Chimneys- Common Problems & Concerns
Sure, having a wood burning chimney fireplace in the home might seem like a great idea, but there are a number of chimney problems homeowners should know about. Whether you own a home with a chimney or plan on buying one with a chimney, these are a few of the common chimney problems to keep in mind.
1. Obstruction –
Chimney obstructions can be caused by various items. From rodents such as squirrels or raccoons entering the chimney, to twigs or branches falling into your chimney, these not only cause the potential for fire hazards, but also cause soot and smoke to get trapped in the home. If something blocks the chimney and airflow doesn’t move as it should, fire hazards and smoke buildup are issues you will have on your hand. A chimney repair professional can come to your home to ensure there is nothing caught in the chimney; further, they can install a chimney hood to protect the top, so items don’t fall into the chimney’s opening.
2. Creosote –
Every time you burn wood in the fireplace smoke goes up and the flammable creosote comes down. The black and brown tar and soot is responsible for a number of chimney fires annually. The chimney should be inspected regularly to ensure this is not a problem; especially if you light a fire in the chimney regularly, you want to ensure this build up is not found in the lining of your chimney, as it poses a great threat to your home and your family.
3. Brickwork –
A neglected chimney can deteriorate, can become weak and brittle, and eventually break down. Not only will this damage penetrate the chimney system in your home, if it collapses to exterior areas of the home it can cause damage to the side of the home, your windows, and other areas of your home. Tuckpointing is one of the services a chimney repair company can provide, to help improve the brick and mortar’s strength, help prevent deterioration, and help stop a faltering chimney from collapsing or breaking down any further. This is common with older homes, so if you have an older home with a chimney, hiring a professional to inspect your property at least a couple times annually is smart practice.
4. Flue cracks –
Cracks in the chimney’s flue are also common problems homeowners have with their chimneys. The high heat places plenty of pressure on the lining of your chimney, and moisture combined with the creosote can cause the flue and interior lining of the chimney to begin to deteriorate and crack over time. The combustible parts found in the lining of your chimney makes it more susceptible to flames sparks and potential for a fire. Therefore, having the chimney inspected, and having repairs made to the flue when required, is a simple solution to preventing these threats from becoming a reality.
These are among the more common chimney problems homeowners should be aware of. They are not the only problems, but are some of the issues many homeowners have dealt with. The right chimney repair company will not only help maintain your chimney’s structure, but also help find signs of damage, prior to it becoming a major problem, and causing these potential threats to your home and family.
Is Your Chimney Professional Insured?
Make sure your Chimney Contractor carries proper Insurance
A few of the most important things a homeowner should know is if their contractor is carrying proper WORKERS COMPENSATION and GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.
A contractor that does not carry General Liability Insurance is not covered to handle any possible damage to your property, then or in the future. Attempting to recoup funds from a company that would not carry this insurance would be nearly impossible. Would you want such a company cleaning a chimney in your living room ?
If your contractor is not covered under Workers Compensation, the homeowner could be liable for whatever might happen to the laborers while working at your home. Would you want such a chimney repair company climbing your roof ? You want to make sure that if someone got hurt on the job , that the contractor can handle that without your involvement.
Tips on Hiring A Chimney Contractor
Beware of unscrupulous businesses that claim they have insurance, but pay employees under the table; they are not only avoiding payroll taxes and unemployment insurance but will not have worker’s compensation for that employee. Liability insurance quotes are generally tied to payroll, if there are workers not on payroll performing negligent work on your home, that may not get covered either.
- Are they licensed by the state to perform this work ?
- How long has the contractor been in business?
- What kind of warranties are being offered?
Will they be around to honor these warranties ?
You can rest assured knowing Safeside Chimney and Duct Cleaning is a long established business in Connecticut -over 20 years – that has you fully covered. A homeowner needs to consider a contractor that not only can perform the job they are bidding on, but has the business know how and system to follow through on their guarantees and assurances.
Tips from Norwalk Fire Department to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Do you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home? If not, you will want to get one. Carbon monoxide (CO) is referred to as the “silent killer,” because it is an odorless gas that is virtually undetectable without technology. The danger is even greater during the winter because many of the appliances that produce the gas are in use.
Click here for tips to help you stay protected from carbon monoxide poisoning!
Lock-Top Chimney Damper
Is your current chimney damper effective? Traditional fireplace dampers often leak. A leaky damper is costing you money. It is like throwing money into your fireplace, then lighting it, and watching it go up the chimney. The same is currently happening with your current fireplace damper. You can save money and energy with a Lock-Top chimney damper!
What is a Lock-Top Chimney damper?
A Lock-Top chimney damper is an amazing damper that eliminates up to 90% of heating and cooling loss that is currently happening with your current damper. The Lock-Top chimney damper has many benefits, which includes:
- Eliminates downdrafts
- Keeps moisture out of your chimney
- Prevents animals from entering your chimney
- Eliminates heating and cooling costs
- Prevents deterioration of bricks
- Works for each season, year-round
- Tight seal
- Easy to use
The Lock-Top damper is a necessity for homeowners. Heating and cooling costs are rising daily, and you can’t afford to lose any of your energy through your chimney. The Lock-Top’s seal is extremely tight. There isn’t metal-to-metal contact, but a rubber gasket is added to provide the sealing that you need and expect. One of the best features is it is so easy to open, unlike the traditional dampers. You just give a slight tug on the handle, and it opens. Add another slight tug, and the damper closes. How easy is that? No more turning or sticking your head in the chimney to see if the damper is open or closed.
Where to get the Lock-Top Damper?
If you are interested in having the Lock-Top damper installed in your home, then you should call Safeside Chimney. Only professional chimney providers are able to sell the damper. Why? It takes a qualified professional chimney technician to install it because it has to be sized accurately, then installed, for the Lock-Top damper to work properly. Give Safeside Chimney a call today for a Lock-Top chimney damper. There are too many benefits with this damper for you not to call us!
Prevent Fires in Your Chimney
Having your chimney cleaned annually will prevent fires in your chimney. Soot, creosote and debris can collect in your chimney, which is some of the main reasons that a fire can start in your chimney. Having a clean chimney will keep your fireplace operating properly and effectively.
What is creosote?
Creosote is black or brown in appearance, and can be flaky along with having a sticky tar-like appearance. The creosote can be shiny and hard, depending on the length of time it has been in the chimney. The danger of creosote in a chimney is that it is highly combustible. The smoke, gases and tar minerals that come from the wood being burned in the fireplace goes up the chimney, but when these particles begin to stick to the chimney walls, this is creosote forming.
Debris
Debris come in many forms. It can be leaves and twigs that have blown into a chimney, because the current chimney cap is faulty or there is no chimney cap. It also consists of bird nests, raccoons and squirrels in the chimney. Animals are drawn to the chimney when it isn’t being used, because it is dark, private and warm. These type of debris can cause blockage, which can cause a fire.
Chimney Inspection
Having your chimney inspected at least once a year, prior to the heating season can determine if there is creosote buildup or debris in the chimney. The chimney inspection allows the chimney technician to examine the chimney for any cracks or damages too. If there is any creosote or debris present, then the chimney technician will remove and clean the chimney, then repair or replace the chimney cap, so your chimney is in good working condition for the winter season.
It is important to have your chimney inspected and cleaned. It will keep your family safe from any chimney fires along with providing your home with a safe and comfortable source of heating. Give Safeside Chimney a call today and schedule your annual chimney inspection and cleaning. Get in the habit of doing this once a year, so your chimney is always safe.
For more information on our chimney services, click here!
Save Money with Lyemance Top-Sealing Damper
Save Money with Lyemance Top-Sealing Damper
Are you tired of paying high heating and cooling costs? Is your current fireplace damper old, worn out, and allowing your heating and cooling to escape through the chimney? You’re not alone. If your current damper has not been updated with the Lyemance Top-sealing damper, then your current damper is costing you money.
Traditional fireplace dampers don’t seal tightly. Their sealing is metal to metal contact. There is nothing between the metal to stop leaks. They are also a pain to deal with. You have to crank and crank to open and close the damper, and many times homeowners are looking up the chimney to see if the damper is open or closed.
The Lyemance Top-sealing damper eliminates 90% of all winter and heating loss. It also eliminates downdrafts along with keeping animals from entering the chimney. Moisture is eliminated, which provides a stable and durable chimney. There is a silicone rubber gasket provided with the Lyemance damper, which eliminates the metal on metal sealing. This is why homeowners get the 90% energy leak protection with this damper.
Energy costs are outrageous, and the utility companies keep getting raise after raise. This is why it is essential to have the Lyemance damper as a major part of your chimney. This damper will pay for itself in no time at all!
Where to get the Lyemance Top-sealing damper?
The only place that a homeowner can get the Lyemance Top-sealing damper is through a chimney company provider. The reason that you can’t just purchase the damper yourself is it has to be sized to fit your chimney exactly, then installed by a certified chimney professional. Don’t let this scare you. It is quite affordable. There is lifetime warranty that comes with the Lyemance damper, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing a new one every other year.
Safeside Chimney is the chimney professionals to call to have your Lyemance Top-selling damper installed. We are certified, experienced and qualified. Give us a call today and let us discuss the many benefits that the Lyemance damper can offer you and your home.
Waterproofing for Masonry Chimneys
Unfortunately, a masonry chimney can suffer damages from rain and snow. Many homeowners think that their brick masonry chimney is safe from moisture damage, but even strong, durable masonry stones often cause major chimney problems for homeowners. Snow and water get behind the masonry, then cause the bricks or stones to deteriorate, which cause them to crumble, crack and fall off the chimney. This isn’t just an unsightly appearance for the home, but can be a very costly repair if left unrepaired.
Waterproofing is available for masonry chimneys. It is an affordable way to protect your masonry from costly damages and repairs. The waterproofing will repair any small leaks, then provide a protection to the masonry, so no additional moisture can accumulate. Flashing is done along the masonry chimney, which blocks any type of rain or snow from entering, and leaving the masonry dry and stable. The liner is free from moisture too.
If there are cracks, leaks and loose bricks on the masonry, then these will all be repaired, then the waterproofing will be applied. Waterproofing is affordable, and can save homeowners a lot of money down the road on costly repairs from damaged chimneys and liners.
Safeside Chimney is the chimney company to call. Our technicians are highly qualified, trained and certified to do masonry waterproofing. This is a project that only certified chimney sweeps should perform. We offer a satisfaction guarantee on all work done. You don’t get this from any other company. Our technicians are always returning to undergo training, so they are always learning the latest technology available.
Safeside Chimney will keep your chimney sealed and waterproofed, so your chimney has a durable, stable and long life span. This is an investment that pays for itself in no time at all. Give Safeside Chimney a call today and let us inspect your chimney to make sure it is free from all moisture and leaks today.
Proper Care of Your Chimney
To keep your home safe and warm each year, then giving your chimney the proper care will ensure that. Proper care of your chimney is very important. It should be done each year. It can prevent harmful carbon monoxide from entering your home as well as possibly a fire occurring.
There are many advantages of having a fireplace and wood stove, but they have to have the proper care done to them as well. The first thing that should be done before the winter months is to have the chimney inspected. The inspection will make sure there are no obstructions or cracks in the chimney. The inspection will also make sure that everything is up to code and ready to be used. The inspector will clean the chimney removing any creosote that has formed. If the creosote isn’t removed, then it will continue to form and causing your fireplace or woodstove to not perform correctly and accurately.
After the inspection and cleaning is performed, then homeowners will have to do other things for the proper care of the chimney. When you are discarding your ashes, then make sure the ashes are put into a metal container also make sure the ash isn’t still hot when you are doing this.
Keep furniture and items away from the fireplace or woodstove. You want to keep at least three feet away. This will keep your home safe from any fires due from items that are too close to the fireplace or woodstove.
Burning firewood that has been seasoned in your stove or fireplace. Never burn newspaper or any type of treated wood in your fireplace. This is best for your fireplace, chimney and home. Having a hearth on your fireplace will also keep sparks from coming out of the fireplace. This is important to have and to use.
Having a fireplace or woodstove is great in many ways, but using the proper care of the chimney will keep them running properly. This will also keep your home and family safe.
More Resources on Chimney care.
Why Use a Certified Chimney Professional?
The chimney on your home is a main component of your home. The chimney keeps your home warm and is like the heart of your home. The care and upkeep on your chimney should require a certified chimney professional. You wouldn’t hire a dentist to perform heart surgery on you, would you? Having a healthy chimney will keep your family healthy and safe and is why you should only trust a certified chimney professional.
What does a certified chimney professional offer that other chimney repairmen don’t?
The certified professional are trained in all aspects of the chimney. They are also taught the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The certified technician knows and performs the latest techniques to offer high quality work for the most affordable price. There are codes that each state much abide by and certified technicians not only know the codes, but follow them as well. These codes are important to keep your home and family safe.
The proper installation and repairs should be done by a certified chimney professional. The physics are taught to certified technicians. The physics allow the technician to understand the creosote deposits and formation for different wood and wood burning. When a trained and certified technician understands the physics end of the creosote, then they can repair problems correctly that a chimney may have.
Continuing education is done by certified professionals.
The continuing education will allow them to know new codes that the government has applied. The continued education will also teach the technician of new equipment that can be used for repairs and maintenance of the chimney.
How do you know the chimney company that you want to hire is certified?
The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) should be proudly displayed on their website and in their store. If you don’t see the certification, then ask the company. Any company that is certified will proudly show their customers their certificate.
Never leave the heart of your home to amateurs. Only let certified chimney professionals provide the work or repairs to your chimney. It can be a life or death decision.
