An old friend had a son that lived in a duplex with his family. The other side of the duplex had another family and the wall the separated them had a fireplace on either side. The son was diligent about getting his fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected each year for the safety of his family and just assumed that everyone was as concerned about a chimney fire as he was since he had lived in areas that used fireplaces for heat all of his life. However, on one cold January evening, he found out that everyone does not think like he does.

He was lucky. The entire family including the dog made it out safely. Their belongings did not. But what disturbed him the most was that the other family “thought” they had had a fire the night before but couldn’t confirm it so they just ignored it. What they should have done was to call a certified chimney company to inspect to see if they might have actually had a contained chimney fire, which was confirmed by firefighters the following week.

Here is what the chimney technician would have looked for:

• Puffed Creosote – lightweight, fragile ashes are usually present after a fire.
• Scorched Areas –the high heat produces clean patches that may appear in the flue.
• Cracked Flue Tiles – fires can burn at over 2000 degrees F. and that can cause thermal shock, which can crack the flue.
• Metal Components Warped – dampers or chimney caps may be discolored or damaged.
• Large Creosote Pieces – expanded creosote may appear on the roof, gutter or yard near the chimney.

As promised here are the three things to do to prevent chimney fires:

• Schedule yearly inspections with a professional certified chimney contractor.
• Make sure they provide a video camera inspection of the entire chimney structure top to bottom.
• Consider installing a stainless steel chimney liner.

Remember, it is not uncommon for occupants to be unaware that a fire has even occurred. If you even think it may be happening at your house, duplex, condo or apartment it is imperative that you contact your local fire department or chimney company to come out as quickly as possible and inspect the chimney for signs of a fire. Chimney sweeps find numerous cases of undetected fires every year so the most important thing is to make sure your fireplace and chimneys are getting that yearly inspection. It just might save more lives than you might think.

There is nothing like a wood burning fireplace to warm your heart, hands and sometimes your feet. The problem is these types of fireplaces, as great as they look, can be very inefficient. This becomes exacerbated for those equipped with a metal flue or damper. The idea is to keep as much heat in the home as possible so let’s explore what can be done to do just that.

One inexpensive thing you can do is install what’s called a fireback. This is simply a cast iron plate that absorbs heat and radiates it back into the room. You can find these in many decorative designs to match just about any home décor.

Using a damper to seal the top of chimney is also a great inexpensive way to help hold heat into your home. Because a top sealing damper comes with an attachment made of rubber that is designed to have an air tight seal it is great to keep heat where you want it. This type of damper will replace the throat damper as well. Most throat dampers are made of metal and can rust and/or warp over time.

One type of heater that works with wood burning fireplaces are grate heaters. Tubes absorb heat from the fire in the firebox and a fan simply blows air through the tubes heating it as it makes its way through the tubes and out into the room. Most of these types of heaters have some sort of thermostat control whether manual or automatic. Again, this is a very affordable option to keep heat where you want it and not up the flue and out the chimney.

This last option costs a little bit more but is worth it in the long run for both safety as well as efficiency. Installing glass doors eliminates air from the room to be used for combustion thus making the fireplace more efficient. They also keep embers from flying out into the room preventing any accidental burns on children and adults alike. The last thing about glass doors is they look great in any home.

Hope that has given you several ideas and ways that you can improve the efficiency of your wood burning fireplace now and in the future.

If you have ever had a leak in your home, one thing is clear; you can’t always tell where it originates from. However, with a little bit of knowledge about your chimney you can see that it’s a great place to start when you have a leak in your home. The reason chimneys are such a vulnerable place for leaks is because the construction of a chimney has some areas that can be difficult to seal. If not sealed properly, water gets in and runs down rafters, beams and even the edges of drywall to a completely different area in your home and you don’t even think about the chimney being the culprit and source of the leak.

Here is a quick breakdown of the three areas.

• Chimney Crown Leaks happen because of the breakdown of crown due to exposure to wind, rain and varying temperatures. Crowns can be chipped away, show signs of deep cracks or voids or be broken, all of which allow water to be absorbed and transferred into the home via the chase. This happens a lot when mortar has been substituted for concrete to save time and money during construction.
• Chimney Flashing Leaks are the perfect place for leaks if not installed correctly. This is where the roof line and the chimney meet making it the perfect place for water to gather behind the chimney and penetrate the flashing and leak into the home. If the flashing is not high enough around the base of the chimney water can easily run down between the flashing and the brick.
• Chimney Mortar Joints and the bricks themselves can be a leak problem depending on the density of the brick and mortar. Soft bricks tend to absorb water and over time that water will need someplace to go once the brick is saturated. Same with the mortar joint if it was mixed with too much sand.

Each one of these potential leak areas can be solved rather easily and inexpensively if you are proactive and identify the issue before they become an expensive problem to fix. Call us at 503-644-0393 and let us know your concerns and we can go into detail about how to deal with your particular concern.

If you have a leak right now and can’t seem to find the source, we can help. Give us a call at 503-644-0393 and schedule a time we can come out and inspect the troubled area and see if you have a leaky chimney and not a leaking roof.

The causes of a leaking chimney can be caused by many different factors. Here are 5 that we often find.

1. Rain that is going straight inside the chimney from the top is a common cause of a leaking chimney. The simplest solution for this is the installation of a chimney cap. An uncovered chimney allows the rain to pour inside, especially during heavy rains. Aside from rain, a chimney cap protects the chimney from animals and birds that often nest inside of the chimney.
2. There may be crack in your chimney crown that can allow water to enter. The chimney crown is the flat or beveled area that is found on top of your chimney. Chimneys can crack due to a shift in the structure or from freeze/thaw cycles. A cracked crown can be fixed, but should be done by a professional. If your chimney crown has a small crack, it may still need fixing to prevent it from getting worse. Water that enters in small cracks will freeze during the winter, thus expanding the cracks into a much bigger problem. There are coatings available to patch smaller cracks to prevent further damage. Coatings may not fix bigger cracks, so it is better to treat them early to prevent additional expense and hassle.
3. Condensation causes water leaks from the inside out. The chimney should be lined with the correctly sized liner. Sometimes a liner can solve a leaking problem.
4. Improper or deteriorated chimney flashing may also cause leaks. If there is a gap between the brick and the roof and it is not sealed, the water may get through and cause a leak. A professional chimney sweep can fix this.
5. Leaking bricks can also be the source of water entering the home. This is similar to leaks from chimney crowns. You can waterproof your chimney, but make sure only high quality materials are used. During summer, the water that enters broken bricks will dry out, but during winter, the water can freeze, causing bigger and more expensive problems.

There are many health hazards that are caused by the improper maintenance of a home chimney.    If you are a busy homeowner and cannot find the time or don’t have the know-how to clean your own flue, it is a good idea to hire a professional chimney sweep and make sure they are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).  A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep is a skilled technician who inspects the chimney and cleans and clears soot, debris, and ashes from the chimney.  The government’s fire prevention and protection agencies are recommending homeowners have their chimneys inspected at least once per year. Chimney sweep companies that employ CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps are dependable, and will provide professional services for this kind of task.  They are promoting their expertise in inspecting and maintaining dryer vents, fireplaces, chimneys and even woodstoves. As a prudent homeowner, you have to understand the complexity and the correct usages of your home’s chimney system.

Hiring a chimney sweep that is CSIA Certified can take care of all the safety recommendations and proper maintenance of your chimney.   Their professional skills must include:

• The ability to perform regular inspections (Level I and Level II) , and recommend needed repairs and waterproofing when necessary;
• The ability to detect and repair of any water leak that will cause damage to the outer and inner parts of the fireplace and chimney;
• The ability to install chimney caps for preventing snow, rain , small animals, leaves and debris from entering the flue;
• The ability to repair an incorrectly built or deteriorated chimney crown;
• Restoring a dented chimney’s chase tops, which are likely to lead to the staining of your chimney’s sidings and putting strain on the assembled metal flue;

According to the CSIA there are additional questions that should be asked to ensure that the person hired is a credible service technician:

1. How long has the chimney sweeping company been in business?
2. Does the company offer current references?
3. Does the company have unresolved complaints filed within the city or state consumer protection agency or Better Business Bureau?
4. Does the company or individual carry a valid business liability insurance policy to protect your home and furnishings against accidents?
5. Does the company ensure that a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep will be on the job site?

Professional CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps are experts in inspecting and sweeping residences of all sizes and designs no matter the year of construction.  You want to look for these skilled chimney sweeps that understand, and can utilize, the latest tools that enable them to do their jobs, safely, securely and correctly.

To prevent deadly carbon monoxide from entering your home, you have to learn how to stay safe.  Carbon monoxide is a type of gas which is tasteless, poisonous, odorless and colorless.   It can be inhaled without you even knowing it is there. This gas is the result of the incomplete burning of materials that contain carbon. Examples of these would be wood, coal, oil, propane, gasoline, and kerosene. So basically, any type of carbon based fuel may emit this dangerous gas when burned.

Annually, there are many deaths that are caused by carbon monoxide hazards. Many homeowners are not aware of this problem. They don’t understand that one potential sources is their chimney. Hundreds of deaths occur every year because carbon monoxide is coming from their heating system or chimney.  Some of the symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide during winter seasons are “seasonal” depression, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.  Many people ignore these symptoms, and they are not detected at an early stage. It is important not to ignore these, however, because even bigger problems can occur.

Another cause of dangerous levels of this gas is found right in your home’s tight construction.  Many of us seal our homes so airtight that we are completely unable to get fresh air inside. This means fresh air is completely eliminated or lessened, and the stale or polluted air is sealed inside the home. Leaving your boilers and furnaces with minimal levels of oxygen will cause the incomplete burning of fuels, which produces even more carbon monoxide.

To avoid carbon monoxide related problems, one of the best ways to solve it is to have professional chimney experts come and inspect, clean or repair your chimney and connector pipes. Be sure to have safety measures in place to prevent the hazardous effects caused by this gas and consider the installation of a carbon monoxide detector or alarm.

Many homeowners tend to neglect the fact that their chimneys need to be inspected, cleaned, and maintained vigilantly in order to be free of hazards. This also helps prevent bad accidents from occurring. Ideally, chimneys are made to be air and moisture tight so that the products of combustion are exhausted directly to the outside of the house. But due to many factors such as temperature extremes, weather changes, corrosive gases, water or vapor, animal inhabitants (like birds and squirrels), creosote build-up, and faulty work or installation of the chimney, the likelihood of accidents can increase. Also effected are the efficiency and safety of your heating appliance(s), the chimney and of your home in general. This is precisely why it is of utmost importance to have an annual chimney inspection followed by a thorough chimney sweeping. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association states that chimneys should be inspected at least once a year and swept if necessary.  If the chimneys are used more frequently, then inspection and sweeping should also be done more often.

Chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are among the dangers that threaten a home if the chimneys are not properly maintained. Creosote build-up, which is highly combustible, can start a chimney fire. Sparks may fly to the roof or heat may transfer to combustibles in the attic and ceiling, which could lead to a serious house fire. Blockages caused by the collapse of some parts of the chimney, bird’s nests, or other factors can inhibit the smooth exit of smoke and/or flue gases from the fireplace or other heating appliance. It can also cause carbon monoxide to circulate inside the house. All these things can happen in your home if you do not take action to ensure that your chimneys are safe and clean.

Having a Certified Chimney Sweep examine both the exterior and interior parts of the chimney can save you a great deal of money and effort (not to mention grief). The inspector will be checking the structure of the chimney as well as the flue and all the connections within. They will also make sure that the chimney does not have creosote or other combustible substances built up. They will also check for any type of obstruction. So be wise and never forget to have an annual chimney inspection.