The National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual inspection/cleaning of all chimneys for safety. Removing flammable creosote is one of the tasks the sweep will perform while servicing your chimney. Professional sweeps can tell by the "ring" of the brushes if you have a cracked flue tile that needs attention. During the cleaning, other areas that are checked for safety are your cap, flue, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper, firebox, exterior brick, flashing, and crown. If detected early, minor repairs can save you thousands of dollars. Our sweeps are also trained in detecting third-degree creosote glazing and helping to correct the cause of it.

The most recent figures from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission indicate that there are over 29,100 chimney/solid fuel-related fires annually in America. A chimney fire happens when the creosote deposited inside the chimney ignites. When this happens, it is usually associated with a loud roaring sound, like an aircraft taking off or a train running through your living room. This is due to the tremendous amount of air rushing into your fireplace, which produces a blast furnace effect. A chimney fire can produce temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt mortar and spew flaming balls of creosote out of your chimney like a volcano. Some people have limited chimney fires, just burning up one side of the flue, sounding like the howling wind outside. Many times, this will crack the clay flue liner, leaving the homeowner in a more vulnerable situation should a second chimney fire occur. A common occurrence is a resulting structure fire transmitted through the brick from the intense heat.

Powders and potions have been around for over twenty years and claim to reduce or eliminate creosote in the chimney. Our field observations of homeowners who try these chemicals have shown that not only do they not eliminate creosote, but some are causing severe damage to the chimney interior. We have seen homeowners burning aluminum cans, potato peelings, and even chicken droppings. These methods not only do not eliminate creosote, but they also produce caustic acid when burned and deposited on the inside of your chimney. Be wary of anything boasting all-natural ingredients. In most cases, this means sodium chloride (table salt) being deposited in your flue. Salt mixed with humidity and moisture spells disaster both for masonry and metal interiors of chimneys, much like salt on your sidewalks in the wintertime.

The most common type of wood to order from this area of the country is mixed hardwoods, followed by birch. Birch is less popular than softer wood and will burn twice as fast as mixed hardwoods, producing twice as much creosote. The most important thing is to burn well-seasoned wood. Wood should be cut and split and left to dry for 12 months. Then, it should be stored with a cover over the top with the sides left open for air circulation. Avoid pine because of its high-pitch content, and never burn cardboard, plywood, Christmas wrapping, treated, or painted wood. The smokier the fire you have, the more creosote you deposit in your chimney.

You may have noticed little bat-like creatures living in your chimney during the months when it is not in use. These birds are often confused with bats because of their jerky flight but are completely harmless Chimney Swifts. These tiny little birds migrate from South America during the Spring and leave the northeast around early November, just as the cold weather starts. Chimney Swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This Federal Law prohibits the Removal of any migrating bird without a federal permit. In addition to the prohibited Removal, these migratory birds always return to the same nesting spots year after year; therefore, if you had a nest in your chimney last year, you could expect the flock to return this year. If you do not want the birds to return to your home, preventative measures must be taken within the proper window of time. On the other hand, if you would like to provide a home for these birds, it is best to learn ways to help them find and enjoy your home. The most effective way to prevent these birds from re-nesting is to have a chimney cap installed.

The culprit that smells up your home through your chimney is creosote. Creosote is a natural by-product of burning fuel, especially wood. When the weather is humid and warm, the creosote odor gets more robust. Of course, chimney cleaning will resolve much of the smelly chimney problem, but only sometimes wholly. Odor-neutralizing agents like baking soda or kitty litter put into the fireplace can help, but often, a deodorizing agent must be spread into the chimney. Of course, the smell could also be the culprit of a dead animal in the flue.

The fact that you have these odors may also indicate that your venting system is drawing too much air down the chimney (downdraft) or that your damper may be defective. Several structural defects can appear, such as a smelly chimney, so we always advise a thorough inspection to determine the root cause.

A chase cover is a metal cover that fits over your chimney chase (on chimneys with wood, metal, or vinyl siding) to prevent water from entering the chimney. The chase cover must be installed properly so that water runs off the chase cover. Its appearance from the ground is like that of a shoebox top.

A chimney cap sits on top and in the center of your chimney flue. Chimney caps may seem unnecessary however, animals nesting, sparks and embers escaping, and moisture getting in and damaging your chimney are the main reasons to have an adequate chimney cap installed.

The chimney crown, which can also be referred to as a chimney wash, is a large slab that covers the top opening of a masonry chimney. The chimney crown covers the entire top of the chimney. Chimney crowns may be made of concrete or stone. Over time, the chimney crown deteriorates due to weather and age. As the crown often cracks under these circumstances, it is necessary to repair or resurface the crown to keep water and debris from entering the chimney flue.