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.

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.

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.

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.

So how can you safely rid yourself of this noisy bird without breaking the law? Well, we are so glad you asked because there are several things that can be done to keep the birds and other critters out of your chimney. Note I said “out of your chimney”. This means once they are in your chimney you will have to wait for them to migrate back to South America before you can do anything. Lucky for you that normally happens in the late summer or fall so they are gone just in time to light that fire.

Start with getting your chimney inspected and cleaned to get rid of any debris from nests left behind. Once that has been completed, look at installing a proper chimney cap on your chimney. Not only will this keep out birds and other animals, it will also act as a spark arrestor and keep out rain, leaves and other debris which could cause a blockage.  Installing a damper will put the ultimate stop to just about anything getting down the chimney. It’s best to do all that is needed while the crew is working on the unit. Only when you seal up the chimney when it’s not in use will you be able to totally keep out the Chimney Swifts and other animals that like the dark walls of a chimney to lay their eggs every year.  Now, if you don’t feel quite right about closing up the home to chimney swifts (or Vaux Swifts) visit http://chimneyswifts.org/page5.html and learn how to build a simple Swift Tower!

As far as figuring out how often a dryer vent should be cleaned, a few factors will need to be considered. For instance, how long is your vent. Longer vents don’t exhaust as well, and thus build up more lint. Vents with a lot of twists and turns also have a tendency to have lint build up more quickly – in fact, each 90 degree elbow effectively adds 5 feet of distance to the venting system. On the other hand, a very short vent will often need very little cleaning. Also, older dryers tend to dry less efficiently, so you will want their vents checked more often.

The U.S. Consumer Protection Agency has laid out several guidelines regarding dryer vent cleaning. One of their biggest recommendations is cleaning the lint tray after each use. Besides drying your clothes faster, it will reduce the buildup of lint at the source of the heat. They also strongly suggest replacing older duct material that is flexible with the newer types of rigid or semi-rigid duct. The older duct material’s flexibility is more prone to kinks, which leads to restricted airflow and lint buildup and vinyl is not an approved material for dryer exhaust components.

Just remember: you don’t have to worry about all of this yourself. We are here to help. Contact us today, and schedule an appointment with us today. We make sure your dryer vent clean is clean and safe!

Something to keep in mind is the more valuable woods are those that have the highest density. This is because the heat produced by various types of wood is virtually the same. However, denser wood will last longer on the fire, which in turn helps you use less firewood overall. Oak, for instance, can be twice as dense as a softwood like Pine. Because of this, Oak is likely to be more expensive because you aren’t going to be using as much.

Another thing to think about is sticking with your local woods. This tends to support sustainable forestry, and it also helps keep down the transport of insects and fungi from other regions. Another big plus to buying your wood from a local producer is cost. It tends to be much cheaper because there are lower transportation costs.

Of course, the best firewood of all is well seasoned firewood. Not only is the wood going to burn more efficiently, but it is also going to be better for your chimney or stove. Since trees tend to be 40% to 60% water by weight when they are cut down, that moisture left will affect the burning of the wood. Much of the energy generated during burning will be used to dry the wood instead of producing heat for your home.  Some of the problems associated with burning wet wood include excess creosote buildup and the need for more wood to keep the fire going and to provide the necessary heat for a room.  It generally takes about 6 months to properly “season” or dry firewood to 20 – 25% moisture content.  This will allow the fire to burn nicely but not too quickly as when the wood is overly dry.  If you don’t have a hydrometer or moisture gauge, look at the ends of the firewood – if it is beginning to split or crack in places it’s probably ready to be used as fuel.

I heard a story from a friend who, as a 7 year old, became rather curious about the flammability of a single piece of facial tissue. Much to his surprise, and horror, the tissue was very flammable. So much so, in fact, that upon dropping the quickly burning piece of tissue paper, a hole was burned into the carpet of his bedroom. He was not found out until nearly two years later, because he had covered the affected area with a garbage can. Luckily, no serious harm was caused, but you can see how it could have been so much worse.

Sometimes, kids will take to exploring the garage, and they can come across flammable liquids. In situations like these, your children or the children in your life need to know how to conduct themselves safely. This isn’t just to give them a set of rules to follow. Teaching children the right way to behave around fire and flammable substances will save not only their own life, but also the lives of everyone around them. Spend some time with your kids teaching them proper fire techniques.

Finally, make it a fun thing. If there is anything adults should know, there is nothing so rebellion inducing as orders from an adult. Rather than dictating to them, help them to understand why fire safety is important to them personally and to those people and things they hold dear.

I don’t know if they had a cap on the chimney or not, but it really wouldn’t have mattered. This is because caps with wire meshes are designed to keep larger animals like squirrels, bats and birds out. The bees would still have been able to get in and out with ease. However, there is a device called a top sealing damper that you can use to cap a chimney that will work with insects like bees, ants and other crawling or flying bugs. What it does is create an airtight seal over the top opening of the chimney when there is no fire burning. Once you are ready to light your fire you pull a lever and the top opens up fully so the combustion products that need to be expelled up the chimney are released with ease. When the fire has burned out the air tight seal goes back in place.

Most people who use their fireplaces regularly get them inspected and cleaned, and thus are more apt to take care of their chimneys. This prevents many of the long term issues from developing. In older homes, where chimneys may have sat unused and not inspected or cleaned for periods of time, chimneys can be the perfect place for certain animals to naturally inhabit. It is normally a dry and safe place that comes with easy access to the outside world. A chimney that has sat dormant can become a potential fire hazard, so the first order of business is to get these chimneys inspected and cleaned. If called for, make sure you do the necessary repairs as well before ever using the fireplace. It’s one thing to prevent animals from entering your chimney, and a whole other preventing a potential fire and protecting the lives of you and your family.

If you get a Professional to install your Wood stove, he will recommend and go over exactly what you need and where to best locate the stove for optimum safety and efficient heat output. They can also help you select the most suitable surface that your stove should be placed on such as ceramic tiles, concrete, slate or marble. When you get a Professional to install your Wood Stove, he or she will assure proper clearances are maintained from walls, furnishings and other combustibles. If this isn’t taken into consideration it could be disastrous.

A professional will check to make sure the connection between the stovepipe and chimney is done correctly. This is a task that is very important and requires expertise and care. The proper connection to the chimney can keep you and your family safe from unwanted and harmful smoke. Having a professional install any type of fireplace or stove is always the best answer when asking your self: what is the best way to do that?