Chimney Care Company's Blog

What Firewood Should I Buy?

It is important to know the right kind of firewood to burn in your fireplace to get the hottest, most efficient fire, but also to ensure you are keeping your chimney healthy. Wood with high moisture content that is not dried properly or well seasoned can cause build up of glazed creosote that is dangerous to your chimney and difficult to remove.

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For any questions on firewood or to have your chimney inspected for creosote buildup, contact us at Chimney Care Company today.

How to Select the Right Firewood

Local Seasoned Firewood - Cincinnati OH - Chimney Care CompanyA 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.

Take Care of Your Gas Fireplace and It Will Take Care of You

Gas Fireplace Maintenance - Cincinnati OH - Chimney Care CoMany homes have a gas fireplace. Unfortunately, homeowners generally don’t think about servicing them until something goes wrong, which is usually at the most inopportune time. Whether you take a few moments to check out some of the more obvious things yourself or schedule an appointment with a trusted fireplace service technician, both can save you a lot of frustration down the line.

Guidelines for Gas Fireplace Service 

As you may or may not know, there are several different types of gas fireplaces, and the guidelines for servicing each is somewhat different. If a model has what is known as a standing pilot—the pilot light stays on all the time—the most important regular service item is the pilot assembly. Some units have a pilot light that’s only on when the unit is in use, while others use electronic ignition to light the burner directly without using a pilot system at all; both of these won’t need servicing quite as often.

For the last few decades, all unvented gas fireplaces and inserts as well as gas log sets have been manufactured with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) to ensure safe operation of the appliance; these sensors should be cleaned every year to keep the system from becoming more sensitive and/or causing nuisance shutdowns. If you are particularly handy—one capable of changing you own oil or the spark plugs in your car without breaking something—you should be able to handle this task; however, if you are the slightest bit apprehensive about handling anything dealing with gas, it’s best to leave this to a trained, experienced professional.

The goal is to clear out the accumulation of sediment in the tiny pilot opening. A can of compressed air can be used with the included straw to direct air toward the opening to clean it out. If you opt to do this yourself, remember to make sure the pilot is OFF. If the pilot assembly is at least five years old or if you live close to salt water, this method might not be as effective as it once was, leaving you needing to seek professional assistance anyway!

Gas Fireplace Cleaning Needs 

Unvented logs are designed to burn very cleanly; as such, if you notice any black sooty deposits on your logs, it is best to stop using them immediately to make sure your logs and/or burner are set up correctly. If you aren’t absolutely sure that everything is correct, please refrain from using your fireplace until you can have a professional technician evaluate the situation for you.

Other fireplace options and gas log sets need cleaning, too, but perhaps not as often depending on the frequency of their use. Vented gas logs should be cleaned regularly if there is any sooty buildup present; there are commercially available sprays on the market to assist with this task if you are comfortable doing so. If at any point you are unsure or the least bit apprehensive, it is best to err on the side of caution and contact a professional to handle the work on your behalf.

Direct vent gas fireplaces have fixed glass panels that will likely need annual cleaning to stay clear. If the glass is collecting a black residue (soot), the fireplace should be adjusted to remedy this issue. If the glass has a gray or white film, however, there is no need to worry; there are chemical compounds in the gas itself that produce the residue (this is completely normal). The use glass cleaners containing ammonia is a huge no-no. Water and a soft cloth will usually suffice as long as you make this is part of your regular cleaning routine; adding a little vinegar to the water may save you a little elbow grease. Tougher deposits may require special fireplace glass cleaner to ensure that the job is done properly. Don’t forget to dry your glass completely and check for streaks and fingerprints before re-installing the glass!

Here at Chimney Care Company, your family’s sense of security and safety is important to us—which is why we’ve spent the last 25 years installing, repairing, cleaning and maintaining the chimneys, fireplaces and dryer vents of our neighbors in Cincinnati, southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky. To schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 513-248-9600 or click here. We appreciate your business and look forward to helping you keep your family safe and warm for years to come!

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.

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!

Maintaining Your Fireplace Safely

Fire Prevention Tips

Building a fire in the fireplace is a great way to enjoy a winter night, but many homeowners have had that experience turn into a catastrophic situation. If a fireplace and chimney are not properly used and maintained, you put yourself at risk. There are a few simple tips that any homeowner can follow to make sure that their fire remains in the fireplace.

One way to maximize your safety is to only burn dry, seasoned wood. Wet or green wood produces excess creosote, which is highly flammable.

One way to maximize your safety is to only burn dry, seasoned wood. Wet or green wood produces excess creosote, which is highly flammable.

Getting Started

Before using the fireplace for the first time each season, it is a good idea to check the batteries in the smoke detectors. This is something that all homeowners should be doing every month anyway but it is especially important during the winter season. No matter how careful a person is, accidents can still happen and it is important to be prepared. Knowing about the beginning of a fire as soon as possible is the best way to minimize the damage.

Cleaning Out Creosote

Another important thing to remember is that a fireplace and chimney must be kept clean if they are going to function properly. This is why most homeowners opt to have a licensed chimney sweep clean out their chimney at least once a year. A chimney sweep is equipped to deal with things such as creosote, a dangerous chemical compound that is often left behind after a fire. Creosote, as well as other materials often found in chimneys, is extremely flammable and has been known to start many chimney fires.

What Not to Do

When there is a fire blazing in the fireplace, it can be tempting to throw in material that has been lying around and is need of disposal. However, only material intended for burning in a fireplace should be placed into the flame. This means only treated coal and properly seasoned hardwoods. Using anything else could not only damage the structure of the fireplace, but it could start a blaze that quickly gets out of control. Be sure to keep a screen around the fireplace so that children cannot throw in toys or other unwanted materials.

Invest in a Chimney Cap

Many chimney fires start as a result of a blockage that prevents smoke and other combustible gasses from properly exiting the fireplace. This blockage may be caused by leaves that make their way into the chimney or by animals that decide to use it as their home. A chimney cap is a small, simple structure that goes on top of the chimney and prevents these things from entering the chimney. It is a small investment that makes a big difference.

Have Your Chimney Inspected

The most important thing a homeowner can do for their chimney and fireplace is to have it inspected each year by a licensed chimney inspector. This is the only way to get a good look inside of the flue and see if there are any issues on the horizon. Catching potential chimney problems in the early stages can make the repairs less costly and can also decrease the risk of danger to the home.

Having a fireplace in the home is a great perk for a homeowner who knows how to properly use and maintain it. Annual inspections are a necessity as well as keeping the flue and fireplace as clean as possible. Installing a chimney cap is a great way to make sure that all flammable material can leave the fireplace as it should.

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Chimney Care Company | 413 Wards Corner Road, Loveland, Ohio 45140