annual Chimney Inspection

We recommend having your chimney inspected every year to ensure that it is clean. If you have not used your chimney in several years, read our checklist on using an old fireplace before you get started. This will help you spot possible damage to the chimney or fireplace, soot or creosote buildup, and clearance to any combustibles!

Have Your Chimney Swept 

Along with an annual chimney inspection, we also recommend having your chimney swept by a chimney service company as needed. Having your chimney swept can help professionals to identify potential problems with your chimney. It is also helpful for clearing debris that is stuck to your chimney, because debris can cause blockage and ultimately carbon monoxide leaks in your home.

Check Your Alarms

Check your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries before you begin using your fireplace. Your smoke detector will let you know if excess smoke builds up in your fireplace and it will of course alert you in case of any kind of fire. Your carbon monoxide detector will let you know if there is a leak in your home which is essential, given that carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly.

Clean Out Ashes 

If you still have ashes remaining from last winter, be sure to clear them out of your fireplace. Once you begin using your fireplace, clear out the ashes at least once a week to avoid buildup and to ensure that you never have more than an inch of ash. Make sure that the ashes are cold before you clear them out, since they can remain hot for a few days after you burn a fire.

Check for Damages 

A thorough chimney inspector will check for damages, you can take an initial look at your chimney before the inspector arrives. Begin by checking for loose bricks, signs of water damage (such as water or condensation inside of the fire box), and cracking in your chimney liner. Though we always recommend hiring a licensed chimney company with expertise and professional equipment, it is also helpful for you to be aware of chimney warning signs.

There are many ways to prepare your chimney for the winter. Most importantly, hire a chimney company to inspect and sweep your fireplace. Are you wondering how to find a reliable chimney company? Check out our blog on 5 Questions to Ask a Chimney Company. Boston’s Best Chimney is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and has been in business for over thirty years. Click here or call (781) 893-6611 to get in touch today!

The post How to Prepare Your Chimney for Winter appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.

Preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday is turning out to be a bit different. Gone this year is the uncle who throws crumbs of food and bits of trash in the fireplace. Or the kids that like to poke the fireplace logs sending sparks in every direction.

This year, we get to create our own scene. Once you and your family have finished the delicious meal, now it’s time to make the rounds of Internet calls. Whether you use Zoom, Facebook, Skype or any other system, one thing is for sure…you need a warm, inviting, good-looking background.

The fireplace is the perfect go-to background, especially when you can see and hear the crackling of the fire. Put a little extra time in decorating around the fireplace, and of course, include the cookies and pumpkin pie. To ensure chaos isn’t erupting behind you, make sure your fireplace and chimney is ready to go.

Begin with a Chimney & Fireplace Inspection

By getting a chimney inspection you’ll help to ensure smoke goes up and out of the house, debris is not blocking it and any animals are safely living outside of your chimney. You certainly don’t want your online guests to think you smoked the turkey in the fireplace.

Chimney backup or a Smokey fireplace is usually caused by an insufficient draft in the flue. However, there are lots of other reasons for smoke backup including the partially open dampers, too small of a flue or a dirty chimney. This is one situation that’s best left to a certified technician to identify and repair.

Debris knows how to make its way into the chimney. Leaves, twigs, paper, plastic, and anything else flying around on windy days, has this special radar, and when it finds a chimney, it’ll try to make its way in.  If the chimney doesn’t have a chimney cap, or if it was blown off or shifted from the high winds, debris found a new home! 

Animals are wonderful to watch outside. We’ve watched a couple of the squirrels in our yard go from a lean body to a very plump size, all in preparation for winter. What comes next is a cozy place to sleep. The chimney is a perfect. It’s warm and protects the animals from the outdoor elements. If there isn’t a chimney cap or if the cap is loose or moved in a way to squeeze in…perfect!

What is a 14 Point Inspection?

A 14 point chimney inspection for your fireplace tells us a story about the events that occurred over the past year’s freeze and thaw cycle. It reveals to us any wear and tear, the frequency of use and the age of the chimney. This is great information to have in order to stay on top of any necessary chimney repairs and know the current conditions of worthiness for use.

Since the chimney is high on the roof, we take pictures of your chimney to show you the current condition. If any repairs are needed, you can see it for yourself. You have a little time before the ‘live’ internet chat on Thanksgiving Day. As part of your preparations, get your chimney swept and inspected today. Call 877-244-6349.

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

Having your chimney flashing checked should be a part of your annual chimney inspection. Properly working flashing goes a long way in keeping your chimney in proper working order and in keeping moisture out of your home. We will discuss what chimney flashing does, signs that you might need your flashing repaired or replaced, and what repairs entail. At Boston’s Best Chimney, we are your one stop chimney company specializing in every aspect of chimney maintenance and repair. Click here or call (781) 893-6611 to contact us about your chimney needs.

What is Chimney Flashing?

Chimney flashing is most often made of rubber, aluminum, copper, steel, or lead and is located at the point where the chimney meets the roof. It is essential for chimney flashing to work well because its purpose is to protect your roof, chimney, and home interior from water. Read more about how a chimney works to understand the different features of this important part of your house.

Signs that Your Chimney Flashing Needs Repairing 

Here are some signs that your chimney flashing may need to be repaired:

• Moisture stains on the walls closest to your chimney
• Musty smells coming from your chimney, especially after it rains
• Drops of water within your chimney
• Firebox condensation

Check out our full guide on detecting chimney leaks to keep your home safe from water.

Getting Your Chimney Flashing Repaired or Replaced

When a chimney is leaking, the chimney flashing is one of the first areas that we check. We begin by assessing the flashing for any breaks or voids. In some cases, the chimney flashing is not correctly attached, which lets rainwater and other elements enter the home and cause damage. Often, the caulking around the chimney flashing needs to be re-done. In those cases, we apply Flashseal, a long-lasting sealant. In other cases, we have to  install entirely new flashing.

Depending on the situation, flashing repair can be simple, or sometimes, it requires more extensive work.,. Either way, it is best to hire a professional to take care of your chimney flashing needs to prevent your home from being vulnerable to water leaks.

Get Your Chimney Flashing Repaired or Replaced

If you are seeing signs of chimney flashing issues, get your chimney flashing assessed by a professional to get to the bottom of the issue. With the snowy months approaching, now is the time to make sure your chimney is in working order. Click here or call (781) 893-6611 to get in touch.

The post Chimney Flashing Repair & More appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.

Are you wondering what creosote buildup is and if it might be a threat to the safety of your chimney? We will explain the different phases of creosote and how to prevent it from building up in your chimney.

Having your chimney swept and inspected annually will help manage and prevent the creosote buildup. At Boston’s Best Chimney, we are here to help you prepare your chimney for the winter. Click here to schedule an appointment today!

The CSIA’s Take on Creosote

The Chimney Safety Institute of America explains that creosote is usually dense to begin with, collecting in the chimney from incomplete combustion or an especially high moisture content in wood. Check out their video which shows different forms of creosote and explains why not only wood burners, but also other types of chimneys need to be concerned about having a chimney fire:

The Phases of Creosote 

As the CSIA video shows, creosote has different Phases. As creosote progresses in its phases, it becomes more and more difficult to clean.

In its first phase, creosote is mostly made up of soot and a chimney brush can remove it. This type of creosote usually forms in ideal conditions: in open fireplaces where the wood combusts well and heat rises throughout the chimney.

Phase two creosote usually forms in wood fireplaces, fireplaces with glass doors, and other situations where airflow is restricted. It is harder and flakier than phase one creosote, and it normally forms more densely. You can usually still clean off phase two creosote with a chimney brush, though it is more difficult to do so.

How to Prevent Creosote Buildup

Thankfully, there are many ways that you can prevent creosote buildup, enabling you to sit back and enjoy your fireplace without the worry of safety issues. Here are some of our tips for preventing creosote.

1. Burn seasoned and dry firewood. Firewood that is old and dried out will produce less smoke than firewood that is new and moist.
2. Do not burn artificial wood. Artificial wood causes more combustion byproducts than real wood, which increases creosote.
3. Make sure that your chimney is warm. Creosote does not solidify as much in warm air, so keeping your chimney warm will help prevent creosote buildup.
4. Give your fire adequate oxygen. Ensure that your fire will have enough oxygen by opening the damper before lighting it.
5. Get your chimney cleaned and inspected once a year. This will dramatically decrease your risk of a chimney fire. A professional chimney sweep will detect any problems that your chimney may have and clean creosote buildup.

Creosote is difficult to manage and often dangerous. Understanding how to prevent creosote buildup and getting your chimney inspected and cleaned at least annually is essential to keeping your home safe and your chimney in good order. If you are interested in getting your chimney inspected or cleaned, click here to set up an appointment.

The post What is Creosote Buildup? How to Keep Your Chimney Safe. appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.

Let’s face it: There has been a LOT going on this year. Everything is amped up to an eleven and your priorities are most likely out of whack. With homeschooling, quarantining, masking, and disinfecting swirling around your now-drastically-changed life, things like simple home repairs and inspections are likely to fall to the wayside.

Don’t let that happen to your chimney inspection this year. If you put it off all spring, forgot about it during the summer—Well, now the time is up and cold weather is here. Now is the time to be worried about your chimney!

Sure, it looks fine, there’s no smell or water damage evident. Plus, it’s the holiday season approaching and you’re just so busy… In reality, there’s no better time than now to get your chimney inspected! And while you’re at it, mark next year’s calendar too because that chimney inspection should be a regular, annual event.

So, how does your family benefit from an inspection?

Safety – a lack of maintenance can lead to chimney and house fires. A regularly scheduled chimney inspection will prevent this. In fact, an annual chimney and venting system sweeping and inspection is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association and the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Money – Many homes don’t get their chimneys inspected, and they wind up getting them repaired because they didn’t take that time. Being proactive stops this. You will save so much more money on an inspection and sweep than you will when you have to have major repairs done.

Lack of knowledge – …and that’s okay! It’s normal and happens all the time, but most people move into a home or begin renting one with a chimney and have no idea what condition that chimney’s really in. Don’t let that be you. For instance, how’s your cap? Do you even have one? Do you know what it is?

Peace of Mind – The masonry of a chimney is made to last forever and hold up like a house, so chimney damage is something that you can’t really see and, the worse it gets, the more expensive it is to repair. If you get things checked out every year, you don’t have to worry about it!

The post The 4 Things YOU Get From a Chimney Inspection! first appeared on Southern Chimneys.

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

A chimney without a chimney cap is like a house with no roof. Your chimney is, of course, an exit route for combustion gases. But, without a chimney cap, your chimney is also an open invitation for various unwanted elements that get inside. If there is no chimney cap covering your flue pipe, experts recommend that you contact a qualified chimney sweep without delay. Your chimney should be inspected for signs of damage caused by the lack of protection, and the immediate installation of a chimney cap is needed. Read on to learn more about the purpose and function of a chimney cap.

Keep Out the Enemy

Moisture is a chimney’s worst enemy and keeping it out requires a chimney cap and a chimney structure in good working condition. Rain, snow, and sleet flow directly into a chimney flue that doesn’t have a protective chimney cap. The interior of your home can suffer water damage from the inpouring water, in addition to chimney components experiencing accelerated deterioration, including rusting.

Inside the flue, the mixture of water with acidic creosote deposits has the destructive effect of eating away at the chimney liner. When a chimney liner is damaged to even the smallest degree, repair or replacement is a must. A chimney liner must not have a breach because its function is to keep hazardous elements contained within the chimney. Even a small crack in a chimney liner can result in:

• A devastating home fire and
• Occupants in the home being exposed to potentially deadly combustion gases.

Prevent Wildlife Access

Various animals are known to seek warmth and/or shelter inside of chimneys. Raccoons, snakes, squirrels, and birds can get into your home if there is no chimney cap with mesh covering your chimney flue. If your home happens to be in the migratory path of chimney swifts, your chimney could become a federally protected dwelling place for the birds until they and their new offspring move on to their next migratory stop.

The inconvenience of animals inside of a chimney cannot be underestimated. Animal waste, a toxic substance, is deposited inside of your chimney. Some animals are unable to get out once they’ve climbed into a chimney. It is not unusual for a trapped animal to die in a chimney and create a horrendously pervasive odor in the home as it decomposes.

More Benefits of a Chimney Cap

• In addition to keeping water out, a chimney cap will keep out debris that could obstruct the chimney. Twigs, leaves, and other debris can go into your chimney if it does not have a protective chimney cap. The debris can cause toxic combustion fumes to enter your home because of chimney obstruction, and it can also catch fire. Chimney fires are extremely dangerous and the best way to prevent them is with annual chimney inspections, whether or not you have a chimney cap.
• Downdrafts are blasts of cold air that can enter your home and cause your heating costs to rise. Chimney caps prevent downdrafts.
• Another benefit of chimney caps with mesh is that the mesh can serve as a “spark guard.” When hot embers float up to the top of the chimney, instead of possibly starting a roof fire or igniting other combustible materials, a chimney cap can prevent them from exiting.

Two Basic Kinds of Chimney Caps

You can have a flue top chimney cap installed that will provide all of the above-named benefits. A better option is a full-width chimney cap, which offers more appealing aesthetics and also fully protects the chimney crown. The chimney crown is a component of the chimney quite prone to cracking and deteriorating, resulting in destructive moisture damage to the chimney.

Contact the Experts at Northeastern Chimney LLC

The certified chimney sweeps at Northeastern Chimney LLC are kept busy with chimney repairs largely due to damage that results from moisture. You can lower the cost of chimney maintenance significantly by ensuring a strong defense against masonry’s most destructive enemy. The installation of a chimney cap is essential for every chimney, and routine chimney inspections and cleaning also helps to ensure that your chimney is in a state of good repair. Contact the CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at Northeastern Chimney LLC. Call 860-233-5770 today to schedule an appointment.

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

There is no comparison to the soothing sounds and aroma of relaxing beside a natural wood-burning fireplace, especially during the cold winter months. Although many homeowners have switched to gas fireplaces with ceramic logs, it doesn’t have quite the same ambience. A well-maintained wood-burning fireplace not only keeps you warm and cozy, but it’s also a natural focal point increasing the rustic charm of your living space. These are just some of the reasons why homeowners are falling in love all over again with wood-burning fireplaces.

Reduced Energy Bills

The price of electricity increases utility bills in the winter. It can get quite expensive to keep your home warm and comfortable, especially on cold days and nights. Firewood is a low-cost energy source compared to natural gas or electric home heating systems. For example, it costs approximately $4,511 per year for electric heating in Massachusetts. On the other hand, wood fuel saves consumers up to 80% in home energy costs – even less than natural gas heating.  A wood-burning fireplace will pay for itself in approximately two years and produce the much-needed warmth during the winter at a fraction of the electricity cost.

Sustainable, Renewable Energy Source

Wood is a clean, sustainable, and renewable energy source when sourced from growers that use sustainable forest management practices. A significant concern for environmentally conscious consumers is the carbon footprint associated with greenhouse gases. The energy produced by oil and gas heating sources increases the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus increasing the carbon footprint. However, wood is a carbon-neutral fuel source and reduces the carbon footprint. That’s because wood heating releases the same amount of carbon dioxide that is absorbed during tree growth.

Wood Heating Not Affected During Winter Power Outages

A winter storm can knock out power when homeowners need it the most. A multi-year study showed that the Northeastern U.S. had a 159% increase, the largest gain in the country in weather-related power outages. Sporadic power outages are expected to increase in areas with aging electric grid systems. A power outage can last anywhere from a few minutes to several days or weeks. While your gas furnace that relies on electricity will be of no use, a wood-burning fireplace will provide continuous warmth when the power is out. It will also provide some light on a dark and chilly night. Just make sure to have a sufficient stock of firewood on-hand before the winter season arrives.

Increases Home Value

An increase in competition among new home developers has led some to cut costs and are foregoing fireplaces in many entry-level homes. A wood-burning fireplace is considered a luxury amenity. Over 60% of luxury homes feature a fireplace, according to a 2019 survey by the National Association of Homebuyers (NAHB). However, most real estate agents agree that homebuyers are always willing to spend more to buy a house with a wood-burning fireplace. The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers estimates that a fireplace increases the home’s resale value by up to 12%. Installing a wood-burning fireplace in your home will make it more desirable when it’s time to sell.

The post Fall in Love with Wood Burning Fireplaces appeared first on Fluesbrothers Chimney Service.