Your fireplace is the focus of family gatherings and a great way to take the chill off during the coldest winter nights. For many, it is a basic necessity. It can also be a source of danger to your home and family. A fireplace that is improperly cared for may start a fire where you don’t want one, namely inside your chimney. Although you remove them often, ashes indicate energy efficiency, showing that the fire completely consumed the fuel source. It’s what doesn’t turn into ash that puts your home at risk. Creosote is nothing more than unburned wood energy that builds up on your chimney’s inner surface.
Preventing Chimney Fires
No one can promise you that you’ll never experience a house fire. We can however, minimize potential problems with chimney maintenance.
According to the NFPA, the second leading cause of house fires is heating equipment, and two out of three heating equipment fires result from heating appliances, which includes fireplaces, chimneys and wood stoves. Of the fires that start in the chimney or fireplace, most are a direct result of creosote deposits. Sadly, most are preventable with regular inspections and maintenance. Prevent your home from becoming part of these statistics by scheduling routine chimney inspections to catch dangerous creosote before it catches you.
Cleaning Your Chimney
Regular chimney cleanings will remove the inevitable buildup of creosote and soot. Unfortunately, there’s no simple rule of thumb for when to do it. Don’t rely on the standard advice of having it done once a year or at some other set time. Clean your chimney when it needs it—when the creosote is thick enough to warrant cleaning. You’ll never be able to keep your chimney 100% creosote-free, but if left to sit, it will eventually harden into a stubborn glaze that’s even virtually impossible to remove without the proper tools.
Monitoring Your Chimney
Obviously, if you notice smoke flooding into your house, soot covering your furniture, even dark smoke constantly flowing from your chimney, you should suspect creosote issues. Unfortunately, creosote may not make itself so readily known. Until you know how much creosote your burning habits creates, check your chimney regularly to monitor the accumulation so you can catch it before it gets out of hand.
Inspecting your chimney is critical to ensuring your house doesn’t join the growing list of house fire statistics. The chimney is inspected from inside the fireplace and then again from the top of the chimney. The entire process takes less than an hour or two for even the most cautious and painstaking inspection. The best course of action is to hire a professional to inspect your chimney prior to the beginning of the heating season and clean or repair as necessary. The payoff for ensuring that your chimney is in prime working condition is priceless—peace of mind every time you build a fire.
Are you constantly worried about creosote buildup, carbon monoxide poisoning, and house fires? Well, if you know the basics in the combustion process, you wouldn’t have to.
Maximizing the heating potential of your fireplace or heating system can save you energy dollars as well as keep your whole household safe.
When Basic Chimney Sweep & Repair technicians come to your home for a chimney sweeping appointment, you’ll probably hear us talk a lot about byproducts, and creosote, and the combustion process. Those topics are kind of the basic building blocks of why chimney sweeping is so important — combustion in your fireplace creates byproducts, including creosote, which build up on the flue walls, affecting draft, potentially damaging your flue liner and, if left unswept, leading toward a fire hazard.
It’s good to know about the combustion process and how draft occurs so that you can prevent accidents related to your chimney
If you’ve ever wondered how the combustion process works inside your fireplace or flue, you’re not alone — we give a fireplace and chimney combustion rundown to a lot of clients, because it helps to have a sense of how things work when you’re trying to make informed decisions about the care of your chimney system.
Here are some of the basics:
Combustion In Your Chimney System
Combustion, at its most basic, is burning — or, if we’re talking the dictionary definition, a speedy chemical process that results in heat and light. When we’re focused on your chimney system, by referencing combustion, we’re talking about the process of burning fuel inside your firebox — be it wood, wood pellets or gas. You start your fire or hit your gas ignition switch, the fuel burns, heat and light result, and you get what you’re looking for out of your fireplace or stove.
Heat and light aren’t all that follows, though, and as chimney technicians, our job has a lot to do with keeping up with the other stuff — namely, byproducts and draft.
Draft And How It Occurs In Your Chimney
Draft is the force that pulls heat and byproducts up your flue, and out of your home, so proper draft is key to your chimney’s function. It occurs in your flue because of a principle we all know well: hotter air rises, and cooler air sinks. Air always moves from an area with higher pressure to lower pressure, and aressure difference occurs while combustion is happening in your fireplace or stove — hot air rising in your flue creates a lower-pressure area below, and that pulls in cooler air near your firebox opening, and draft moves along as it should.
What Can Impede Draft?
Issues with smoke, stains, odors and improper burning in your combustion appliance often have something to do with impeded draft. The specific culprits behind that impeded draft, though, can vary.
It could be something simple, like a failure to open your chimney damper all the way, or a lack of sufficient combustion air (that lower-temperature air getting pulled into your firebox). The latter happens a lot in homes with well-sealed energy-efficient windows and doors, and if cracking a window when you have a fire clears up the issue, you’ve found your culprit.
Draft problems could also be due to a size issue. A chimney that isn’t the correct height won’t achieve the right level of draft, and a flue that’s too big or too small in diameter will lead to draft issues, greater byproduct production and less efficient burning, among other issues,
Often enough, Basic Chimney techs find that draft issues are the result of flue liner damage. If your flue liner is cracked, or spotted with voids or gaps, it limits the force of your draft. Think of it kind of like a straw: Apply some force to an intact straw, and your drink comes right up; try with a straw that has a hole in it, and you’ll struggle and struggle with little success. That’s why it’s key to have your chimney inspected annually, and to have flue liner damage taken care of as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about combustion or draft in your chimney, Basic Chimney Sweeps is always here to help – just give us a call!
There are many homeowners who believe that they do not need a chimney cap. Although it may seem like an unnecessary addition or an accessory, there are many reasons that it is beneficial to use a chimney cap. Although the chimney can function without one, having one installed is the only way to prevent a number of common chimney problems.
The most common reason that people decide to get a chimney cap is because they have had an animal infestation in their chimney. If the chimney opening is left exposed, different types of rodents, birds, and small animals may build nests inside of the chimney. This is not only annoying, but it can be dangerous. The animals may clog the chimney and, in some cases, could carry diseases that spread into the home.
Chimney caps protect your chimney from animals, birds and debris. Any obstruction in your chimney compromises both safety and efficiency.
Another reason to have a chimney cap is to keep natural debris, such as leaves and twigs, from getting into the chimney. Like animal debris, these things can clog the chimney, which is far more dangerous than it may sound. If the chimney is clogged, it will keep smoke and combustible gasses in the home rather than letting them out. This can lead to any number of health risks as well as an increased risk of fire.
In addition to animals and leaves, it is important to keep excess moisture out of the chimney. This may come in the form of water or snow that gets in when there is not a chimney cap in place. Water in the chimney can cause many problems, ranging from mold to the deterioration of the structure itself. These issues can be quite serious but a chimney cap is a simple way to avoid them.
The chimney cap also helps to keep sparks inside of the chimney rather than letting them out. If sparks get out of the chimney, a breeze can quickly cause them to ignite. This will not only start a fire on the roof of the home in question but the fire could actually spread to other rooftops. This means that not only the home without the chimney cap but the entire neighborhood is put in harm’s way.
One of the most practical reasons for getting a chimney cap is that it prevents a draft. Without a chimney cap, cold air can come in from outside, especially when the fireplace is not in use. This forces the home’s heating system to work harder. As a result, the homeowners spend more money than necessary on energy each year, which is bad for both the budget and the environment.
A chimney cap may seem like an accessory but it actually serves many important functions for the home. It can help prevent any number of situations that can result in health and safety hazards as well as increased risk of fire. It is a small and simple piece that can make it easier for everyone to enjoy a fireplace safely.
Having the chimney inspected is something that every homeowner should do, but many neglect to take care of it. Maybe the reason for this is because they do not understand exactly what happens during a chimney inspection and how it can benefit their family and home. In fact, a chimney inspection will help the chimney run more efficiently and make sure that it is not posing any serious risks to the home.
Before beginning a chimney inspection, a good chimney sweep will take precautions to protect the home. Out of courtesy for the customer, they should cover all floors and furniture to make sure that they do not track any soot or dirt into the home. Some will also wear booties over their shoes for an extra precaution. Although the fireplace is dirty, there is no reason to be worried about the condition of the home afterwards.
At the start of the inspection, the inspector will look over all parts of the chimney that are easily accessible. They will check to see if there is any obvious damage before they even get into a more in-depth inspection. This includes the structure of the chimney as well as its attachment to the home. A trained professional can tell quite a lot about the chimney’s safety and function just by looking at it.
After the preliminary inspection, the inspector will take a look at the interior of the chimney. This includes getting a good look at the structure of the flue as well as the flue liner. In many cases, the inspector will have a camera that can be used to get into the little nooks and crannies that an inspector cannot reach manually. They are able to see even the smallest cracks in the structure, which could eventually lead to significant damage.
A thorough chimney inspection requires a look at all parts of the chimney system. A certified sweep knows what to look for and what it means.
The inspector may also inquire as to whether or not any changes have been made to the chimney or fireplace since the last inspection. This could be anything from a new chimney cap to a change in the fuel used for a gas fireplace. If any changes have been made, the inspector may want to double check the impacted area to make sure that everything is functioning as it should be. Homeowners should keep careful records of all changes made to their chimney and know that no adjustment is too small to mention to their inspector.
Before leaving, a good chimney inspector will ask the homeowner if they have any questions. They should be able to explain every aspect of the inspection and all of their findings as well as any other information that the homeowner may request. Prior to the inspection, it is a good idea to make a list of questions about the chimney that the inspector can answer. If they are unwilling or unable to answer any questions, it may be time to consider a new inspector for the following season.
A chimney inspection is the only way for a homeowner to rest assured that their chimney is safe and in good working order. Look for a chimney inspector who is willing and able to answer all questions as well as one who takes proper care of the surrounding area. A thorough inspection will include a superficial look at the structure as well as an in-depth scan with a camera that can see every small corner of the chimney. Here at Basic Chimney, we are committed to making sure you feel good about your annual upkeep.
A chimney is subject to a lot of wear and tear from the weather. It sticks up above the roof of the house and takes the brunt of all the wind, rain, and snow. This will quickly take its toll on any brick or masonry structure. As time goes on the mortar will crack and break off putting the structure of the chimney in jeopardy. If the structure of the chimney fails it could topple onto your roof and possibly fall through. Then you will have new appreciation for the term “hit you like a ton of bricks”. Luckily your certified chimney sweep is more than capable of fixing this issue before it ever gets to that point.
It isn’t unusual for Mother Nature to loosen bricks and mortar over time.
If during the process of inspection your chimney sweep discovers cracked or broken mortar they will being repointing the chimney. Repointing involves removing old broken bits of mortar and replacing it with new mortar. While this sounds like a relatively straight forward process there are some intricacies that require a lot of attention to detail.
The first part of the repointing process is to determine how much of the mortar is damaged. The obvious missing pieces are easy to notice but what may be less immediately apparent is any mortar that may be cracked and/or detached from the existing mortar but still lodged between the bricks. Adhering new mortar to these pieces is essentially pointless as those pieces can just as easily fall out as the bricks expand and contract over time. Once the sweep has determined exactly which pieces are damaged they will remove them.
Once the chimney is devoid of all broken pieces of mortar your chimney sweep can begin to apply new mortar. It is very important to mix mortar that is of a similar type, consistency, and color as the existing mortar. The color is for purely aesthetic purposes but the consistency is another matter. If you try to bond 2 different types of mortar it is difficult to get them to adhere to one another permanently. Once the chimney sweep has mixed the appropriate mortar they can begin filling in the gaps left by the broken and faulty older mortar.
When filling in the gaps it takes special care to make sure that everything is done properly. Too much mortar will put uneven pressure on the bricks during the regular movement caused by weather and temperature change and can cause the bricks themselves to crack. Not enough mortar and they will not hold and the process will have to be repeated. After all this is done the chimney should be re-sealed to prevent water damage which can cause extensive damage to your chimney and if not managed the rest of your home.
It is always a good idea to check your chimney periodically for pieces of broken brick or mortar and if anything seems amiss call your local certified chimney sweep and they will come out and get to work. Of course it is important to have your chimney regularly inspected to make sure a problem like this does not get ignored and progress into an even bigger issue that can threaten the structural stability of your chimney and indeed your entire house.
The Basics of Maintaining Your Prefabricated Fireplace.
A prefabricated fireplace is a great option for someone who does not have a masonry fireplace included in the structure of their home. However, some homeowners do not realize that these structures require just as much attention and maintenance as their counterparts. In order to safely enjoy a prefabricated fireplace, it is absolutely necessary to follow a few important guidelines for maintenance.
When purchasing a prefabricated fireplace, it will be necessary to also purchase a chimney and a cap. What people must keep in mind is that the manufacturers create all three of these pieces to be used together. It is absolutely necessary to only use the chimney and cap that are intended to go with the particular fireplace. Mixing and matching will affect not only the efficiency but also the safety of the entire system and should be avoided at all times.
As with any fireplace, it is necessary to keep a prefabricated fireplace clean in order to have it function properly. Be sure to remove any excess material left in the fireplace, but you will need to leave about one eighth of an inch on the bottom for proper insulation. It is best to double-check the cleanliness of the fireplace before starting a fire and then to clean it thoroughly after putting the fire out.
A properly fitted chimney cap keeps debris, birds and animals from your chimney.
Some people think that their prefabricated fireplace is not vulnerable to the same type of problems as a masonry fireplace. However, this is not the case and it is important to provide some of the same maintenance. For example, birds are just as likely to make their nests in a prefabricated chimney as they are in a masonry one. Be on the lookout for these issues and resolve them as quickly as possible.
In general, it is necessary to monitor normal wear and tear on a prefabricated fireplace a bit more closely than a masonry option. Since they are made out of materials that are not quite as durable as, for example, brick, they will not stand up to as much stress. In order to make sure it is functioning properly at all times, inspect the fireplace regularly and call a professional immediately if there are any unexplained changes.
Although a prefabricated fireplace differs structurally from a masonry fireplace, many of the same safety and maintenance rules apply. For example, it is important to only burn properly dried wood and to not put any foreign material into the fireplace. It is also important to make sure the chimney is clear of obstructions to avoid smoke in the home. Failure to follow these simple rules can cause serious safety hazards.
A prefabricated fireplace is a great option for anyone who does not have a fireplace attached to their home. In order to use it safely, it is important to remember that many of the same safety and maintenance rules apply to a masonry fireplace. In fact, they require a bit more attention because they are not built to withstand the same normal wear and tear as masonry fireplaces. Be sure to only use them with the appropriately compatible pieces, such as the chimney and cap. Keep the fireplace clean at all times and keep in mind that it can have the same issues as other fireplaces, such as dangerous obstructions in the chimney.
Having animals in your chimney is one of the most complicated and frustrating situations for a homeowner. Not only can animals cause damage to the chimney, but they can also carry diseases and pests that put the entire family at risk. If someone suspects that animals have set up a home in their chimney, they need to take immediate steps to remove them.
Squirrel Like Chimneys – Baton Rouge LA – Basic Chimney Sweep & Repair
It is possible that you could have animals in your chimneyand not even realize it. One of the most common signs is an unpleasant smell coming from the chimney. This could be caused by a number of things but is most often attributed to animal nests and waste sitting in the chimney over a period of time. Another sure sign that there are animals in the chimney is an scratching or banging sound coming from the fireplace. It isn’t a ghost…it is likely a critter who has made himself comfortable in your heating system.
If someone suspects that an animal lives in their chimney, they should resist the urge to try to get it out themselves. This really isn’t a DIY job for a couple of reasons. There is a good chance that the animal is carrying a disease or pests such as ticks. If the animal has a disease such as rabies, there is a strong possibility that they will attack whoever tries to remove them. Although this job should be handled immediately, it is best to wait until a chimney sweep that is trained to deal with these issues can take care of it. The certified sweep is trained to safely remove birds and animals and to dispose of them if they have died.
Once the animals have been removed from the chimney, it is important to prevent this problem from ever occurring again. The best way to do this is by having a chimney cap installed. This is a simple device that is exactly what it sounds like and prevents any future animals from making their way into the chimney. It is an inexpensive and effective solution to a serious problem.
If there is a strange sound or smell coming from the fireplace, there is a good chance that animals are living in the chimney. If this does prove to be the case, it is important to allow a trained chimney sweep to take care of the situation. Once they have been evicted, it is important to install a chimney cap that will prevent them from returning. This is the best way to ensure safe and efficient heating from your chimney.
A responsible homeowner knows that they should have their chimney inspected and cleaned by a chimney sweep at least once a year. However, the problem often comes when they need to choose a chimney sweep to get the job done. How do you know who to trust to ensure the safety and efficiency of your heating system? There are a few guidelines that anyone can follow to make sure the job is done right.
Chimney Sweep – Baton Rouge LA – Basic Chimney
The best place to start when looking for a chimney sweep is with friends and family members who also have chimneys in their homes. Ask them which company they use to maintain their chimney and how they felt about the experience. These people will not be invested in the company and will therefore have no problem giving their unbiased opinion. They will be able to speak to the chimney sweep’s ability but also to their professionalism and customer service. If no one has a good recommendation, consider contacting the Better Business Bureau for a recommendation of a reputable company.
Even after speaking with someone who can make an informed recommendation, it is important to do some independent research before making a decision. When speaking with the company for the first time, be sure to ask if they have contact information for recent customer references. It is important to make sure that references are current in order to get the most accurate information. A less recent client may have dealt with someone who is no longer with the company and is not indicative of the service they provide now.
Another thing to consider is that many chimney sweep companies get a great deal of their business through word of mouth. For this reason, it is important to ask for how long the company has been in business. If a company has been providing consistent, sub par service in a community, it is unlikely that they will stay in business for very long. This will also give an indication of how experienced the individual chimney sweeps are likely to be.
Many people do not realize that it takes a special certification to become a chimney sweep. All reputable chimney sweeps are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. However, this does not mean that every technician working for a given company is certified. Before making an appointment, make sure the company can ensure a certified technician will actually be the one to do the job.
After doing all of this legwork, it is reasonable to expect that the chimney cleaning will go off without a hitch. However, even the most experienced and reliable chimney sweeps have been known to have accidents from time to time. It is necessary to choose a company that can provide proof of insurance for all workers. This will ensure that everyone is protected in the event of an injury or if there is any damage to the chimney and fireplace.
Finding a reliable chimney sweep is an important task because the chimney and fireplace are such vital parts of the home. After asking friends and relatives for recommendations, do not forget to ask the company themselves for recent references. Make sure that the chosen company is insured and can guarantee a chimney sweep that is certified by the CSIA. Taking all of these steps will ensure that the home has a clean and safe chimney.
“Heaters” can be all kinds of things but, from fireplace inserts to electric space heaters, they present a fire hazard and need to be safely used. If they can warm you up quickly, they do the same for other things, so space heaters need to be carefully positioned. If cozy fires can heat the room, even a little, imagine what they can do to the chimney above them, so fireplaces need clean chimneys.
Otherwise, it does not take long for the space heater to catch the drapes on fire and the fireplace to ignite the creosote. There are safety concerns with the use of every type of heater, whether inside or outside the home. Portable fire pits carry their own dangers and outdoor ovens get just as dirty as the ones inside.
Heating Up More than the Den
Obviously, heat from fireplaces raises enormous risks, hopefully up the chimney and out of the house. When chimneys are not kept clean and in good working condition by CSIA certified sweeps, those risks remain in both your chimney and your home. If obstructions block updrafts or creosote accumulates unnoticed, the “family room heater” can become a deadly weapon.
In addition to risks of fire with improper use, even space heaters can stir things to life in air you do not want to breathe. This gets compounded when apparent vents in bathrooms and kitchens actually go nowhere except the crawl space above them. Those need to be checked by venting professionals when they clean your other air ducts and vents.
Remember All Your Heaters
From mere conveniences to basic, built-in parts of your house, “heaters” pose many of the risks of fire whether or not they involve it. Their portability increases the likelihood that small heaters will end up too close to the wrong thing and bring on real heat. The big guys, from gas furnaces to wood fireplaces, are especially dangerous “heaters” – because too often we forget the danger they can bring.
