Chimney News & Information August 2016

With so many preparations to worry about, the last thing you may think about when the winter season rolls through is the condition of your fireplace and chimney. Turning that fireplace on after months of inactivity and wear from the changing seasons could leave your house, your family and yourself at risk for serious injuries. Chimneys that are not properly maintained can cause structural damage, destroy homes or even injure people. Here are a few signs to look for that will tell you your chimney needs restoration:

Cracked Crowns

A chimney crown is the concrete slab placed on top of the chimney. The crown's purpose is to protect the chimney from weather and prevent deterioration. If your chimney crown has shrunk or cracked, it will expose the rest of the chimney to water and other natural elements. This exposure could cause bricks to fall out or come loose. Good quality crowns should be made of concrete or cement, have no cracks and overhang the masonry by at least two inches.

Deterioration

After years of wear and tear from mother nature, it can cause a chimney’s brick and mortar to deteriorate. Older chimney’s have not only had to endure more wear, but they may also be made of blends that are softer and much less stable than newer chimneys. This in turn could cut the life of a chimney in half. Different climates also have different effects on the structure of a chimney. A process called “spalling” can occur if you live in a climate that experiences freezing winters and hot/humid cycles. What happens is, moisture enters the concrete, freezes, then expands, which causing pieces/layers of the brick to crumble off.

Poor Flashing

Many people may not know what the flashing in your chimney is. The flashing is the thin material that is installed to prevent water from entering a structure. Chimneys typically have flashing installed underneath the shingles on the roof and cut into the brickwork. Even the smallest of breaches in the flashing can lead to significant leaks and serious water damage.

Broken Caps

The chimney cap is the metal “hat” that protects the interior of the chimney. Chimney caps are important to the proper functioning of a chimney since they prevent water from entering the inside of the chimney, as well as keep animals and debris out. Fully functioning caps also allow proper venting. If you have a broken chimney cap, it can bring about serious consequences, such as water damage to the chimney and even inside your house. If a cap is not allowing for proper venting, it can cause smoke to build up inside the chimney and enter your house and possibly cause a fire.

Improper Dimensions

If your chimney is too short, there is a strong possibility that you will experience downdrafts. The improper spacing between components can also prevent smoke from rolling before entering the smoke shelf, and allow smoke to enter your house.

Call Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester for all of your chimney needs!

The purpose of a fireplace is obviously to add warmth and beauty to your home, but their use needs to always be treated with care and caution. Knowing how to safely operate your fireplace, you can ensure that the whole family can enjoy sitting together in front of the fire and you will no longer have to worry about safety concerns. These five tips should always be referred to when dealing with your fireplace:

1. Only burn what is designed to be burned

Modern heating appliances can be found for almost any fuel source. Whether your fireplace is built to burn wood, pellets, gas, coal, or another fuel source, it is important to burn what your fireplace is designed for and nothing else. Venting systems installed in gas fireplaces are not designed to handle wood. This holds true for burning paper or cardboard in a wood fireplace which can cause dangerous, out of control flames. For homes with wood burning fireplaces, seasoned hardwoods are most often the best choice, producing the least amount of smoke while creating the hottest flames.

2. Keep the area around the fireplace clear

The mantle of your fireplace is a common area to decorate, precise care should be taken when decorating around this area. Low hanging or other flammable decorations should be placed elsewhere in the home, or moved when the fireplace is being used. Additionally, curtains, carpets, and other furnishings should be kept at least three feet away from the fireplace to avoid stray sparks and embers-greatly reducing the risk of house fires.

3. Keep children out

Glass doors, baby gates, grates or any other safety barrier that is appropriate should be used around the fireplace if there are small children or pets in your home. Older children can be taught to keep away from the flames, but babies and toddlers are often too curious to stay away. These barriers will prevent any accidents from happening in the home. However, no matter their age, children should never be left unsupervised when the fireplace is in use.

4. Are your smoke detectors working?

Every home, even homes without fireplaces, should be equipped with fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This is common knowledge, but needs to be stated regardless. These safety alarms are especially important in homes with fireplace and should be tested every six months to ensure they work correctly. Smoke detectors should be placed on every level of the home as well as near fireplace and outside sleeping areas.

5. Regular maintenance is vital

Annual chimney and fireplace maintenance is often the most important part of keeping your fireplace safe to use. By having your chimney swept and inspected at least once per year (twice is highly recommended), you can ensure that it is free from damage and can burn safely and efficiently.

Follow these five tips closely and keep your home and family safe all year round! Contact Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester today for all of your chimney and fireplace needs!

Most chimney owners wait right before the cold weather storms in to get their chimney swept, but we are here to tell you today that getting your chimney swept well before then is vital to keeping your house and chimney safe. Here are five reasons to get your chimney swept early:

• When the winter season has past and the warm weather rolls around, it is commonplace for you to stop thinking about your furnace, fireplace and chimney. However, there are benefits to get your chimney read for the next winter season early. The closer you get to winter, the more you will need your chimney and companies fill up fast with appointments. In doing your maintenance early, you can get your chimney serviced much quicker and you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your chimney and flue have been serviced. Don't be left in the cold, call Guaranteed Chimney and let our 24/7 service help you out today! 
  
  
• Neglecting the residue in your chimney from the previous winter can wear out your masonry faster and drastically increases the chances that you’ll need costly repairs. The deterioration process is slow, but leaving the soot in the chimney during the spring and summer months will expose your masonry and flue to the corrosion that is left over from using your chimney all winter.
  
  
• Terrible odors can emit from your fireplace if not properly maintained and these smells are the worst during the spring and summer. This smell can spread throughout your home. Through annual sweeping and even deodorizing your fireplace after the winter months, you can minimize and eliminate the smells coming from your chimney.
  
  
• Early maintenance also allows the discovery of any potential dangers or any damage to your chimney. Every year people find that they’ve got heating system emergencies just when they need heat-in the middle of winter.
  
  
• Plain and simple. You will save a ton of money with annual maintenance, especially done before it gets cold. Early detection of damages in your chimney will save you hundreds when it comes to repairs. Keep your home and family safe and take care of your chimney early and often.
  

Early chimney maintenance is good for you as well as us, so contact Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester and put your chimney in the right hands!