Chimney Care Company's Blog

Take a Look Inside Our Storeroom

These days, it seems like buying a product is easier than ever. All it takes is a little research online and a click of a button and you can have a product delivered to your front door. This is great for some items, like clothes or books or toys, things that are easy to return if they don’t meet your expectations. But if you’re looking for a bigger item, then online purchasing just doesn’t make sense. Some items need to be examined and discussed, and you need to find the right place and personnel to get the product to meet your needs. If you’re looking at purchasing a new stove to enhance the heating process in your home, you definitely want to look the product over before making the purchase. If you live in Cincinnati or the surrounding area, the right place to make this purchase is Chimney Care Co.

Helpful Staff

Because our workers love stoves and all things heating, we make sure that we know all there is to know about our products so that we can answer any questions you may have. Our employees work hard to ensure that your purchasing experience is relaxed and enjoyable. No matter what you’re looking to purchase, you can be sure that we’ll help you find just the right thing, and if you’re not sure what the best appliance is, we can help you there, too. By asking a few questions, our knowledgeable staff can help you key in on exactly what you’ll need.

Many Items Available

We sell all types of heating appliances, so whether you’re looking at wood burning, gas, or pellet-burning appliances, you can find it here. We sell major best-selling stoves, like the Lopi Sturbridge Direct Vent Gas Stove or the Hearthstone Bennington Wood Stove. We also offer specials from time to time, so it’s always a good idea to check in frequently to see what those deals might be.

As well as selling these appliances, our expert staff is also trained in the installation process. We are Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified and a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Check out our other certifications as well, and you’ll know that you can count on us to make sure that everything is installed according to regulations and that your family will be safe and secure all winter long, enjoying the comforting ambiance of a crackling fire.

And stoves aren’t the only thing we sell. At Chimney Care Co., we also sell any of the items you’ll need to keep your fireplace up and running. If you’re looking for hearth cleaning supplies, this is the place to look. No matter what your chimney needs, we can make sure that those needs are filled. Now is a perfect time to add a heating appliance to your home, before the cooler weather of autumn is here. Give us a call soon or stop by our showroom and let us find you the appliance of your dreams!

We Offer Many Chimney Repair Services

Although a chimney probably seems like the strongest structure in your home, it can still be affected by the natural effects of weathering. Wind, hot sun, and precipitation can wreak havoc on this

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sturdy structure, and other things can as well. Other types of natural disasters can occur. At times, hurricane winds and precipitation from the east coast can reach as far as Ohio, and this can alter normal weather patterns. Tornadoes aren’t as likely, but can still occur. Flooding and forest fires don’t normally take place in Ohio, either, but they do sometimes happen. Most likely, though, is the possibility of severe ice and snow storms. When these things happen, your chimney can undergo major damage.

Interior Damage

When you hire Chimney Care Co., one thing we’ll check out is the interior of your chimney. We’ll be looking for creosote build-up and damage from an undetected chimney fire. Creosote is the natural by-product of smoke as it flows up the cool interior of your chimney. It is highly flammable and can easily catch a spark from your fire and cause a chimney fire. Although it may seem that you’d know if there was a chimney fire, most often they go undetected because there’s not enough oxygen in the chimney to make the fire get too big. If this is the case, your chimney or the chimney liner may have sustained some damage that needs to be repaired, and we are experts at fixing this type of damage.

We’ll also check for any interior damage to your fireplace or hearth. We’ll check the dampers and the firebox, and also the condition of any brickwork in the hearth. We’ll make sure that the smoke shelf is in good condition and that the ash pit is clear and not rusted.

Exterior Damage

We’ll also look at the exterior of your chimney to make sure that the structure is intact. We’ll check the condition of the brick and mortar, and the condition of the chimney crown and cap. The chimney crown should be crack and chip-free and the chimney cap should be rust-free and not dented or twisted so that your chimney and home stay leak-free. Another thing that keeps precipitation out of your home is the flashing. The flashing is the metal strips that are layered at the place where the chimney and the roof meet. This is a spot that is especially susceptible to leaks, and the layering of these strips direct precipitation away from it. The flashing can easily rust, become loose, or tear-away in the wind, and we’ll make sure it is in good condition and firmly attached.

Call Chimney Care Co. 

At Chimney Care Co., we specialize in all things chimney. We can make all the above-mentioned repairs, and can also take care of other things as well. We might suggest such repair work as tuckpointing or chimney sealing. No matter what the repair job, you can rest assured that we offer the top service in the area. If you’re looking for great chimney service, give us a call today.

What is Spalling?

There are so many unusual terms associated with chimney care and chimney repair and if you’re not in the business, it can be really confusing. What’s the difference between a chimney crown and a chimney cap? What is flashing and why is it so important? Why does your chimney need to be lined? What is efflorescence? Have you ever heard the term spalling? Well, it is important to know what is going on with your chimney and fireplace system, but when it comes right down to it, you can hire an actual chimney company to come in and take care of all these things for you. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that you have an inspection and sweeping on an annual basis. If you live in or around Cincinnati and you’re looking for a company that is best equipped to take care of all your chimney needs, give Chimney Care Co. a call today.

Spalling

If you take a look at your chimney and notice that there’s a lot of little white specks laying around on the ground, you probably have a condition called spalling. This means that there is a problem with your bricks. Bricks are porous, and if water gets under the surface, it can cause the surface to pop, flake, or peel off. This causes a weakening of the brick, and can cause an overall instability in the structure of the chimney. Obviously, this is a condition that you want to avoid. It can also cause bricks to crack and chip. Because the chimney’s job is to keep dangerous chemicals in smoke out of the house, these cracks and chips can cause major damage or even health issues for your family members and pets.

What To Do

If we discover spalling when we come in for your inspection, we’ll probably recommend that we do some brick replacement. This involves removing the damaged bricks, clearing out the opening to get out the dirt and dust, and then reapplying new, fresh mortar to the new brick and replacing it in the opening. Although this process seems uncomplicated, it is actually best left to the qualified professionals at Chimney Care Co. We have the experience and the expertise to do the job right, and we can make sure that the new mortar matches the existing mortar and that your chimney looks as good as new. Your chimney will be strong and secure and able to perform its function in no time.

Hire CSIA Certified Pros

It’s important to know that the professionals that you are hiring are properly certified and trained. The top certification in the industry is from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), and this is one of the certifications we have. We are also members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, National Fire Protection Association, and the Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association. All of these associations offer top-notch education and training opportunities, so you know we can do any repair your chimney needs. Give us a call soon and we’ll have your chimney in great working order before autumn hits!

What is a chimney damper?

Are you new to using a fireplace and wondering exactly how things work? Fortunately, fireplaces are fairly easy appliances to work. One thing you will need to learn about is your chimney damper.

What is a chimney damper?

A chimney damper is a small flap of metal at the base of your chimney flue. The flap sits within the seal. When the fireplace is in use, the damper is opened with a lever or chain to let smoke out. When the fireplace isn’t in use, the damper is closed to seal off the chimney opening.

Why are chimney dampers necessary?

Chimney dampers help your fireplace operate more efficiently. Without a chimney damper, the warm air from your home would flow freely up and out of your home through your chimney flue. Cold bursts of air also could blow down your chimney to chill your home. A chimney damper helps protect your home-heating bills by blocking off your chimney opening when your fireplace isn’t in use.

How do you use a chimney damper?

There’s not much to knowing how to use a chimney damper. Before you light a fire in your fireplace, open your chimney damper so that smoke can escape from your fireplace. After your fires have stopped burning, you will want to close your chimney damper to prevent air exchange through the chimney. Before closing your damper, you will want to be sure that your fire has completely stopped burning; if embers are still smoldering, your closed damper will prevent smoke and carbon monoxide from escaping your home. There are several different types of chimney dampers, and how you open and close your chimney damper will depend on your exact type of chimney damper. Some dampers are opened and closed by pulling a chain. Others have a lever or knob that is pushed and pulled to open and close.

How can you get more from your chimney damper?

Not all chimney dampers are created equally. When new fireplaces and chimneys are installed, they have a throat chimney damper. These dampers have a metal-on-metal closure that doesn’t form a tight seal. On top of that, they can rust or warp over time, making them difficult to open and close. While throat dampers are better than no dampers, they don’t completely prevent warm air from exiting your home or cold air from bursting down the chimney. So how can you get a better performance from your chimney damper? Have a top-sealing chimney damper installed. Top-sealing dampers are installed at the top of your chimney flue. They feature rubber gaskets to create a tight, complete seal when closed. Top-sealing dampers can help lower your home energy bills by preventing warm air from exiting your chimney.

If you are having problems with your chimney damper, call the Chimney Care Co. We can inspect your existing chimney damper, and if it’s due for replacement, we can outfit your chimney with a new, more efficient top-sealing chimney damper.

Chimney inspections for real estate

Summer is the home-buying season. For homebuyers, fireplaces are among the most sought-after amenities. A fireplace certainly adds warmth, comfort, and beauty to your home. However, if you are buying a home with a fireplace, there are a few things you need to beware of. A real estate chimney inspection should be part of your home-buying process, and there is a good reason for this. At Chimney Care Co, we offer this service to homebuyers to ensure you have a smooth home buying process.

How do chimney inspections fit in with home inspections?

Every homebuyer knows the importance of having a home inspection before they close the home to identify any safety issues or potential problems with the new home. While home inspectors are thorough, their inspections don’t include an in-depth look at fireplaces and chimney. They may ignite a gas fireplace and open and close a damper to see if they are functional, but they won’t perform an overall inspection to ensure that the fireplace and chimney are safe for use. That’s why it is recommended to have your chimneys and fireplaces inspected by certified chimney technicians as part of real estate transactions.

What does a real estate chimney entail?

For real estate transactions, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends having chimneys undergo a Level 2 chimney inspection. During a Level 2 chimney inspection, the chimney technician will inspect all visible portions of the chimney from above and below. They will inspect all accessible portions of the chimney by visiting crawl spaces and attic spaces and by removing any access panels to allow for a view of the chimney.

Finally, the chimney technician will insert a specialized closed-circuit camera up the chimney to inspect the health of the chimney liner and all chimney joints to ensure that the chimney is safe for use. Your chimney technician will inspect all seals and working components of your fireplace so you are sure that your new fireplace is safe and efficient to heat your new home.

Who can you call for a real estate chimney inspection?

When you are buying a new home, it’s important to have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a chimney sweep who is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. In and around the greater Cincinnati area, homebuyers can turn to the Chimney Care Co. for their real estate chimney inspections!

The Chimney Care Co. is CSIA certified to provide comprehensive chimney inspections to assure you of the safety of your new fireplace. A real estate chimney inspection from our team will include photos and videos and a complete written report noting any defects or problems of the chimney and fireplace. We also include recommendations for repairs for your fireplace and chimney so it can safely heat your home.

If you are buying a new home in southwestern Ohio or northeastern Kentucky — Congratulations! If your new home has a chimney, be sure to schedule your Level 2 chimney inspection with the Chimney Care Co. so you can be confident that the fireplace and chimney in your new home are up to par. Call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule your Level 2 chimney inspection today!