Chimney News & Information October 2016

The temperatures are dropping and winter is approaching, so many of you are in the market for firewood to get you through the winter. When buying firewood however, consider the following advice from the Chimney Safety Institute of America when selecting the firewood you plan on burning.

All firewood contains water. Freshly cut wood can be up to 45% water, while well seasoned firewood generally has a 20-25% moisture content. Well seasoned firewood is easier to start, produces more heat and burns cleaner. The important thing to remember is that the water must be gone before the wood will burn. Burning green firewood may also accelerate creosote build-up in your fireplace and chimney, as well as produce a smokey fire. Creosote is a leading cause of chimney fires and poses a serious threat to your home if it continues to build up and not removed.

There are a few things you can look for to see if the wood you intend to purchase is seasoned or not. Well seasoned firewood generally has darkened ends with cracks or splits visible and the wood will be relatively lighter compared to that of greener wood. Another indication that your wood is well-seasoned is that it may have bark that is peeling off.

Different types of wood produce different types of fires. Hardwoods, such as White Oak and Hard Maple will produce a steady, high heat fire, while softwoods, such as Cedar and White Spruce will ignite quickly and burn with a lower heat intensity.

Whatever type of firewood you choose, it's important to get your annual chimney inspection done before you burn, so call Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester for all of your chimney needs today!

Your chimney liner is an important part of the fireplace and should be inspected regularly and repaired as needed.

Your chimney liner serves three purposes:

1. Protects house from heat transfer to combustibles.
2. Protects the masonry from corrosive byproducts of combustion.
3. Provide a correctly-sized flue for optimum use with appliance or fireplace.

When to Assess the Liner

If you have recently acquired a property with a fireplace and chimney, you should absolutely have it inspected before putting it to use. It is fairly common that older homes were not equipped with a chimney liner, or they were installed incorrectly. Given that, it’s vital that they’re inspected before use. Chimney Liners also become subject to moisture penetration and damage from freezing and thawing through the season. If your flue needs to be resized, or if you change the type of fuel you’re burning, your chimney and chimney liner needs to be inspected as well. Every appliance needs a specific size of flue liner for safe and efficient operation, and not every type of liner is recommended for all fuel combustion. Our experts will gladly discuss these options with you.

If You Need a New Liner

Replacing a chimney liner is a job for a professional. If one of our chimney sweep experts reports a problem with your flue liner, you should follow their recommendations to ensure the safety of your family, home or business. You don’t want to burn a fire in a liner that is damaged or the incorrect size for your appliance.

A professional chimney sweep can replace a chimney liner and get your chimney system back to full function in no time. At Chimney Company of Westchester, we offer a stainless steel liner as well as aluminum liners because they’re long-lasting, rust-resistant and compatible with all fuel types.

Remember that your chimney lining is vital to the fire safety of your home. Call a professional to inspect the liner and let you know your options for restoring the safety and efficiency of your chimney system.

Call 866-528-1324 or click here to request your appointment today!