The configuration of metal parts are cut, shaped and installed in the mortar joints of the chimney and sit between the roofing material and the chimney. Then caulk is used to seal the edge of the flashing to the chimney material. This provides a tight seal so water can’t get behind the flashing.

However, with weather conditions and time, the sealant will dry out and crack. Another reason why it’s important to have your chimney inspected each year by Superior Chimney.

Repair or Replace the Chimney Flashing

As we all know, living in our weather conditions can definitely take a toll on everything, including the flashing. It’s important to get the exterior of the chimney and the flashing checked each year. Weather has a way of eroding the flashing seal which can miraculously disappear in areas.

Well, now you know all about chimney flashing. That metal configuration that has a very important job. Be sure to take care of it with a yearly 14-point inspection by Superior Chimney.

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

Many homeowners are ready for a change and oftentimes this means a fireplace makeover.  They enjoy the ambiance of a fire.  However, the annoyance of continually replenishing wood reserves, cleaning up the ash, and calling in a chimney sweep every year is too much work.

Gas Fireplaces

An alternative to the wood-burning fireplace is a gas fireplace.   These fireplaces are clean burning and will light up at the flip of a switch.  There are lots of models to accent many different home decors.  These fireplaces are convenient and quiet and they are an excellent addition to any home.

When the subject of converting from a conventional fireplace to gas, one of the first questions is, ‘Does a gas fireplace need a flue.’

The answer to that is a little complicated.  It depends on what type of gas fireplace you purchase. There are three types of gas fireplaces on the market today.

Natural Vent Gas Fireplace

The first choice is a natural vent gas fireplace.   This fireplace option needs a flue or vent somewhere for the small amount of exhaust product to exit the home.  For homes with an existing chimney, this is a practical choice.

Direct Vent Gas Fireplace

Another choice is a direct vent gas fireplace.  This type of fireplace creates exhaust and needs a place to vent.  It doesn’t have a fireplace/chimney, but it requires a place for the exhaust to leave the home.  The installer will have to construct a small pipe or vent leading out of the house’s interior for the exhaust exit.

Ventless Gas Fireplace

The third option is a ventless fireplace.  As the name indicates these fireplaces do not need a vent; there is no significant exhaust from the fire itself to make a vent or flue necessary.  These types of fireplaces are the ones you see built into walls of more modern homes.

Gas Fireplace Overview

All these fireplaces have codes or regional regulations a builder or installer needs to follow.

Another similarity of these gas fireplaces is they all need yearly inspections.  Some homeowners scratch their heads, wondering why.  Every fireplace vented or not requires a professional to troubleshoot or correct any problems.

Some of the problems that could exist are clogged and blocked flues or vents, obstructed burners, or burn bars.

Manufacturers recommend a yearly inspection of the fireplace and its functional components for safety and proper functions.

Call Northeastern Chimney

Northeastern Chimney has been installing and servicing fireplaces for nearly four decades.  We provide continuing education for our technicians and provide them with the most up-to-date equipment on the market.

All our techs are fully certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.  This means you are getting the best in the business for chimney cleaning and inspection.  Also, our field staff is fully insured, professional & polite.  Each one of our service members will be happy to answer any questions before, during, or after our visit.

We serve all homes and businesses in and around central Connecticut.  If you have a chimney, we can service it.  Call us for an appointment.

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

For you take care of your chimney you need to know how it works. To help you out, here are the main parts of your chimney:

Firebox

This is where combustion takes place and fire burns. If you have children, it’s recommended that you protect the area to protect the little ones from getting burned. Fireboxes come in different designs. If you are constructing a new house and have a unique design in mind, discuss it with your chimney contractor and find out if it can work on your chimney.

If you burn wood in the firebox, you need to undertake regular cleaning for the fireplace to continue working efficiently. Major problems with the firebox include: heat damage and water damage. To avoid surprises, hire a professional at least once a year to undertake firebox inspection.

Damper

This is a movable metal door located at the throat of the chimney. Its main role is to close off the fireplace from the outdoors. To allow smoke and gases to leave the fireplace, always keep the damper open when the fireplace is in use. To prevent draft from entering the house, close the damper when the fireplace isn’t in use.

To have an easy time opening and closing the damper, keep door in good condition. To avoid fires, ensure that the door is free of creosote. Also ensure that the hinges are in good working condition. You should regularly inspect the damper for problems. For ideal results, hire a chimney professional to help you out with inspection.

Ash dump

This is where ash collects when the ash dump door opens. The door is located in the middle of the firebox and makes it easy for you to remove ash from the firebox.

Below the ash dump is the ash pit. This is the area where dumped ash collets. To avoid accumulation of ash and other flammable substances, regularly empty the ash pit. If you don’t have time, hire a chimney cleaning professional to empty it for you.

Foundation

It’s the foundation of your chimney and is made from heavy duty brick or cinder block. It should be constructed from tough materials in order to withstand heat. Since it’s always exposed to high temperatures, it’s prone to heat damage.

You should regularly check on it to ensure that there are no severe damages that compromise the stability of the chimney. When you notice serious damage, immediately contact a chimney masonry repair professional.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

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

Crackles and pops of a wood burning fireplace give life to any home. While a wood burning fireplace has an allure that few homeowners can resist, it comes with soot, ash and creosote. These substances not only give your home an ugly appeal, they also put your home at the risk of fire. To protect your property you need to undertake chimney cleaning on a regular basis. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Prepare yourself for chimney cleaning

Chimney cleaning is a dirty affair; therefore, you need to prepare yourself for it. Wear rubber gloves, dust mask and clear goggle to avoid direct contact with the chimney waste. Also lay a plastic tarp around the hearth. The plastic will protect the surrounding carpet thus reducing after-work cleanup.

Sweep the chimney interior

The best appliance to use in cleaning the interior of the chimney is a brush attachment or vacuum. When buying the chimney brush, buy a circular one that is 8-10 inches in diameter. You should attach the brush to a flexible pole and move it up and down the chimney’s length. You should repeat the process until you have no soot or creosote.

Get rid of outside chimney obstruction

In addition to cleaning the inside of the chimney, you also need to address the outside. Remove any debris that might be attached to the sides of the mesh around the chimney cap. Also get rid of tree branches hanging too close to the chimney.

Clean the chimney with water

You don’t have to clean the entire chimney with water—clean only the visible areas. Use a hard scrubbing brush and cleaning solution. Great cleaning solutions to go with are: vinegar and water, cream of tartar and detergent and baking soda. You should scrub the chimney until there is no visible creosote.

Inspect and replace chimney parts

Once the chimney is clean and dry, take one final look at all parts of the chimney and ensure that they are in perfect condition. After confirming that everything is fine, replace the chimney parts.

Conclusion

For your fireplace to look great and have peace of mind that your property isn’t at the risk of fire, clean the chimney on a regular basis. While you can inspect the chimney by yourself, it’s always recommended that you hire a chimney contractor to help you out. In addition to undertaking chimney inspection, the professional will also repair any areas that need fixing.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

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

It is exciting that warm weather is on the way. I know that it’s not likely you’ll be thinking about turning on your fireplace. But it is the time to be thinking about getting it checked and get any type of repairs done now so you can enjoy it when the weather cools off.

Here are the top 3 chimney repairs to make this summer:

Repair #1: Chimney Cap

The chimney cap is a critical component to the chimney. It protects from debris, animals, water, snow, and wind from entering the chimney – Every chimney needs a chimney cap for the same reasons every home needs a roof!  There’s another benefit many don’t consider…

If you have a woodburning fireplace, sparks can go up the chimney flue and reach the outside causing a potential fire on the roof or any dry debris such as leaves and grass. The chimney cap also has spark inhibiting components that prevent the sparks from exiting the chimney cap.

Repair #2 Masonry

Mortar is the filling in between the bricks or stone in your chimney. Masonry or tuckpointing is the repair made by a masonry professional in order to build or fix the deterioration or missing mortar in between the bricks or stone.

In a repair situation, not all mortar will be replaced. As a result, Superior Chimney works to match the color of the existing mortar so it all looks clean and uniform.

It’s best to have the chimney inspected each year as the chimney is exposed to the weather elements on all four sides. If a homeowner waits too long to have repairs done on the masonry, it can lead to the need for a full rebuild of the chimney.

Repair #3 Chimney Liner

The chimney liner is a very important part of your chimney system. The chimney liner directs all smoke and gasses out from the home. If cracks appear in the chimney flue, this can be a safety hazard as fires can easily ignite adjacent home construction materials. Some older homes were built without chimney liners. We highly recommend getting a chimney liner installed, as required by code, by a certified chimney technician from Superior Chimney. Now that you have your chimney repair to do list, let’s get started by scheduling a chimney sweep. This will include a 14 point inspection with pictures (ever wonder what it looks like up there?). Now you’ll know the condition of your chimney cap, masonry and chimney liner. If repairs need to be made, you can get that done now over the summer so that when cool weather returns (sorry), you’ll be ready to fire up the fireplace.

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

Although you probably rarely if ever see your chimney damper (or fireplace damper), much of your enjoyment of your fireplace and hearth area is made possible by this important component.

Typically set just above the firebox, but sometimes at the top of the chimney, dampers are simple assemblies that include moveable plates, clamps and a mechanism for you to open and close them.

What your chimney damper does

The three main jobs of a damper are:

1. Open fully to allow sufficient air to be drawn into the fireplace during a fire and then channeled up the flue and away from the home.
2. Close completely to keep conditioned air inside your home and prevent outside air from getting in.
3. Prevent small animals from invading your home.

If your damper doesn’t work . . .

A damper that won’t open fully can cause fires to burn inefficiently due to lack of oxygen (air). A fully open damper creates a natural draft, and wood logs need this draft to combust completely and vibrantly.

A sluggish fire usually creates a lot more smoke, much of which will make its way into the flue and deposit excess flammable creosote.

A partially open damper also can send smoke back into your room. Smoke is bad enough, but even worse is the carbon monoxide that smoke contains. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and invisible gas that can be fatal to people and pets when inhaled.

When a damper is so rusted or warped that it leaves a small – or large – gap when it’s supposedly closed, your home can be open to all kinds of creature invasions.

Birds, squirrels, snakes, rodents and the like enjoy getting into chimney flues, and some of them set up birthing headquarters. Very often, these critters will wander down through a gap in the damper to see what’s going on inside your house.

A properly sealed damper will keep these animals out of your house. A custom full-width chimney cap will keep them from getting into your flue in the first place.

How dampers get damaged

The main reasons a damper malfunctions are
rust and warping.

Chimney leaks cause the rust. Years of extreme heat cause the warping. Unfortunately, these damages are often unknown to homeowners and keep on progressing until serious problems occur.

If you use your fireplace regularly or even periodically, it’s a smart move to schedule an annual fireplace and chimney inspection. Damaged dampers – and other problems in their early stages – can be discovered during an inspection and repaired quickly and at much less expense than full-blown repair projects.

You can watch for signs of damage

While regular inspections are the best way to ensure a well-working damper system, there are a few things you can watch out for:

• Noisy operation when opening and closing your damper
• Drafts in your house that can’t be accounted for
• Backups of smoke when using your fireplace
• Water or crumbling debris on the floor of your firebox
• Signs of small-animal intrusion – or the animals themselves

Get your damper fixed

High’s Chimney Service of Gaithersburg, MD, is ready to help with all your chimney damper needs. We repair dampers, and if the damage is too severe, we replace them with fine new products that will serve you well for many years. We offer licensed inspections and all manner of chimney and fireplace repair work.

Speak with an expert technician today at
(301) 519-3500.

The post 3 Critical Jobs of a Chimney Damper appeared first on Highs Chimney.

Winter is the time that you spend most of the time indoors by the fire. It’s also the time that you use your chimney the longest. To have a stress-free winter, you need to prepare the chimney for the season. Here are some of the things that you need to do:

Protect the chimney from leaking

Snow storms and rainfall are common during winter. To protect your home from water damage you need to ensure that no water gets through the chimney.

Hire a chimney cleaning professional to inspect the chimney and test whether it can leak. Even if it’s not leaking, protect it as you aren’t sure of the extent of the snow storms. Some of the ways of protecting the chimney include:

Installing crickets: A cricket is a compact diversion roof that protects the chimney from being deluged. It’s ideal for chimneys located on the low side of the roof, those on a steep roof and those that are 30 inches or more in width.

Installing these units requires specialized skills; therefore, ensure that they are installed by an experienced chimney professional.

Chimney cap: chimney caps prevent water from getting into the chimney. The cool thing with them is that they are cheap and come in different materials including steel, concrete, and aluminum.

Waterproofing the chimney: masonry chimneys are made from porous materials that have the ability of absorbing large amounts of water. When they absorb a lot of water, the water can get into the house causing damage. There are many chimney waterproofing materials in the market that you can use. You should agree with your chimney masonry repair professional on the best materials to go for.

Undertake Chimney cleaning

Another way of preparing your chimney for winter is by cleaning it. Even if you have not been using the chimney actively, clean it. This is to avoid fire and ensure that your family is safe.

You can clean the chimney on your own, but for professional services hire a chimney cleaning professional to do the work. The cool thing with hiring a cleaning contractor is that you have peace of mind that the work is perfectly done.

The chimney sweep not only cleans the chimney, he/she also inspects and repairs it making it ready for the cold season.

Conclusion

To have a great experience and avoid hiring emergency chimney service, prepare your chimney for winter. For ideal results, work with an experienced chimney company.

The post Blog first appeared on First Class Chimney Services.

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

Furnaces and boilers, just like fireplaces, need a system for venting. Depending on how these appliances are installed and set up, it may have been logical to use an existing fireplace chimney for venting. This is a good idea: use what’s already there rather than constructing something entirely new.

Problems arise when the homeowner rarely if ever uses the fireplace and assumes that since furnaces and boilers (and some hot water heaters) are “cleaner burning” than the fireplace, the chimney flue isn’t a big concern.

The fact is, it’s a huge concern, especially if the appliance is used frequently and regularly.

Buildup in the flue

Gas appliances don’t produce smoke-based creosote like wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. But they do produce corrosive substances that can damage the system through which they vent. In the case of a fireplace chimney, this would be the flue liner, which can be made from tile, stainless steel or a poured-in-place compound.

Byproducts of furnace and boiler combustion can eat away at the liner and then begin damaging interior sections of the chimney’s masonry and adjacent materials within the home structure.

Even if you never use your fireplace, the particulate matter produced by your furnace or boiler can eventually build up to the point that drafting is hindered. If you do use your fireplace, the creosote and soot along with the substances produced by the larger gas appliance can cause a dangerous drafting problem.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, invisible gas wood or gas creates when burned. If the chimney flue is clean and open, CO will easily vent through it and exit the top of the chimney.

If drafting is obscured, CO can filter into rooms of the home and put the health of people and pets at risk. It is widely known that inhaling carbon monoxide can result in a host of respiratory problems and in the worst case, death.

Proper maintenance for a multi-use chimney

All chimneys need annual inspections, whether they’re used or not, and whether or not they’re connected to a furnace, boiler or other appliance. Unused chimneys should have their brick and mortar structures looked at regularly to spot signs of damage or decay. Used chimneys need much more thorough inspections.

When you’re adding another venting appliance to your chimney, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends a level 2 inspection. This inspection goes further than a basic inspection and involves the use of video imaging technology to see down into the flue.

Annual chimney sweeping is needed for any chimney used by a fireplace and/or other appliance. Certified chimney sweeps have the tools and hands-on experience to safely and properly remove creosote and other deposits from the flue.

Maintaining a dedicated furnace or boiler vent system

If your furnace or boiler uses its own system for venting, it, too, should be inspected annually. Your inspector will check for drafting issues as well as damage to the venting structure and to the appliance itself. Cleaning should be performed on a schedule suggested by your inspector.

If your fireplace chimney is doing “double-duty,” call the flue venting experts at Fluesbrothers Chimney & Fireplace of Kansas City, KS. We’ll perform a complete inspection and do any necessary cleaning to help you keep your system in tip-top shape all year.

Reach a chimney technician today at
(913) 236-7141.

The post Safety Tips for Using a Masonry Chimney to Vent a Furnace appeared first on Fluesbrothers Chimney Service.

For most homeowners, a chimney is just that, a chimney.  Much of the population sees their fireplaces and chimneys as an accent piece; a let’s get romantic tool or keep warm when the power goes out.

If not used properly, a chimney can cause your heating bill to skyrocket or perhaps even trigger a fire.  A fireplace and chimney are more than just an opening in the roof.  It has important working parts.

Chimney Dampers

One of those working parts is a chimney damper.  Older homes may have a chimney without a damper, causing the air conditioning to escape in the summer and heated air to disappear in the winter.  Although not legally required, every fireplace should have a damper.

There are two different types of dampers.  The most common type is a simple lever that either slides back and forth or a chain and pulley set that opens a damper at the top of the chimney.  Both types open and close a door or valve, much like a faucet. If the damper is open, it allows all smoke and ash from the burning wood to rise through the chimney, keeping that same smoke and ash from flowing back into the home.

A Chimney Damper’s Job

What many people don’t realize is that fire is a living, breathing thing.  It needs oxygen and fuel, just like plants and animals.  Without either one of those elements, the fire dies or at least slows down drastically.  A fireplace damper controls the fire. The chimney damper dictates the amount of airflow/oxygen the fire gets.  A closed damper allows less oxygen in resulting in the fire goes out.

Is The Chimney Damper Open Or Closed?

The best way to determine if a chimney damper is open or closed, do the following before lighting a fire.  The damper’s handle is in the firebox (where the fire burns) is directly over the flame.  It is generally made of metal and will get hot and cause severe burns.  If you must touch the damper’s handle after the fire is lit, put oven mitts on before touching it.

If your chimney has a chain hanging down, that’s called a top-sealing damper, the process of checking is the same.  Pulling the chain down will close the damper.

Look up into the chimney, and if you can see the walls inside the chimney, then the damper is open, and it’s OK to build a fire.  If you look up and all you see is a large piece of metal and nothing else, your damper is closed.

Call Northeastern Chimney Service

The absolute best way to know what type of damper you have and how to operate it is to call Northeastern Chimney Service.

Our company uses the best equipment and supplies from the area’s top manufacturers. We also have a team of top-notch technicians who will service and inspect your fireplace. For your family’s safety, annual inspections of your fireplace are recommended.

If it’s time to get your chimney inspected, repaired, or a new look, please call us today.

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

During the cold weather months, birds and other animals look for the perfect warm spot to nest. Unfortunately, many animals choose to nest in chimneys. By springtime, many homeowners are wondering “How do I stop birds from coming down my chimney year after year?” Luckily, you can prevent birds from coming down your chimney with a chimney cap.

Does your chimney have a chimney cap? If your chimney does not yet have a chimney cap or if the chimney cap is old or possibly damaged, click here or call 781-893-6611 to contact us. We are a team of certified professionals and we have been serving the Boston and Greater Boston area for over thirty years. We would be happy to come and evaluate the state of your chimney cap and/or remove any nesting critters.

Now, we’ll explain how a chimney cap can solve your animal nesting problems.

How Chimney Caps Prevent Birds from Nesting in Your Chimney

Birds and squirrels typically choose the open space in your chimney flue to create their nests. They are often drawn to the warmth from your fireplace during the winter months and then continue their stay year-round. Not only is the sound of animals nesting in your chimney unnerving, but nests in your chimney can also cause your chimney to be obstructed. Obstructions can block smoke and gas from exiting your chimney which can cause soot damage and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Check out our blog on how to tell if your chimney is obstructed to learn more.

Chimney caps can prevent this type of harmful and potentially dangerous situation from occurring. A chimney cap is made up of 5 pieces – screening on all four sides and a steel lid.  Though they are small and relatively inexpensive to install, many homeowners choose not to install chimney caps. However, we always recommend that chimneys have a chimney cap installed. Not only do they keep animals away, but they also protect your chimney from moisture entry. In addition, chimney caps act as a spark guard, which keeps burning embers from exiting the top of the chimney and onto nearby combustables. Check out our Chimney Cap Guide to learn more about how chimney caps work.

How to Remove Birds and Other Animals From Your Chimney

If you know that there are birds or other animals nesting in your chimney, take action right away. We do not recommend trying to address this issue yourself. It is best to leave climbing on your roof and checking out your chimney to a professional. A Chimney company can come to your property, remove the nest, and sweep your chimney in the process. They can also evaluate why the issue occurred in the first place and work with you to find a solution.

From birds’ nests to squirrels nests, the team at Boston’s Best Chimney has extensive experience in handling unwelcome critters. We would be happy to help you solve your nesting issue and prevent it from happening again. Click here or call 781-893-6611 to get in touch with us.

The post How Do I Stop Birds from Coming Down My Chimney? appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.