The Scary Truth: Chimney Fires

by | Aug 31, 2020 | Fireplace Safety Tips

As you settle in and get comfortable before your fire, the exact opposite thing you are probably going to consider is the state of your chimney. Nonetheless, in the event that you don’t think about to it before you light flames, your delight might be...

Types of Chimneys

by | Aug 27, 2020 | Chimney Sweep, Fireplace Safety Tips

Mortgage holders have numerous alternatives for gas or wood-consuming chimneys, yet the decisions can be to some degree befuddling if the real factors are not promptly accessible. The web can be a decent hot-spot for research, however, there are a ton of locales that...

What is safe to burn?

by | Aug 27, 2020 | Chimney Smoke, Chimney Sweep, Fireplace Safety Tips

Chimneys are intended to consume wood however it tragically turns into a rubbish removal choice for some mortgage holders. Resist the impulse to burn anything in your fireplace that is not firewood — especially trash. The following are things that should never be...

Let’s Talk Chimney Odor

by | Aug 26, 2020 | chimney inspection

Is there an awful stench originating from your chimney? Odds are, your home has Stinky Fireplace Syndrome. The scent is normally more terrible in the late spring when the moistness is high, and the climate control system is turned on. Nobody needs their chimney to...
chimney cap

Caps, Covers, & Damper Repairs

Living in the south, mainly along the Gulf Coast, then you know there are lost of rain storms. Actually, we get more rain than anywhere else in the country, including Seattle. The ranking of the most amount of rainfall goes as follows: Mobile, Pensacola, and Seattle in 41st.

This region has such a big deal about rain when it comes to chimneys and fireplaces. As the Chimney Safety Institute of America explains, “water, not fire, causes most chimney damage.”

“Whether masonry or factory-built,” says the CSIA, “prolonged water exposure can result in cracks or gaps in chimneys where creosote can collect and increase the risk of fire or where noxious gases can escape into your home and expose your family to carbon monoxide.”

Fireplaces, Chimneys and Leaks

In basic terms the problem with fireplace and chimney leakage is that water combines with the creosote that remains from fires to form an acidic mixture. Over time that mixture can eat out the silica in the mortar joints.
Once the joints are no longer secure, moisture — remember all that Gulf Coast rain — can get into the house through the chimney. For example, if water comes in through the chimney and is released under the shingles it can lead to the need for a roof replacement.

Also, without proper sealing, heat from fires can travel into areas which should not be exposed to heat, dry out wood, and in some cases actually cause the wood to catch on fire.

In fact, according to a staff report by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are about 22,000 fires a year which are associated with fireplaces, chimneys and chimney connectors. Such fires can cause substantial damage and in some cases may lead to fatalities.

Also, without caps it does happen that birds and animals get into fireplaces. Sometimes nests are built and in some cases animals unable to get out die inside chimneys and fireplaces. Noises and odors can result from such problems.

Caps, Covers and Dampers

You can protect your household with caps, covers and dampers. Caps with spark arresters are devices that go over the flue. They keep out both moisture and animals, plus they help prevent sparks from leaving the chimney. Covers are at the top of the chimney, go around the flue, and protect against moisture. Dampers are inside the chimney itself. They can help create a proper draft to achieve the best fire, plus when closed they prevent animals from getting into the house.

Cap, Cover and Damper Services

We can install, repair and maintain caps, covers and dampers. We inspect such devices as part of our basic chimney sweep services. We have many devices in stock and can recommend the equipment which is right for your fireplace and chimney, whether it is masonry or metal, new or historic.

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