Chimney Care Company's Blog
Why Does My Chimney Stink?
Stinky chimney problem? Hold your breath no more! Call us and say goodbye to that stench in your chimney.
Chimney odor problems may be attributed to a variety of different things, the most notable of which come from creosote deposits — a natural byproduct of burning wood — inside your chimney. The odors are usually worse in the summer when the humidity is high, on rainy days, and/or when your air conditioner is running. A visit from a CSIA-certified chimney sweep can help eradicate these unwelcome odors from your home!
The Root of the Problem Lies Beneath the Surface
Due to the nature of the porous masonry construction inside your chimney, creosote impregnates its smell deep beyond the masonry’s surface. A chimney sweep will remove the surface buildup of creosote to limit the possibility of a chimney fire; however, the odors that have absorbed into the masonry itself are still left behind. How can you keep the smell out of your house? The answer to this question should come as no surprise.
Don’t Let the Draft Problems get You Down
The real problem is air coming down the chimney, a symptom of overall pressure problems. Normally, as long as the draft is working correctly and there is no negative airflow in the home, the inherent smells will remain in the chimney. Upon closer inspection, in the event that your chimney has developed a drafting problem, the intruding air brings the chimney odors right along with it as it comes down your flue. It’s likely that your chimney is just the victim of a negative pressure problem. A quick solution to the negative air pressure issue is to simply crack a window at all times to let the pressure change through the window rather than the chimney.
Is Your Chimney’s Odor Putting a Damper on the Mood?
For a more permanent approach to keeping the smell that’s exuding from your chimney’s masonry inside the chimney and away from your nose, you need to limit the amount of air that’s able to come down your chimney and into your house in the first place. Closing your throat damper is a good start, however, the metal-on-metal closure here is anything but airtight. A top-sealing damper can help to minimize the airflow and accompanying unpleasant odors from coming down your chimney. In addition to limiting the airflow problems, the top-sealing damper will keep rainwater and moisture out as well.
There’s never a bad time to have your chimney inspected. Chimney sweeps are available year round to inspect and clean your entire chimney system. Why allow these smells to become a problem if you don’t have to? As soon as you first notice unpleasant odors coming from your fireplace, contact the chimney professionals at The Chimney Care Company right away. To schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 513-248-9600 or fill out our online appointment request form. We appreciate your business and look forward to helping you keep your family safe and warm for years to come!
All About Liners
The masonry on the outside of your chimney is protected by a flue liner. Over the life of your chimney, the liner may need to be replaced or repaired.
Extending the Life of Your Chimney
Extending the Life of Your Chimney
Have you ever wondered if it was possible to maintain your chimney so well, that it could last for decades? With regular maintenance, it is certainly possible. We will give you tips and ideas on how to get your chimney to perform better and to last for a very long time. Call Chimney Care today.
Water is your chimney’s biggest enemy. A chimney cap can divert water away and keep your performance high.
The biggest secret in extending the life of your chimney is to make sure that you maintain the vital parts inside and protect it from water and from different kinds of obstructions. Maintenance includes regular cleaning and also repairing or replacing parts if the need arises. Sure it might cost quite a bit, but anyone would rather be safe than sorry when these minor damages cause major accidents.
First off, note that water is one of the biggest enemies against your chimney because it slowly, but surely, destroys the structure of the chimney. That’s why one of the major keys to extending the life of your chimney is to keep water out. Here are some of our recommendations:
Waterproofing
Have one of our chimney specialists apply a waterproofing sealant in the brick walls. This will prevent leaks and moisture from accumulating inside. Because where there is moisture, molds can inhabit and this will be a whole new health hazard for your home.
Chimney Cap and Chimney Crown
Having a chimney cap installed is very helpful. It will prevent animals and things from entering and destroying the inside of your chimney. The chimney crown’s function is to seal off the mortar bricks at the very top of the chimney so water can’t seep in through them and cause the bricks to slowly crumble.
Chimney Relining
One of the many parts that need ultimate protection is the chimney flue and liner. If in cases when damage has already been done, and the flue or flue liner already has cracks and holes, this needs to be fixed right away so that no backflow will happen. Backflow is when the smoke will enter your home instead of passing through your chimney. This is both unpleasant and very dangerous because everyone inside the home will be inhaling toxic byproducts of combustion, including the deadly gas, carbon monoxide. Chimney relining will solve this issue.
Extend the life of your chimney with Chimney Care. We have been proudly serving areas in the Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio, and in Kentucky. Call us to learn more.
Spring Checklist for Your Chimney
As days grew shorter and the weather got colder, many of us retreated indoors to the warmth of our homes and hearths. For those homeowners who made used their fireplace(s) during the colder months, spring is a great time to schedule a chimney inspection to make sure your chimney system is in good working order. If your assessment uncovers any issues that give you pause, call in a chimney professional to diagnose the problem before it gets big, expensive, and potentially dangerous. Deterioration of mortar joints, broken or spalled bricks, and water penetration are all signs that your chimney may need repair.
Homeowners who used their fireplace during the colder months should view spring as the perfect time to schedule an inspection to ensure their chimney system is in peak operating condition.
My Mortar is Crumbling
Open mortar joints and cracks in the mortar also cause water to penetrate your brickwork. A good repointing job, using proper materials, will enhance your chimney’s lifespan and will enhance its appearance, too. Repointing is far more than simply forcing some new mortar into your chimney’s cracks. The process requires different skills than traditional masonry, and even brick masons with years of masonry experience might not even have significant experience repointing chimneys.
My Bricks are Cracking and Breaking
Brick is known for its durability, but time and the elements can cause bricks to crumble or flake, a condition commonly referred to as spalling. Spalling is caused when the masonry absorbs too much moisture from rain/snow and is subjected to freeze/thaw cycles. Spalling bricks have cracks and breaks in the surface and often large, crater-shaped chips. The best way to avoid brick spalling is to eliminate the moisture. If the area around your chimney crown is cracked or the cap itself is defective, this allows water to seep into the brickwork below.
Water Penetration is Destroying my Chimney
Chimneys are notorious for leaking; the flashing is a common culprit of these leaks, as it lies at the point where the chimney rises above the roof. It keeps water out of the chimney, protecting both the flue and roof. Flashings are made from a variety of materials—aluminum, copper, galvanized steel, and/or tin. You’ll want to have new chimney flashing installed if yours is missing, rusted through, falling out, or completely covered with roofing tar (a common short-term fix that could be hiding a bigger problem).
An annual inspection of your chimney by a qualified chimney professional should include a thorough examination of the external structure to look for signs of deterioration or weakness, as well as a visual inspection of the flue inside your chimney to ensure that it’s in proper working order, too. The chimney professionals at The Chimney Care Company are fully prepared to meet all of your chimney inspection and repair needs. Give us a call or stop by our showroom today!
4 Reasons Why You Need a Chimney Cap
A chimney cap can protect and preserve your chimney for years to come. It’s a must-have for your chimney.
Look up. Do you see a cap atop that chimney of yours? If not, here’s why you need to fix that A.S.A.P.:
- To keep ice and water out. Without a cap, a masonry chimney will take on—and even absorb—a great deal of water, which is damaging not only to the chimney itself but to all components of the chimney and the areas around your chimney—your walls, floors, and ceilings. A wet chimney will also be a stinky chimney. Read more about why chimneys and water don’t mix here.
- To keep animals and insects out. Unless you love the incessant sounds of skittering and tweeting, infestations of insects and vermin, and the smells of dead animals, you will want a chimney cap to keep all living creatures out of your chimney. Animals, of course, make nests, too, which can impede the flow of air through your chimney, causing drafting problems, and become a fire hazard.
- To keep debris and trash out. Chimneys are known to become receptacles for whatever the wind carries—be it leaves and branches, trash, golf balls, etc.; you name it, we’ve found it there. These things might seem inconsequential, but they can cause blockages in your chimney that lead to fire, smoke damage, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
- To keep sparks and embers in. Chimney caps are equipped with wire mesh that won’t allow sparks and large burning embers to pass through, though toxic gases and smoke will be able to exit freely. You will want to keep sparks and embers inside your chimney so that they don’t catch anything adjacent to your chimney on fire.
New Chimney Caps and Chimney Cap Repairs
If you already have your masonry chimney capped, but have a cap that’s seen better days, we may be able to repair your existing cap. And if you do end up needing a new cap, we can make sure you have the correct replacement cap and that it is properly installed so that you’ll never have to worry about water getting into your chimney again.
If you have a prefabricated fireplace, your chimney cap is called a “chase top.” It’s important to know that not just any chase cover will do. Manufactured chimneys must have the proper manufacturer-specified chimney cap. The Chimney Care Co., which serves homeowners in Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio, and Northern Kentucky, can locate the correct chase cover or chimney cap for your chimney.