Properly Maintaining a Wodd-Buring Fireplace

It is officially the season to cuddle up by the fire and enjoy your time indoors. With the increased use of the fireplace, there are some best practices to follow to make sure it will run smoothly throughout the winter time.

Always consider your safety when using a wood-burning fireplace. Keep materials such as carpet, drapes, and furniture away from the fireplace when in use. You can even place a guard in front of the opening so no pets or children can get close and hurt themselves. Try to do a thorough clean of the fireplace after use. Make sure to give the fireplace and chimney plenty of time to cool down before getting near.

For expert fireplace tips, make sure to contact Chimney Cleaning in Los Angeles.

Reasons to Choose a Wood Burning Stove

Did you know that the wood burning stoves that are being built today are actually excellent sources of heat? They can also be designed to fit your personal style, and can add charm to any room in your home. Here are some reasons to choose to install a wood stove in your home:

- Flexibility when choosing a placement
- Excellent source of heating
- Economical source of heating (wood is an inexpensive fuel source)
- Continues to work during a power outage
- Some double as stove tops for cooking

If you're interested in installing a wood stove, contact a professional in stoves in Flemington NJ.

Importance of Dryer Vent Cleaning

Did you know that dryer vents are the second leading cause of fires in homes? However, these fires are preventable if you have your vent cleaned regularly. Having your dryer vent cleaned regularly is not only a safe way to prevent fires from occurring, but it's also a great way to reduce energy costs and utility bills. If you need your dryer vent cleaned, contact a Hawaii dryer vent cleaning professional today.

What to Expect from a Chimney Sweep

You might know that it is smart to have your chimney cleaned but do you really know what they are doing up there? There are some things you can expect when chimney sweeps Turner ME get up on your roof.

Typically a chimney sweep with use a long rod with a metal bristle to clean the inside of your chimney. They do a great job of eliminating any leftover debris from past use and check for other parts to clean. They also will give your chimney an inspection to make sure things are running properly and that there is no damages to the structure of the chimney or fireplace.

If you need your chimney cleaned or inspected, make sure call a chimney sweep today!

Benefits of a Clean Chimney

Winter is here which means you will be utilizing your chimney much more often. With all the months of no use, there is a good chance your chimney needs a cleaning. There of plenty of benefits to getting your chimney in top-notch safe.

Chimney cleaning in York PA will help you burn better fires. If your chimney is not clean, the smoke from your fire won't be able to adequately rise. This in turn will alter how your fire burns.The main concern with not having a clean chimney is how hazardous it is. There can be left over debris in your chimney that can cause fires. Make sure to call a professional to protect your home and family before using your chimney.

Santa Claus is Comin Down the Chimney (Soon)

The holidays mean a lot more time spent around the fireplace, because it's decorated with stockings, greenery, and Christmas carolers. It also happens to be where Santa Claus comes into your house to deliver presents. It's important to have your chimney checked before he arrives this Christmas, so as to avoid letting him get covered in soot and dirtying your home!

Be sure to contact a professional in NYC chimney repair so that you can have the chimney cleaned as soon as possible. Tip: make this a fun tradition for the kids every year to get everyone in the holiday spirit!

Don't Wait for Chimney Service

It has probably been a long time since you have got your chimney inspected. Most home and business owners go the whole spring and summer months without checking for damages or problem areas. There are plenty of reasons why you should call chimney sweeps in Los Angeles before the winter arrives.

If you used your chimney all winter and haven't had it checked since, there is a good chance it could use a cleaning. A lot of debris builds up from burning wood in your fireplace. There is also the possibility that animals have used your chimney for shelter. Having a professional chimney sweep come and inspect the flume is a smart idea. Experts can also determine if there is any structural damage to your chimney.

Check your Fireplace

It has been a long summer and the cold is finally arriving. Since last winter, you probably haven’t touched your fireplace. Here is why you should give it an inspection before the next time you fire it up.

Fireplaces can gather all sorts of dust and dirt. When they go unused all summer, this will build up. Hiring someone to do a thorough clean will end up being favorable and will allow your word to burn more effectively. Some animals can also take nest in your fireplace and chimney. Making sure any debris is clear would be wise!

For more information, check out Fireplaces in Princeton NJ.

Get Your Chimney Inspected Before the Winter Comes

Other potential, efficiency boosting upgrades includes adding stainless steel liners and waterproof coatings to porous materials commonly used in chimney building. Chimney services are experienced in new installs, animal removal and repairs as well as ongoing, fireplace service. So to learn more and put your home’s chimney inspections in the care of dedicated professionals, please contact a professional today. Contact chimney sweeps in Winthrop ME today to get an inspection.

Don’t Leave Chimney Inspections to Jolly Elves or Other Non-Professionals

If not maintained correctly, it stands to reason that the home may suffer energy loss. In addition, the dwelling’s occupants could become very uncomfortable, not to mention gravely ill from contact with the system’s byproducts. Also, fires and smoke damage to the home’s furnishings are real possibilities too. Chimney inspections alleviate those concerns by identifying potential heating problems before they occur.

Furthermore, chimney inspections may help make homeowners aware of possible upgrades that could improve their properties greatly. For example, maybe it would be wise to replace a standard chimney cap with a revolving or pamper one. They’re both excellent at thwarting pesky downdrafts, bolstering energy efficiency and preventing foreign instructions. As such, they could also improve home safety and increase a property’s resale value over time. Contact a professional in fireplace cleaning in Camp Hill PA for more information.

When Should You Clean a Chimney?

Unless you are a chimney expert, there might not always be a clear sign that your chimney needs to be cleaned. Cleaning can vary from chimney to chimney and can depend on the type of wood you use. That’s why it is smart to consult with a chimney sweep in Hawaii.

One way to see if your chimney needs to be cleaned is checking the creosote. Always make sure there is no airflow coming from the chimney when checking.  When checking, make sure to wear protective gear. This includes gloves, goggles, a mask, and any clothing to protect your skin. If you find that the smoke chamber is way too dirty, you should not use the fireplace until this is cleaned. Without a proper cleaning, a chimney fire could occur.

What Does a Chimney Sweep Do?

People may advise you to hire an NYC chimney sweep for routine maintenance. However, once they're up there working on your chimney, it may seem like a mystery what they're doing. You may worry that a lot of soot will be falling through your chimney and onto your floor, or worse--that they'll get trapped up there. But not to worry! Neither of those things will likely happen. As long as your fireplace and heating system were installed correctly, there will not be a lot of soot coming from the chimney during the sweep. Also, as long as the chimney sweep has been properly trained, they will be safe.

The chimney sweep will do two things during the sweep. They will clean out all of the soot, as well as inspect the system to make sure it's working properly. The entire process usually only takes between 10-30 minutes. It's certainly worth the investment, especially if you use your fireplace often. Soot buildup can cause chimney fires, which are extremely dangerous.

Chimney Check

It’s the season to talk about chimney inspection. At the height of winter, this is one area of a home that gets a lot of use. Accordingly, chimneys should be maintained carefully, by dedicated professionals, until warm weather returns. And given what the Farmer’s Almanac folks had to say already, it’s going to be a good while before outside temperatures rise.

There are several areas of a fireplace system that should be inspected beyond the foundation, ash dump, firebox and hearth. These include but are not limited to the damper, lintel, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, flue and mortar crown. They all work together to bring heat into the home while simultaneously expelling potentially harmful byproducts.

For more information, check out Chimney Sweeping in Los Angeles.

Fun Facts About Chimneys!

You may know a lot--or a little--about chimneys, but there is always more to learn. We spoke to Winthrop ME chimney service professionals who filled us in on some fun, little-known facts about our chimneys. Here are a few of the best ones:

- The reason the smoke from your fireplace goes up into the chimney instead of inside your home is because of the nature of heat: it rises. While doing this, it creates an updraft and takes all of the smoke with it.
- Chimney fires have the potential to reach 2,000 degrees Farenheit.
- Chimneys did not become common in homes until the 16th century. However, they were first introduced in northern Europe in the 12th century.
- The world's tallest chimney is located in Kazakhstan, and stands at 1,377 feet.
- Hard woods, like hickory or white oak, burn for the longest amount of time.

For more information on chimneys and how they work, make sure to keep up with our blog!

How Do Chimney Fires Start?

If your house has a chimney and you've ever received chimney sweep services, you may have heard about the dangers of chimney fires. You may have been told of the destruction they can cause to your home and the dangers they pose to you and your family members; but do you know how they begin?

Chimney fires start as a result of dirt. Creosote builds up in the lining of your chimney's walls as a result of a restricted air supply, unseasoned wood, or cold temperatures. Since it's difficult to monitor these conditions on your own, it's imperative to have routine chimney inspections. A professional chimney sweep who specializes in chimney cleaning in Carlisle PA can help determine if your chimney needs cleaning.

A chimney fire is no joke! It is a problem that should be handled with preventative caution as opposed to reactive damage control. Contact a professional today.

Maintaining a Wood Burning Fireplace

A wood burning fireplace can save a lot of money on heating costs and give your home a  wonderful aesthetic on the inside. After all, nothing beats the warm crackle of a wood fire. But, if improperly installed or maintained, a wood burning fireplace can be a potential fire hazard. If embers are popping our of an unscreened fire, this can cause a fire in your home. Make sure you have a screen on at all times and that there isn't creosote build up in the fireplace. If you have any questions or need an inspection, contact a professional who deals with fireplaces in Princeton NJ.

Time To Clean Your Dryer Vents

It is really important to get your dryer vents cleaned out annually to prevent fires from occurring in your home. You should inspect the dryer vents for any blockages every six months and get a good cleaning every year. If you notice that your clothes do not completely dry during one drying cycle or they have a musty odor, this means they dryer vent is blocked by debris and will need a cleaning. Contact a professional in dryer vent cleaning in Hawaii to learn more about this and schedule an appointment.

Preparing your Fireplace for its First Fire

Your fireplace may have been out of work over the past few months, but as it gets colder and you start craving having a crackling fire in your fireplace again, there are a few steps you should take before doing so. First, you need to make sure that your chimney is working properly. It's a good idea to have a professional chimney sweep with experience in NYC chimney repair take a look at your fireplace and chimney once a year, so have this done before anything else. The professionals will also check for cracks or missing mortar that could be signs of deterioration.

When selecting the wood to burn your fire with, choose a dense wood. Oak logs that have been split and stored somewhere high and dry produce the most ideal flames. You don't want to have too high of flames, because a fire that's too hot or large can crack the chimney. This would be a nightmare to fix and could be very dangerous to your home. 

When Was your Last Chimney Inspection?

The CSIA offers a succinct explanation of the root cause of chimney fires:

"Fireplaces and wood stoves are designed to safely contain wood-fuel fires, while providing heat for a home. The chimneys that serve them have the job of expelling the by-products of combustion – the substances produced when wood burns. These include smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon, tar fog and assorted minerals. As these substances exit the fireplace or wood stove, and flow up into the relatively cooler chimney, condensation occurs. The resulting residue that sticks to the inner walls of the chimney is called creosote."

It's pretty clear that a chimney fire is a very bad thing. Even those that go undetected can cause lasting, serious safety issues after they have gone out. Having your flue cleaned annually will remove creosote buildup and keep your flue open. This will cut down on the chances of a fire starting. Having your chimney periodically inspected will identify any problems caused by chimney fires. Protect your home and family and call chimney repairs in Los Angeles.

Chimney Inspection: What You Should Know

There are many details and warning signs of trouble in fireplaces in Bordentown NJ that you might never know without an inspection. Chimney experts are trained to detect these hazardous signs that a normal homeowner wouldn’t suspect.

These indicators are not always easily present. When a slow burning chimney fire occurs, there typically aren't any signs. This makes for a particularly dangerous situation because even these slow burning fires get extremely hot, much hotter than a typical wood fire. When such a hot fire ignites in a flue, it can in turn ignite adjacent materials, like your house. Obviously, this is to be avoided.

Call an expert to get your chimney inspected today.