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

We all know that chimneys that are neglected can become fire hazards but we often forget that lint buildup can also be dangerous. Lint is a normal byproduct of doing your laundry, and it’s normally very easy to remove. However, if lint starts to build up, it can become a serious fire safety hazard. Here’s why it’s so important to prevent lint from getting stuck in your dryer trap.

Why is lint buildup dangerous?

Ideally, lint should be removed from the lint trap after every load of laundry. However, it’s easy to forget to do this if you have a busy schedule. Certain fabrics also create more lint than others, which can overwhelm the lint trap even if you’ve just cleaned it. (New towels are an example of an item that creates excess lint.)

When this happens, wet lint that forms in the dryer makes its way past the lint trap and into your dryer vent. This clogs the vent and prevents hot air from passing through properly. This hot air then gets trapped in the vent with the lint, or even trapped in the dryer itself. If the dryer vent isn’t unclogged, it can result in a house fire.

What are signs lint has built up in your dryer vent?

Lint can easily build up in your dryer vent without anyone realizing it. However, there are some signs to watch for that are indicative of a clogged dryer vent.

• Your laundry room starts to feel hot when you run the dryer. This happens because the heat isn’t escaping from the dryer properly. Your clothes may also feel extremely hot to the touch after they come out of the dryer.
• Your monthly energy bills are higher and you can’t figure out why. When your dryer vent is clogged, your dryer has to work harder to run, which results in higher energy bills.
• Your clothes are still damp when they come out of the dryer, or you have to run the dryer much longer to get your clothes as dry as you want.
• You notice a musky or smoky smell on your clothes when you run the dryer. If this is starting to happen, get your dryer checked right away.

What should I do if lint has built up in my dryer?

If you think lint may have built up in your dryer vent, call a professional right away to have it inspected. If there is a clog, they will be able to remove the lint for you. Avoid using your dryer until after you’ve been given the all-clear by a professional.

Once your dryer vent is clean, make sure you’re removing all the lint from the lint trap every single time you do laundry. Making a habit of doing this is the best way to prevent laundry-related house fires.

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

Historic Atlanta homes are the most beautiful showcase of what the city has to offer. Five of Atlanta’s top historic neighborhoods boast diverse social scenes that perfectly balance community, history, and trendiness. The areas provide southern hospitality for everyone, no matter what phase of life you are in at the moment. Whether you are buying your first home, stepping into a single season, or looking for a safe place to raise a family, Atlanta has the perfect historic neighborhood for you. Each neighborhood offers unique characteristics for both the area and the homes. Let’s take a look at 5 of Atlanta’s top historic neighborhoods and what each one offers.

Grant Park

Grant Park is located between Downtown and East Atlanta. The area offers a visit to Zoo Atlanta or the iconic Oakland Cemetery. The neighborhood pairs rich history with ornate and unique architecture for endless beautiful scenery. A residential district that is well-known for its Victorian homes with detailed and ornate architecture. The details and aesthetics offer inviting visuals while the city centers around the oldest city park in Atlanta, Grant Park. It provides one of the safest communities in the city, perfect for raising a family. Just north of the historic Grant Park area is the trendy Old Fourth Ward district.

Old Fourth Ward

Old Fourth Ward is a former industrial area now packed with some of the best restaurants and shops. The historic 1920s Sears, Roebuck & Co. building was converted to Ponce City Market, serving as the center of this trendy Atlanta district. Connecting Ponce City Market and the historic Fourth Ward Park is the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. The trail is a converted railway offering a contemporary atmosphere for walking, biking, and enjoying all the area has to offer. Old Fourth Ward is an excellent neighborhood for someone wanting to experience Atlanta’s nightlife in a more reserved area with homes hosting more industrial styles, realistic necessities, and less ornate architecture. If you are looking for more unique and decorative styles, travel along the Eastside BeltLine Trail just east of Old Fourth Ward to Inman Park.

Inman Park

Inman Park is one of the greenest neighborhoods in Atlanta, boasting treelines along the roads and greenery bordering park areas. It is well known for its hip food scene filled with unrivaled brunch places, stunning wine bars, and cafes welcoming your pets. It is an excellent balance between trendy and practical, offering a wonderful place to raise a family. The neighborhood’s Krog Street Market is a refurbished factory honoring the history of the building and Atlanta while hosting incredible food spots and local shops. Inman Park is Atlanta’s first planned suburb which is beautifully evident in the landscaping and historic Victorian homes. If the greenery sounds perfect, but you are looking for a more vibrant area, look just north of Inman Park to the Virginia-Highland area.

Virginia-Highland

Virginia-Highland is the most vibrant bar and restaurant scene while still offering historic neighborhood views. Originally a streetcar suburb, Virginia-Highland is now a walkable area northeast of Downtown Atlanta and home to Orme Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The intersection of North Highland and Virginia Avenues offers similar tree-lined streets to Inman Park, but instead hosts younger crowds and 1920s-style bungalow houses. This neighborhood offers something for everyone and is perfect for younger couples or individuals looking for a quirky and fun area to meet new people. If quirky is not your scene, look further north to a more traditional area of Tuxedo Park.

Tuxedo Park

Tuxedo Park is north of downtown in the Buckhead area and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is home to the Georgia Governor’s Mansion and boasts over 100 years of the finest southern architecture. The estates offer historically diverse architectural styles of English, French, Mediterranean, Colonial Revival, and Traditional. Many homes in the area have multiple chimneys as notable monikers for the historic character of the home. Each historic-style home in the neighborhood displays beautiful architecture. The one-of-a-kind collection of historic homes in Tuxedo Park is a great fit for those looking to settle down in an iconic historic Atlanta home.

Atlanta offers a historic neighborhood for everyone, whether you are moving into a decorative Victorian home, a simple bungalow-style house, or an iconic estate. The homes stunningly showcase chimneys with brick art, ornate architecture, and unique characteristics. These chimneys require detailed work, and we would love to restore them in ways that perfectly complement your historic home.

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

If you want to become an expert when it comes to starting and maintaining a wood fire, you should know how to keep it burning all night. When you use heat on a wood-burning stove, the controls of the wood are helpful when it comes to speeding up and slowing down the burn. However, if you want longer burns in the wood stove, you should control the size and shape of your wood. You will learn how to keep the wood burning all night. The large pieces of firewood are packed tightly to extend the burn and make it last all night.

Aside from calling a chimney repair to make sure everything is running smoothly; you will need the tips here.

 Remove the Old Ash

If you are new to wood stoves, the primary thing you need to do is to get rid of any old ash. This is going to give you enough space to start another fire. It is going to keep your stove clean. When you remove ash, you should wear heat-proof gloves. They are going to protect you from accidentally burning yourself by touching the hot coals. You should also make sure that the fire should be burned out completely before you begin to remove it.

Most of the time, when the ash is turning white, it is going to be burnt out and it will not be valuable. That is why it is best to get it from the stove. Use a brush or metal dustpan to clean the ash.

The Damper Should be Fully Open

In case there is a damper in the fireplace, you have to make sure that it is fully open before you start any fire.

An open damper helps to ensure that the chimney produces a maximum draw, which lets in more fresh air so it can get sucked into the fireplace from the room.

If there is a damper on your fireplace, it will normally be located at the chimney’s base, within the fireplace’s top inside. You can open the damper when you use the handle to extend it far enough.

Load Logs

You should carefully and gently rake the coals towards the front of the fire with a shovel from the accessories tool kit. When you use quality wood, you should choose logs that have a maximum size. For instance, if your wood heater is freestanding, like the radiant heater, choose logs that are up to 350 mm. If your model is larger, choose logs that are 500mm.

Using the tongs and poker, you should carefully place the logs at the back of the wood-burning heater. Place some small sticks along the logs, and rest one end in the coals at the front of the heater so that the larger logs will ignite.

Warm up the Chimney

The cold air that is trapped within the chimney causes issues when you light a fire in an open fireplace. The cold air that is trapped in a chimney pushes down the fireplace and prevents waste air from leaving. This can prevent fresh air from getting sucked into the fire.

If the fire is not hot enough to warm up the air within the chimney, it causes a fire to go out soon after it was started.

While warm air does not warm up the air within the chimney, it can cause a fire to exit just after it was started.

While warm air rises and cold air sinks down, the chimney can warm up before starting the fire.

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

Here’s What To Do

It is challenging to discuss heating season when we are in the midst of broiling heat conditions in New England, but as you know, time flies and the weather changes happen quickly.

It is important never to use a chimney that is not in good working condition due to the safety risks involved, so as the kids get ready to go back to school, preparing your home for the change of season is a must. Here is a list of 5 things you can do to get your chimney ready for use.

Remove Last Year’s Ash

We’re all guilty of it from time to time, putting off a task when there’s no steadfast due date – procrastination at its finest. Well, you’ve walked by that fireplace full of soot enough, now’s the time. Ash is much easier to move and dispose when it’s fully cooled and dry. You can even remove the old ash and sprinkle it in your garden for soil fertility. Into arts and crafts? Some ash contains enough potassium to create lye to use in homemade soaps!

Schedule your Routine Sweeping

Annual inspections and sweepings are important to the health of your chimney system, and waiting until the first cold night to call the chimney sweep, is not the best plan. We hear about it all the time, the proverbial turn on the heat and cross your fingers maneuver at the first temperature dip. Fall availability fills up early and quickly. Getting in the scheduling queue before colder weather sets in is a scheduling win.

Touch up Masonry

Not everyone knows that there’s a masonry season. Mortar and concrete need curing temperatures consistently above 40° to set, and although you can set up tarps and heaters in a pinch, it is not preferred or recommended.

If you can see deteriorated brick and mortar on the outside, chances are the masonry on the inside is even worse from flue gas exposure. Severely gone chimneys run the risk of falling on adjacent yards, decks, or cars – or even worse, collapsing-in causing an obstruction in the heating flue, potentially creating carbon monoxide to come back into the home. As of late, these passing thunderstorms are bringing with them damaging rain and winds that can aggravate a compromised chimney.

Apply Waterproofing

The freeze-thaw winter cycle absolutely destroys masonry in the Northeast, and not all waterproofing agents are the same. Most waterproofing agents in big box stores are acrylic or silicone, forming a film on the surface and trapping water vapors that can exacerbate chimney deterioration. Applying a commercial grade vapor permeable waterproofing before the winter can save you thousands down the line.

Install a Chimney Cap

Birds and squirrels love to make unused chimneys into their home. If you don’t have a chimney cap, it is possible that an animal or debris has gained entry over the last few months. Checking the chimney for houseguests and installing a properly fitting chimney cap is always a good idea. Already have a cap? Great! Be sure to check the cap to make sure it’s secure and not damaged during your annual inspection. This will prevent first-use headaches when the time comes.

The post End of Summer Chimney Checklist appeared first on Boston’s Best Chimney.

There are several manners in which chimneys become damaged. Some undergo wear and tear over the years, especially when they are not adequately maintained. Others are damaged by natural disasters, such as fires, being struck by lightning, or by having a tree fall on them during a storm. Our team often receives calls requesting chimney repairs. Many clients ask if homeowners insurance covers chimney repairs. Today, we’ll answer that question and give advice on how to avoid chimney damage.

Now, we’ll discuss whether or not homeowners insurance covers chimney repairs.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Chimney Repairs?

The answer to this question is, “it depends!” The best source of information is your homeowner insurance company, so we recommend starting by making that phone call.

Generally, homeowners insurance covers chimney damage if it is caused by a natural disaster that is outside of your control, or even an accident such as a fire. Again, the best source of information for your insurance questions is your insurance company.

Homeowners insurance usually does not cover chimney damage resulting in wear and tear, however. The good news is that damage caused by natural wear and tear is preventable if you maintain your chimney.

How to Prevent Damaged Caused by Wear and Tear

Here are some short term steps that you can take to avoid costly damage down the road.

Get Your Chimney Inspected Annually

An annual chimney inspection will help you to avoid serious dangers, such as chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning by making sure that your chimney is up to code. Chimney inspectors often identify problem areas during their inspections that help homeowners to make necessary repairs before conditions worsen. We recommend hiring a CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) sweep to do the job!

Have Your Chimney Swept Annually, or As Needed

Chimney sweeps are crucial in removing built up creosote from your chimney. We recommend having your chimney swept each year, or as needed.

If you are wondering “Should I waterproof my chimney?,” the answer is “yes!” This will protect it from the harsh New England elements, keeping the masonry strong over the years. In addition, it will prevent those unattractive white streaks (called “efflorescence”) from showing up.

Make Sure That You Have a Chimney Cap

Chimney caps are an easy win that will keep precipitation, debris, and animals out of your chimney. If your chimney does not yet have one, consider having a chimney cap installed as soon as possible. Check out our chimney cap guide for answers to all of your chimney cap questions!

Though this list of chimney damage prevention tips is by no means exhaustive, we hope that it gives you some easy steps to take to avoid expensive damage down the road.

The post Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Chimney Repairs? appeared first on Boston’s Best Chimney.