Chimney Care Company's Blog

What to do about your smoking chimney

When you light a fire in your fireplace, you know the smoke is supposed to flow up and out of your chimney. One of the most common chimney problems is the failure of the chimney to draft properly, causing smoke to flow backward into the home. A smoking chimney can seem like a major problem, but there are many potential causes.

Cold chimney

If you notice your chimney smoking infrequently, and only in cold weather, the cold air could be to blame. Cold temperatures outside can cause cold, dense air to fill the chimney, particularly if the chimney is located on an exterior wall. When a fire is lit, the cold air can prevent smoke from rising out of the chimney. Fortunately, this problem can be fixed easily by preheating your chimney.

Faulty damper

You’re probably familiar with your damper’s operation; you open it each time you light a fire and close it when your fireplace isn’t in use to block any cold air from entering your home. Dampers are made from metal components that can rust or warp over time, hindering their operation. A damper that isn’t opening fully can prevent smoke from rising out of the chimney.

Down drafts

If you notice your chimney smoking on windy days, a down draft could be to blame. When wind strikes your chimney, it can force the air downward and force smoke back into your home. The good news is that this can be an easy fix: Often a sturdier chimney cap can block strong winds from making their way down your chimney.

Blocked chimney

If your chimney is obstructed, smoke won’t be able to exit your home. Chimneys can be blocked by bird or animal nests, or by an accumulation of leaves, twigs or other debris. If your chimney is overdue for a cleaning, a buildup of creosote can block the flue and force smoke back into your home.

Lack of oxygen

If your fire isn’t getting enough fuel to burn hot and fast, it won’t be able to direct smoke up the chimney. When a fire burns, it pulls in oxygen from the room, then the hot air and smoke are drawn up the chimney. If your fire isn’t able to pull enough air from your home to burn efficiently, the smoke won’t rise up the chimney quickly enough and will enter your home. Other appliances operating near the fireplace, like furnaces, stove hoods or bathroom fans, can inhibit the flow of oxygen to your fireplace. You also can open a window to help supply more cold air to your fireplace.

Improper chimney construction

Occasionally, improper chimney construction is to blame for a smoking chimney. If a chimney is too short or too small, too wide or too narrow, smoke won’t draft properly. Too many angles in a chimney can interfere with smoke’s path up and out of a chimney.

The only way to know for sure what is causing your chimney to smoke is to call a professional chimney sweep to inspect your chimney and evaluate your chimney’s draft. If you need to address a smoky chimney, call the experts at The Chimney Care Co. to schedule an appointment 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.

The dangers of carbon monoxide

During the cold winter months, your primary concern likely is keeping your home and family warm. But the same appliances that keep your home cozy can pose a danger to you and your family: carbon monoxide. More than 200 people die in the United States each year from carbon monoxide poisoning. An additional 4,000 people are hospitalized each year, and 20,000 visit the emergency rooms suffering the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

To keep your family safe, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and causes of carbon monoxide poisoning, what to do if you suspect that the levels of carbon monoxide are dangerous within your home and how you can prevent dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Causes of carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of combustion. That means it is produced by any burning appliance in your home, including furnaces, fireplaces, heating stoves, clothes dryers and space heaters. When those appliances aren’t vented properly — due to improper installation, damage to the ventilation system or dirty or clogged vents — carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels in your home. This buildup can be exacerbated by our focus on energy efficiency. Newer homes are built to be more air tight to conserve energy. Owners of older homes often “weatherproof” to prevent drafts. While that efficiency prevents warm air from escaping our homes, it also means that carbon monoxide put off by a faulty appliance can’t escape the home.

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be subtle. Often described as flulike, those symptoms include mild headaches, dizziness and fatigue. As carbon monoxide levels increase in the blood, however, those symptoms can become more severe. At more advanced stages, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause confusion, disorientation, nausea, weakness, blurred vision and loss of consciousness. If anyone in your home begins to suffer these symptoms, your home should be evacuated, and that person should be taken to the hospital immediately. If left untreated, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage, organ failure or death.

Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning

The best way to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning is through the regular maintenance and inspection of fuel-burning appliances. It’s recommended that your chimney, clothing dryer, heating stove, fireplace and furnace should be cleaned and inspected by a professional each year. When your appliances and vents are serviced, your technician will clear any debris from the vents, and inspect the appliance and duct work for any malfunctions, clogs or damage. Freestanding appliances, such as generators or space heaters, should never be run in unventilated rooms.

Even with annual cleaning and maintenance, it’s important to exercise precautions against carbon monoxide. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that carbon monoxide detectors be installed on each level of a home and outside sleeping areas. The batteries in those detectors should be tested regularly. Everyone within the home should know what to do if those detectors go off: Evacuate the home and call 911.

If you’re concerned about your home’s carbon monoxide risk, The Chimney Care Co. can help. We clean, inspect and repair chimneys, stoves, fireplaces and dryer vents. Schedule an appointment to keep your family safe today!

Why do I Need a New Chimney Cap?

Chimney caps are a lot like the topper on a Christmas tree, with one glaring difference—a chimney cap is much more than decoration. They’re vital organs to a chimney that should be well taken care of and replaced when needed. Chimney caps come in many different designs, shapes and sizes. Just choosing the right one can be a chore sometimes. They’re generally made out of some kind of metal, whether it’s copper, stainless steel or galvanized steel. Some are better quality than others, and some look better than others. No matter which type of chimney cap you have, however, it should be inspected regularly and replaced when necessary.

WHEN TO INSPECT YOUR CHIMNEY CAP

Inspection of the chimney cap should occur right alongside your annual chimney inspection. If the cap becomes clogged with creosote or begins to come loose from the chimney, it can hinder the proper functioning of the chimney and/or allow unwanted things inside your chimney. Pay close attention to the following during cap inspections:

You’ll need to see how securely the cap is attached to the structure. Generally speaking, caps that are screwed into the chimney crown coming loose should not be much of a problem. However, if not installed correctly using the appropriate masonry screws, the screws may begin to slowly back themselves out over time. As a result, the chimney cap may need to be re-secured via the correct methods and materials.
• You’ll need to check the assembly of the chimney cap. Over time, whether it’s due to the weather, the heat of the chimney or animals, parts of the chimney cap may begin loosening. The metal top of the cap could have warped over the years and could be pulling away from the sides. If this is the case, it should be repaired or replaced. Sometimes, tightening or adding screws may also fix the problem.
• You’ll need to ensure that the metal mesh is in good shape. Just because it’s there to keep birds and animals out doesn’t mean they won’t still try to get in. Hopefully, the mesh will be in good shape when one of your friendly neighborhood squirrels starts tugging at it. If not, it’ll eventually work its way in to the chimney liner. Also, creosote buildup can occur on the mesh, which can limit the airflow and hinder the chimney draft.
• You’ll need to check for rust. This shouldn’t be an issue with stainless steel or copper caps, however, the galvanized steel caps, which are of lower quality, will eventually begin to rust. These caps are usually treated with heat-resistant paint to hinder rusting, but the paint will eventually start to crack and peel, thereby enabling rust to set in. The best thing to do in this instance is to replace the chimney cap altogether, preferably with a stainless steel variety.

WHEN TO HAVE YOUR CHIMNEY CAP REPLACED

If the mesh on the cap is heavily clogged or separating from the rest of the cap, the entire cap should be replaced. The mesh is one of the most important parts and should be kept in excellent condition. You never know when an animal will attempt to get in there by pulling at it. If it’s weak, the animal will be successful and you’ll have to call an animal removal specialist to get it out. Any time you’ve had a chimney fire, the cap should be replaced. Chances are, it’ll be warped and damaged beyond repair, leaving you no choice but to replace it. If your cap is on a metal chimney liner, and you’ve had a chimney fire, you’ll have to replace the liner, too.

The chimney cap protects the upper opening of your chimney and prevents rainwater, debris and animals from entering. Inspect it regularly and, if necessary, don’t be hesitant to have it replaced by a certified chimney sweep. Your home is an investment, and those of us at Chimney Care Company want to help you protect that investment. Do your part to protect your home and family from the devastation of fire and structural compromise by keeping up with your annual maintenance service. For more information of to set up your appointment, please click here or call us at 513-248-9600. We look forward to serving you!

How to Select the Right Firewood

A burning question for many homeowners with fireplaces is which type of wood they should be using. There is no simple answer to this question, however, as the options available to you are quite numerous. Nevertheless, Chimney Care Company is here to help you make a more informed decision when the time comes. Our long-term customers know we’ll take care of them and you can rest assured that we’ll take care of you as well.

There are two basic types of firewood available to those with a wood-burning fireplace: softwood and hardwood.

QUICKER IGNITING FIRES WITH SOFTWOODS

Softwoods—pines, spruces and firs—start burning easily. Typically, these woods have less potential BTU [British Thermal Unit] energy than their hardwood counterparts. Softwoods also produce a much more significant amount of smoke. The one true advantage softwood has is that it lights very quickly because it’s less dense; this quality makes it an excellent choice for kindling for any fire; using it for anything beyond that is like sending your money straight up the chimney.

LONGER BURNING FIRES WITH HARDWOODS

Hardwoods—oaks, maples and cedars—on the other hand, don’t start burning quite as easily but burn for a long time, which makes them ideal for prolonged burns. Per square inch, when compared to softwoods, they have much more BTU potential than other types of wood and, therefore, burn hotter and more steadily for extended periods.

BETTER BURNING FIRES MARRY THE TWO TYPES OF WOOD

The easiest and best fire is built by using a mixture of both softwoods and hardwoods. A bed of ashes underneath the grate produces steady heat and aids in igniting new fuel as it‘s added. This will ensure that the fire will continue burning as long as small amounts of wood are added at regular intervals. As a matter of fact, more efficient wood burning results from burning small loads of wood with sufficient air than from burning large loads of wood with minimal air.

MORE EFFICIENT FIRES WITH SEASONED WOOD

It’s also important to season your firewood, whether it’s hard or soft, as all of it contains moisture. Seasoning takes place when the moisture content in the wood reaches equilibrium with that of the surrounding air. A common method of seasoning wood is simply stacking it outdoors in a spot that allows for good air circulation and is dry, sunny and open for approximately six months out of the year. Seasoning in this manner will produce wood that is dry enough to support efficient combustion and has a higher heating value than unseasoned wood.

For the most part, it is far more important that your firewood is dry and seasoned; the particular type of wood you’re burning is merely a secondary concern. Having both softwood and hardwood on hand is a good idea. You can use the softer woods for kindling and for fires during cooler months when only a small amount of heat output is desired and save the harder woods for the coldest months. Keeping these things in mind will make you a much happier homeowner and will make the cold months of the year much more enjoyable for you and your family.

Call Chimney Care Company today to have our professional chimney technicians take care of your fireplace.