A Step In Time Chimney Sweeps

  Fireplaces and chimneys are staples in most houses in North America— installed to provide both warmth and coziness in homes, especially in the winter months. What Is A Chimney? A chimney resembles a pipe or a vertical channel, with its main function being to conduct and disperse combustion gases and smoke from an attached fireplace or furnace through the roof of a house or building, into the atmosphere. What a chimney does is ultimately prevent carcinogenic smoke and fumes from releasing throughout the interior of your home. Additionally, chimneys serve an important aesthetic and architectural function to a house or building’s exterior. How Does A Chimney Work? Although we usually take chimneys for granted, sometimes the question of how they really function does come up. And the science behind them is fascinating. As we said before, chimneys remove unwanted byproduct gases from within the home’s atmosphere. Every fireplace must have a chimney attached in order to transfer the pot...

  Has your laundry been taking longer than usual to dry? Has your dryer been unusually hot to the touch during its use? Has there been a discernible burning smell emanating from your laundry room? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then there’s a pretty high likelihood that it’s time for you to clean your dryer vent. Not addressing dirt and buildup in your dryer over time can do more than negatively impact its performance. The heat of the machine, combined with accumulated dust and dryer lint, can become a fire hazard. As a matter of fact, thousands of fires occur annually in the US from blocked dryer vents. It’s important to maintain a clean dryer in order to efficiently do your laundry, in addition to avoiding sparking a fire in your home. Continue reading below to learn how to clean your clothes dryer vent (at least once a year). Disconnect Your Dryer Before you start cleaning your dryer vent, it’s important to disconnect it. Locate the vent, which can be found at ...

  What Is A Chimney Liner? A liner in a masonry chimney is defined as a “ceramic, clay, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.” Despite the fact that building codes vary in different states and localities, flue lining installation has been recommended since early this century, with most fire codes now mandating liners. What Do Chimney Liners Do? 1.  To protect the house from heat transfer to combustible substances.  In the NBS tests, unlined chimneys gave heat the leeway to move through the chimney so rapidly that the adjacent woodwork caught fire in three and a half hours. 2.  To protect the masonry from the destructive byproducts of combustion.  In the same NBS tests, it was found that if the flue gases were given the opportunity to penetrate through to the brick and mortar, the result potentially would be a reduct...

  Chimneys are a staple of architecture and feel-good winter movies. But where did the structure come from and why was it invented? The Origins Of The Chimney The true origin of chimneys remains unclear to many historians, but it’s thought to be unlikely that chimneys were constructed in Europe before the twelfth century. Chimneys were widely used by the upper classes during Tudor England. Commoners who lacked the funds to construct chimneys would continue to burn fires on a clay or brick base in their homes or dwellings— plagued by intoxicating, smoke-filled rooms. Even when they became widely available, chimneys were still seen as inefficient and oftentimes dangerous. The early seventeenth century found English courts demanding that “dangerous” chimneys be reconstructed of brick and mortar, while requiring that chimney tops be at least four and a half feet above the roofs of houses. By 1719, England ordered that all clay-built chimneys be rebuilt with brick. Meanwhile, in America...

  What Is A Chimney Cap? Chimney caps  are the protective coverings at the very top of your chimney. They are typically made of copper or steel mesh and are available in various styles to match the design of your home’s exterior. Sitting on top of the mesh ring is a cap that assists in protecting your chimney from rain and downdrafts. What Does A Chimney Cap Do? Helps Reduce Moisture One of the best reasons to install a  chimney cap  is to reduce the moisture inside your house. If you live in a rainy area, you’re likely to get water in your chimney. You want to prevent this from occurring as much as possible. Water trapped in your chimney can damage your chimney liners, dampers, and mortar joints. It will also potentially produce mold and mildew inside your chimney, which you absolutely don’t want in your house. It can also increase the humidity within your house, which can make your home’s atmosphere quite uncomfortable. Helps Keep Animals Out When fires are burning...

  Relaxing in front of a crackling fire is one of the simplest, most heartwarming things a person can do with loved ones during the colder seasons. However, there’s absolutely nothing pleasant about the fires, toxic fumes, and water damage that can occur if you neglect to properly maintain your chimney. Having your chimney, fireplace, or wood-burning stove inspected by a chimney sweep certified by the  Chimney Safety Institute of America  (CSIA) can help you avoid serious problems caused by a neglected chimney system and keep your venting system operating efficiently. With that being said, there are three different types of chimney inspections one can get:   Level 1  outlines a check of easily accessible parts of the fireplace/wood-burning stove and chimney.   This option is ideal if you plan on using your fireplace/wood-burning stove in the same way you have in the past and if, in the past year since your last  chimney inspection , there have been no ...

  Perhaps it’s the feeling of throwing a log into a fire and hearing the crackling and popping sound as it burns. Or perhaps it’s the warmth and ambiance that a burning fire adds to any room. For some, it’s the beauty of an updated hearth that adds a touch of cozy elegance to your home that’s appreciated by your guests. Whatever it may be, these are all good arguments to make fire the center of your home. With data from the US Census Bureau stating that 41% of newly constructed homes have fireplaces, it’s safe to say that household fireplaces are going nowhere. And just like with most trends, what is old becomes new again as wood-burning fireplaces have seen an uptick in popularity in recent years. What Determines Fireplace Trends? One thing that sets fireplace trends apart from other home decor trends is the fact that in this product category, trends are determined by the law and building standards. So, while what homeowners want of course plays a role, design choices and requirem...

For homeowners fortunate enough to have a fireplace, the term “ chimney cap ” holds a place in their dictionary. These seemingly modest structures play a pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity and functionality of your chimney. Yet, as with any choice in home improvement, the decision to install a chimney cap carries its own set of advantages and drawbacks. In this comprehensive analysis, we’ll unravel the benefits and difficulties of chimney caps, enabling you to make an informed choice regarding their place in your home. What is a Chimney Cap? Before delving into the advantages and disadvantages of installing a chimney cap, let’s begin with a fundamental question: What exactly is a chimney cap?   A chimney cap, often referred to as a chimney cover or crown, is a protective device installed at the top of your chimney. This seemingly simple addition plays a pivotal role in safeguarding your home and chimney system from a range of potential hazards. Its design typically consists...