Chimney Care Company's Blog
We Offer More Than Just Chimney Care!
When you think of chimney care, you think about getting your chimney inspected and cleaned. Maybe you need your flashing replaced, or maybe your dampers are rusty and not closing completely. If you’re having smoke issues, give your chimney care professionals a call and they can fix that for you. But when you call the experts at Chimney Care Co., did you know that there are many other jobs we can do for you? There are many things that we can do that are associated with your chimney. We can fix your chimney crown or your flashing, or we can look into getting you a new chimney cap if yours is rusted or twisted. We can check out the condition of your chimney liner as well, and make sure that your chimney isn’t blocked. These are just a few of the things we’ll be looking at when we come in to do your chimney maintenance each year. We can take care of all of your chimney and fireplace needs, and we can take care of your dryer vents as well!
Dryer Vent Care
Just about every fireplace owner knows that it’s important to have their chimney inspected and cleaned on an annual basis. But did you know that it’s just as important to have your dryer vents cleaned out on an annual basis? Many people don’t realize that clogged dryer vents can be a cause of house fires. We think that just cleaning the lint screen from time to time is doing enough to keep the dryer vents clear, but this just isn’t the case.
How the Drying Cycle Works
When you put your clothes in the washing machine, tiny particles of the cloth will be pulled away from the clothes. This is perfectly normal. When your clothes get thrown in the dryer, the drum spins and the paddles inside the drum carry your clothes from the bottom to the top. From there, they fall back down to the bottom and are carried up again. Warm air is forced through the drum and dries the clothes as they fall. The tiny, loosened particles are blown through as well, and then out through the dryer vent and into the outside air. The air is filtered through the lint screen, which catches many of those tiny, loose particles. This makes up that blanket of lint that you pull out after every load or two. Unfortunately, not all these particles are caught, and those that sneak through go with the moist, warm air through the dryer vent. Some will stick to the vent on the way through, and that’s where the trouble starts As more and more particles stick, eventually, you can have a thick layer of lint lining the vents, and that blanket of lint is extremely flammable. Just one little spark and you could have a devastating house fire.
A house fire is the worst-case scenario, but this layer of lint can cause other problems as well. As your vents fill, it gets harder and harder for the warm air to get through. This causes a strain on the motor of your dryer, causing it to wear out faster than it should. It also means that it takes longer for your clothes to dry. If you find yourself running the dryer cycle for two or three times to get your clothes dry, it could very well mean that your dryer vents are full. These are the reasons that it is so important to have your dryer vents cleaned by the professionals at Chimney Care Co. at least annually, and more often if you notice that there is a problem with slow drying times.
Your Full-Service Chimney and Dryer Maintenance Company
If you’re looking for dryer vent cleaning or chimney care, the best place to turn is Chimney Care Co. Our technicians are fully trained to take care of any maintenance and repairs you may have when it comes to chimney care and dryer vent care, and we’ve received top service awards from Angie’s List, Home Advisor, and the Better Business Bureau. We are certified chimney sweeps and dryer exhaust technicians through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), which is the highest certification in the industry. This certification gives us access to all the latest education, training, and technologies offered. We stay on top of our trainings so that our customers get the best possible service available.
If you live in Ohio, you know what winter weather is really like. Don’t take chances when it comes to your family’s safety during those cold winter months. Make sure that both your chimney and your dryer are in the best and safest working conditions so that you don’t have to worry about a chimney or a dryer vent fire. We’re not happy until we know that all of our customers are safe and happy, so give us a call soon to set up an appointment to have those dryer vents cleaned!
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!
Summer is a great time to have your chimney cleaned and inspected!
Come summer, most homeowners forget about their fireplace and chimney. Then, as fall begins to chill the air, everyone rushes to schedule their annual chimney cleaning and inspection! However, don’t wait. For a variety of reasons, summer is a great time to schedule your chimney sweeping and inspection!
Take advantage of summer weather.
No homeowner likes to think about the possibility of chimney repairs. Having said that, one of the main purposes of your annual chimney sweeping and inspection is to spot repairs. Schedule your chimney cleaning and inspection for the summer. By doing this, you give yourself time for any repairs that might need to be made to your chimney. In fact, many masonry repairs can’t be performed in cold or damp weather and are ideally completed in the summer. This means that if damage is spotted during the fall, you might need to wait until spring to have the damage repaired. That could mean rendering your chimney unusable for an entire winter season! In addition, allowing damage to worsen as you wait for suitable weather for repairs.
Avoid a stinky chimney!
When you burn fires in your fireplace, creosote builds up within your chimney. During the cold winter months, you might not give much thought to creosote. Unfortunately, during the summer, creosote in your chimney mixes with hot, humid weather. This can make creosote stink like hot asphalt! By having your chimney cleaned in the summer, you can avoid having your home filled with foul chimney odors all summer.
Plan for improvements?
Have you been thinking about improving your fireplace or chimney? Whether it’s with a new fireplace insert, fireplace doors, or cosmetic masonry repairs, summer is the time to consult with chimney professionals! When you have your chimney swept and inspected in the summer, you can ask your chimney technician about possible improvements. Afterwards, have those improvements completed before you’re ready to use your fireplace in the fall!
Beat the fall rush.
Most homeowners plan their annual chimney sweeping and inspection for the fall. Fortunately, you can skip the fall rush by scheduling your sweeping and inspection for the summer! When you wait to schedule your annual chimney maintenance until the fall, you risk calling the chimney sweep after his or her schedule has filled up for the season. That could have you waiting weeks for you annual sweeping and inspection. This could delay your first fire of the season!
Scheduling a summertime chimney sweeping and inspection comes with a host of benefits. Not to mention, it allows you to check something off your home maintenance to-do list. Enjoy the benefits of a summertime chimney cleaning and inspection. Call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule your appointment today!
Keeping Animals Out of Your Chimney
With warm spring days, animals are on the prowl! This means they’re making mischief and looking for places to nest. Many animals, from squirrels and raccoons to swallows and bats, are apt to wander into your chimney. While it may seem innocuous, animals or birds in your chimney can cause a host of problems. This is why it’s important to take measures to prevent animals from entering your chimney.
The problem with animals in your chimney.
Animals in your chimney can cause problems that range from a minor inconvenience to a major headache! Birds that nest in your chimney can rustle around and make a great deal of noise. However, when they fly off, a chimney sweeping should remove any evidence of their habitation. Animals like squirrels can build large nests that can completely block off your chimney opening. This renders your chimney unusable and poses a fire hazard. At a minimum, animals in your chimney can leave behind waste and debris. At worst, they can gain entry into your home, cause damage to your chimney, become aggressive or spread diseases.
While some animals might seek refuge in your chimney, others can accidentally wander in and become trapped. Few animals, such as squirrels and raccoons, can exit the chimney once the enter it. Trapped animals can make loud, panicked sounds within your chimney, disturbing your house. Should a trapped animal die, the corpse can fill your home with a horrible, putrid smell.
Preventing animals from entering your chimney.
With all of the problems animals and birds in the chimney can pose, whether inconvenient or downright dangerous, the goal of any homeowner should be to keep animals from entering the chimney and becoming a nuisance. There are two primary tools for keeping unwanted visitors from your chimney: Chimney caps and top-sealing chimney dampers.
Most chimney flues are covered with chimney caps to keep water from pouring down the inside of the chimney. Your chimney cap should be supported by a wire cage that prevents animals or birds from accessing the flue. Some top-sealing dampers can be used for a similar purpose: Top-sealing dampers completely seal off the flue opening when the chimney isn’t in use. In some models, the damper is fitted to the chimney with a collapsible metal cage. So, when the damper is open, the chimney flue is protected from animals, birds, and debris.
Don’t leave your chimney unprotected!
Once an animal enters your chimney, it must be professionally removed. Additionally, the chimney must be swept and inspected to make sure that no debris or damage remains behind. Prevent animals from becoming a problem in the first place! Call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule an appointment today. Have your chimney fitted with a chimney cap or top-sealing damper that will prevent birds and animals from entering your chimney.
Your Smoke Chamber & Why it Matters
Chimney parging ranks as one of the most common chimney repairs, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), but it is a repair that most people know little about. So what is smoke chamber parging, and why is it so important?
About your smoke chamber
The smoke chamber is the area just above your firebox. It angles from the wide area of your fireplace to the narrower opening of your chimney to funnel smoke from the firebox into the chimney. An improperly sized or improperly constructed smoke chamber can impede the flow of smoke into your chimney, causing a bad draft. When your chimney isn’t drafting correctly, smoke flows back into your home rather than up your chimney.
When smoke chamber parging is needed
In many chimneys, especially older chimneys, the walls of the smoke chamber are constructed from brick. The bricks are laid in a “stepping” pattern toward the chimney. The CSIA recommends that all smoke chambers have smooth walls, and most building codes require it. Jagged steps of older smoke chambers can impede your chimney’s draft. That means smoke can flow back into your home, and more heat transfer between your fireplace and the surrounding home structures. In the case of an uneven, or corbeled, smoke chambers, the CSIA recommends parging.
Additionally, parging can be recommended when the bricks of the smoke chamber break down. The walls of smoke chambers can be damaged by fire, or the inner core of the bricks can become exposed over time, threatening the strength of your smoke chamber. In cases where the walls of the smoke chamber are not smooth, or where the masonry of the smoke chamber is wearing down, the CSIA recommends parging of the smoke chamber to improve the chimney’s draft and strength.
How smoke chamber parging is done
To parge your smoke chamber, we use a refractory mortar to smooth out the “steps” of your uneven smoke chamber or to rebuild the walls of your damaged or deteriorating smoke chamber. The refractory mortar holds up to the heat of your fireplace, enhancing its strength, and the newly smooth surface will improve your chimney’s draft, preventing smoke from flowing back into your home.
Determining whether your smoke chamber needs to be parged
You may notice some subtle signs that your smoke chamber needs to be parged, such as smoke flowing back into your living spaces or soot stains forming at the top of your hearth, above your firebox. A peek inside the smoke chamber may reveal cracks or exposed bricks. The only way to determine whether your smoke chamber needs to be parged is through a chimney inspection. During your inspection, your certified chimney sweep will examine the smoke chamber to see whether it is corbeled or showing signs of wear or damage.
If you have noticed that your chimney isn’t drafting properly or if you are overdue for a chimney inspection, call the Chimney Care Co. today, and our chimney experts will help you determine whether your smoke chamber needs to be parged.