Having a fireplace and chimney system in your home can significantly enhance your quality of life, but that’s only if it’s properly installed and properly maintained - this goes for all of the components involved in the the proper function of a chimney. One of the most problematic areas in the chimney system is the smoke chamber. It plays a vital role in the function and safety of the entire system and more times than not the smoke chamber is poorly constructed and poorly maintained.

What Is The Smoke Chamber?

The smoke chamber is the part of your chimney system that is located just above the damper and connects the firebox to the flue. It’s shaped like a reverse funnel and is designed to guide smoke from the fire up into the flue so that it can quickly and effectively exit the home.

Common Problems With The Smoke Chamber

Unfortunately, many smoke chambers are constructed from corbeled masonry, which has steps, gaps and holes. Not only does this cause resistance, but it slows the release of smoke from the chimney cap. These steps, gaps and holes give flammable creosote, smoke and soot somewhere to cool and settle. The result: highly flammable glazed creosote and soot buildup along the smoke chamber. These holes and gaps also allow heat from the fire to access nearby combustibles within the walls surrounding the fireplace where a devastating house fire can easily start.

Whats The Solution?

To prevent house fires and creosote buildup, the National Fire Protection Association and the International Residential Code both state that all smoke chamber surfaces “shall be parged smooth”. What Is Parging & Why Is It Beneficial? Parging refers to the process of coating the smoke chamber to fill in all gaps, cracks and holes, and create a smoke-tight surface that encourages speedy smoke exit.

Other Concerns With The Smoke Chamber

The height and incline of the smoke chamber are also important. If our Westchester chimney experts find that your smoke chamber was improperly constructed, we may need to rebuild the entire smoke chamber for optimal safety and efficiency.

Your safety is our biggest concern, so call Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester today!

It’s easy to take your chimney system for granted. Just as you might not think about replacing your roof until it begins to leak, homeowners often don’t worry about their chimney until something goes wrong. Once a homeowner realizes that their is severe damage to their roof and chimney system, it is usually too late! So here are four main causes of chimney damage:

• Normal Wear & Tear

Much like your home’s roof and gutters, exposure to the elements will eventually wear down the chimney system. The metal chimney cap or chase top that prevents snow and rain from falling into the chimney is susceptible to rust.

Flue liners and prefabricated fireplaces have a limited lifespan of 20 to 50 years. The high temperatures of the hot air and smoke that runs through the flue breakdown the flue liner over time. Clay tile flue liners and cast-in-place liners eventually crack and flake while metal flue liners can become warped. This is why it is vital for you to call one of our experts for immediate chimney repair!

• Hidden Defects

Whether your chimney is old or new, it may have hidden defects that need to be resolved. Some defects pose safety risks while others can cause damage to the chimney system. A common hidden defect of an old masonry fireplace that poses a safety risk is a missing flue liner. If your home was built before 1950, it is very possible that these problems exist. It is recommended that your chimney is swept and inspected at least once a year to keep your family and home safe.

• An Unforeseen Event

There are many types of unforeseen events that can cause damage to a chimney system. High temperatures from a chimney fire, a lightning strike and high winds are all examples of unforeseen events that can leave you with chimney repairs.

• Moisture

Moisture is the greatest enemy of any chimney system. Typically, moisture damage is a secondary cause. Normal wear and tear, hidden defects and unforeseen events can all create pathways for moisture to enter the chimney system. The minute moisture gets into the chimney, it can and will cause a wide range of potentially devastating damage from making the flue liner crack or rust to deteriorating the structural integrity of the chimney itself.

If your chimney needs any repair service at all, give Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester a call! We provide top-notch chimney services across Westchester, Long Island and the five boroughs.

Before hiring a chimney sweep to perform an annual chimney sweep and inspection, it is important to check out the qualifications of the company you are hiring. These maintenance services for your chimney protect you from the risk of chimney fires and carbon monoxide leaks-which protects your home and your family. Given that information, you need to be sure the chimney company you hire sweeps and inspects your chimney correctly and carefully. Perhaps the best ways to know the chimney sweep is qualified is to check to see if they have been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. For companies to receive this certification, the chimney experts must undergo training, pass exams and agree to follow the CSIA Code of Ethics-which includes promising to behave honestly, fairly and professionally on every job site that they visit.

Has the company been in business long?

The CSIA stresses that you as a homeowner ask this question to be sure the company is not only a legitimate business, but they are trustworthy as well. One of the most popular chimney maintenance scams involves a company opening, closing, and reopening under different names in different towns, so finding out how long the company has been serving the area can ease your mind and assure you that you are going into business with reliable professionals.

Can the company provide substantial references?

Most businesses today will have a page on online review sites-such as; Yelp, Google, and Angie’s List, where their customers can leave feedback of services they have received. If the company does not have any pages or is reluctant to give you any information about their online review pages, this could be a serious red flag and you should avoid this company at all costs. It is nearly impossible to have all positive reviews from customers, but no business should ignore negative feedback. By choosing Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester, you can be assured that your chimney and home are in great hands.

Does the company have a liability insurance policy that is valid and can protect your home?

If the answer to this question is no, it is in your best interest to keep looking for another chimney sweep company. Without this insurance, you and you alone will have to pay for any damages that may occur to your home as the result of an accident. You could also be liable for medical bills if the professional at your home were to get injured while working.

If you happen to live in the Westchester area and need a qualified and professional chimney sweep, contact us at Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester. Our certified chimney sweeps are here to service all of your chimney needs-from sweeps to cleanings to repairs-Guaranteed Chimney does it all.

Does your chimney lean? If so, what can you do about it? No matter the type of chimney you have, they all work in the same way and are serious hazards to your family and your home if they become compromised and subsequently ignored. If this problem exists with your chimney, continue reading for how to handle this issue.

Your Chimney Leans, What Now?

You may not realize it at first if your chimney is leaning, especially if a previous owner of the home masked the problem with caulk or mortar. However, if you in fact notice something suspicious, especially new cracks between bricks or along the chimney, you most likely have a leaning chimney. Another sign of a leaning chimney which you should look out for is leaking from the roof around the flashing, which indicates space created by the leaning structure.

If you think your chimney leans, but or not sure or just want to reassure yourself that there isn't a problem with your chimney, you can use a long level to check to see if the chimney is flush, or vertical in two planes. Also, you should be sure to take note of whether the horizontal mortar lines are level. If these tests show that your chimney leans, you should contact one of Guaranteed Chimney's experts for all of your Westchester chimney needs.

Hazards of a Leaning Chimney

A leaning chimney poses a serious threat to your home or business. To start, the bricks may fall from the chimney structure that can cause serious or fatal injuries. Secondly, the leaning chimney can and will damage the interior of the chimney, including the flue. These damages could then cause chimney fires. Last, but certainly not least, a leaning chimney can compromise the integrity of the entire structure of the mortar and your roof, and will certainly affect other parts of the chimney system.

Your chimney was most likely built as one unit, meaning that the hearth or firebox, damper system and other parts of the chimney will be directly affected by a structural problem within the chimney. The chimney liner can also become strained and cracked if the structure fails.

By simply strapping the chimney in place or caulking the cracks closed, you may overlook possible damage to your chimney system, unseen with proper inspection.

What We Can Do

At Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester, we are licensed, insured and experienced in chimney repairs. We can restore both your chimney and fireplace and if your chimney is leaning, a full chimney rebuild may be in store. Our technicians are skilled and experienced to build the chimney that you envision for your home or business.

If you aren’t convinced your chimney is leaning or that it needs a complete rebuild, you can have your chimney inspected by one of our chimney experts. While a level 1 inspection is the standard annual inspection, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends a level 2 inspection if you suspect any chimney changes caused by damage to the home, new parts installed or removed, structural problems and building fires.

You can schedule your inspection with Guaranteed Chimney today by phone or online. We are ready to repair, inspect and rebuild your leaning chimney today!