Chimney Care Company's Blog
Off-season chimney sweeping
When most people plan out their annual home maintenance schedule, their annual chimney sweeping and inspection is automatically planned for the fall, just before the start of the fire-burning season. That doesn’t have to be the case! In fact, off-season chimney services — in the spring and summer — have many benefits.
Spot chimney damage early
Winter is hard on your chimney. Moisture, ice and low temperatures can cause cracks in your chimney’s structure and lead to water leaks in your chimney and into your home’s roofline. By having your chimney swept and inspected in spring or early summer, you can spot problems early. That gives you time to plan, schedule and execute needed chimney repairs during the time of year that you don’t plan to use your chimney. When you have your chimney inspected in the spring, you can be sure that you’ll have it ready for the next fire-burning season.
Protect your chimney from creosote
You know that creosote raises your risk of a chimney fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Creosote also carries another hazard: It is acidic in nature, which means that it can cause corrosion and damage to your fireplace and chimney materials when it is allowed to sit for a long period of time. Removing creosote from your chimney as soon as you’re done burning fires for the season reduces that amount of time that creosote can damage your chimney. When creosote sits in your chimney during the warm, humid summer months, it also can cause an unpleasant smell to fill your home. A chimney cleaning will keep you fireplace, chimney and home smelling fine.
Keep your home and family safe
Regardless of the time of year you schedule it, your annual chimney sweeping and inspection is crucial for keeping your home and family safe. Removing flammable creosote from your chimney drastically reduces your risk for a chimney fire. It also allows the smoke and gases from your fireplace to safely exit your home, cutting your family’s risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Avoid the rush
Because most people plan to have their chimneys swept in the late summer or early fall, that’s our busy season. When you schedule a spring or summer chimney sweeping, you can beat the rush. With a spring or summer cleaning, you’ll be able to schedule your sweeping quickly. And, if damage is found and repairs are needed, you won’t have to delay repairs because of scheduling. We’ll be able to address your chimney problems immediately.
If you prefer to be on top of your home maintenance, call The Chimney Care Co. to schedule your chimney sweeping and inspection today! You’ll reap all of the benefits of an off season chimney sweeping; you’ll be able to spot and address any needed repairs, keep your chimney safe from the damaging effects of creosote, keep your family safe from the dangers of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning, and you’ll beat the fall rush for chimney services.
Chimney caps: Is your chimney protected?
The top of your chimney opens to the outside, meaning it is fully exposed to all of the elements, debris and wandering animals. That is, unless your chimney is topped with a secure chimney cap in good repair.
About your chimney cap
Your chimney cap sits at the very top of your chimney. Usually attached by a metal cage, the chimney cap covers the opening of your chimney’s flue. Chimney caps come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials. Chimney caps serve a variety of functions.
Because they serve as a rooftop to your chimney, they prevent water from pouring down the walls of your flue and damaging your chimney liner, firebox, damper and chimney doors. Chimney caps play such a vital role in protecting your chimney system from water, the Chimney Safety Institute of America has dubbed them the cheapest and most effective way to protect your chimney from water damage.
Chimney caps also keep animals and debris out of your chimney. Without a chimney cap, leaves and branches can make their way into your flue, as can nesting animals or wayward birds. Blocked chimneys can cause many problems. They can force smoke and carbon monoxide back into your home. They can pose a fire risk. Animals that become trapped can cause an unpleasant smell and can require professional removal.
Chimney caps also can withstand high winds and help prevent strong bursts of wind from forcing their way down your chimney, chilling your home and potentially filling it with smoke. A chimney cap that is surrounded by fine wire mesh can help keep your rooftop safe. Without the mesh, burning embers can jump out of your flue and pose a fire hazard to your rooftop.
Determining whether you need a new chimney cap
Most chimney caps are made from copper or stainless steel. They are durable, and many come with lifetime warranties. Chimney caps can become disrupted or dislodged. Your chimney sweep should examine your chimney cap during your annual cleaning and inspection to make sure your chimney cap is free from any damage and firmly in place. You also may determine that you need a new chimney cap if you’ve noticed rust running down the sides of your chimney, or water or debris making its way into your flue.
If you need a new chimney cap, The Chimney Care Company can help. Our chimney experts can inspect your current chimney cap and chimney and provide you with your chimney cap options. We offer chimney caps in different metals, different sizes and different styles. You can choose a chimney cap that blends seamlessly into your chimney or one that adds style to your roofline. If you need a new chimney cap, or feel your chimney cap needs to be inspected, call us today!
Protect your chimney with waterproofing
Your chimney is out there to face all of the elements. Weather, particularly moisture, can be incredibly damaging to your chimney. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America has dubbed water a chimney’s worst enemy and encourages homeowners to do all they can to protect their chimneys from moisture. At The Chimney Care Co., we recommend our customers consider waterproofing to help protect their chimneys — and their homes — from water damage.
Water’s damaging effects on your chimney
The biggest danger from water comes as a result of the freeze-thaw cycle. When water hits the sides of your chimney, weather from rain, snow or ice, your chimney’s porous masonry soaks up some of that water. When temperatures drop, the water inside the chimney’s walls freezes and expands, causing cracking and crumbling. Over time, the constant freezing and thawing of the water inside your chimney’s masonry can break down your chimney’s structure and compromise your chimney’s ability to contain flames, heat and smoke.
Moisture can damage your chimney and fireplace in other ways, as well. Water that finds its way into your flue can mix with creosote and cause an unpleasant smell to fill your home. The water also can lead to rusted dampers, fireplace doors and dampers, or cracked flue tiles. If the water seeps into your home’s structure, it can cause damage to your home, including stained ceilings, sagging wallboard and rotting joists.
How waterproofing can protect your chimney
One of the most effective ways to protect your chimney is with a waterproofing treatment. A waterproofing application prevents your chimney’s masonry from soaking in nearly 100 percent of water. At the same time, it allows your chimney’s masonry to “breathe,” so any moisture doesn’t become trapped in the chimney’s walls, and the smoke and gases from your fireplace can still exit your chimney normally. Most chimney waterproofing applications come with a five to 10 year guarantee for protecting your chimney.
Other ways to protect your chimney
There are other steps you should be taking to keep water from damaging your chimney and fireplace. As part of your annual chimney sweeping and inspection, you should ask your chimney sweep about the state of three important chimney components.
A secure chimney cap prevents water from flowing down your chimney’s flue. A properly formed chimney crown that is free from cracks or damage helps protect the outer walls of your chimney from precipitation and directs water away from your chimney’s opening. You also will want to check your chimney’s flashing — the metal barrier around your chimney’s base — to make sure it isn’t corroded or cracked.
If you’re concerned about water’s effects on your chimney, or if you’ve noticed early signs of water damage, call the chimney experts at The Chimney Care Co. We can talk to you about waterproofing and other ways to protect your chimney from water damage. We also can inspect your chimney for signs of water damage and help you detect and repair any problems.
Have a Chimney Inspected Before You Buy or Sell a Home
The Chimney Care Company has frequently told you how important it is to have your chimney professionally inspected annually to guarantee that your fireplace and chimney system operates correctly and safely. The average annual chimney inspection is generally the most basic Level 1 inspection, but if you are buying or selling a home, you should let us know this information when you schedule your appointment so that we can prepare to provide you with the more detailed Level 2 inspection. This level of inspection is also known as a real estate chimney inspection and will give more in-depth information about the fireplace and chimney system to assure everyone that everything functions properly. The chimney sweeps employed by our company are all certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), and this means they have been trained to perform the three different levels of inspections that were established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in its code NFPA 211, the Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances. Our sweeps can thoroughly examine the condition of your chimney no matter which level of inspection it needs.
Can you explain the differences between Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspections?
During a Level 1 chimney inspection from The Chimney Care Company, our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps examine all of the accessible parts of your chimney system, including the firebox, the flue, the chimney cap, and the chimney crown. To ensure nothing is causing the chimney system to function unsafely or inefficiently, our chimney sweeps look out for any problems, including cracks and gaps in the masonry and the liner, blockages of the flue, accumulations of creosote deposits, and rusting and corrosion. Everything involved in a Level 1 chimney inspection is also part of a Level 2 real estate chimney inspection. This level of inspection also includes an examination of the attic, basement, and crawl space. Our chimney sweeps will also address all proper clearances from combustible materials in a Level 2 chimney inspection.
Why would I need a Level 3 chimney inspection?
Whenever our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps find a possibly hazardous problem that needs a deeper inspection, a Level 3 chimney inspection will be recommended. In a Level 3, our sweeps will need to take a closer look at the less accessible areas of your chimney, and this may require us removing doors, drywall, and even parts of the chimney itself and using specialized tools and equipment. We understand that a Level 3 chimney inspection sounds destructive, but we want you to remember that safety is our top priority. You do not want to buy a home with an unsafe fireplace and chimney system. In order to resolve safety issues and hazardous situations, a Level 3 chimney inspection is necessary.
Are you buying or selling a home? Contact The Chimney Care Company to schedule an appointment for a Level 2 chimney inspection.
Spring Is Here – Get Your Chimney Cleaned and Inspected Now
NO MORE WAITING GAMES…
Most homeowners with a fireplace have been told about the importance of having their chimney system cleaned annually (or more often depending on how heavily they rely on it during heating season), and a large portion now acknowledge this importance and make an annual inspection and cleaning part of their yearly to-do list. Yet somehow chimney maintenance is de-prioritized until the colder weather begins setting in. Homeowners can then be seen scrambling to make their appointments so they can start using their fireplaces to keep warm at night. What many of these homeowners complain about, however, is the wait time involved between scheduling the appointment and actually having the work completed.
AVOID COSTLIER FUTURE REPAIRS…
They’re not overly excited about waiting a few days or weeks for their respective chimney service companies to be able to fit them into their schedule. Some homeowners, due to their impatience, will settle for a non-certified chimney company; in doing so, they may be saving a few dollars in upfront costs, but they could very well be spending a lot more down the road, as these fly-by-night sweeps could overlook a small issue that could have disastrous consequences for you and your family.
IF YOU DO NEED REPAIRS, THEY CAN BE COMPLETED QUICKLY
Chimney professionals are no doubt the busiest during the fall season. As the temperature drops, the fireplace begs to be used, but only when it is clean and ready. It might be a few weeks before a crew can get to your home, and if they find your chimney needs repairs, there can be more delays keeping you from using your fireplace. The spring and summer are the best times to get your chimney cleaned and inspected and allows plenty of time to address any repairs. Scheduling is usually easier as well as its kind of like getting your air conditioning serviced in winter.
DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE BEST…
Rather than settling for an untrained alternative simply because they can come service your chimney system a day or two sooner in October, why not call a reputable company during the warmer spring months to take care of all of your chimney system needs. Your chimney might be one of the farthest things from your mind when it’s no longer cold outside, but it can save you in the long run from lots of hassle and frustration.
A little planning and forethought can help to ensure that you receive your annual service from a reputable, certified company in a timely manner. Enjoy your fires this year with peace of mind. To make an appointment today, call us at 513-248-9600 or click here to schedule an appointment online.