Raccoons in Your Chimney

I have a raccoon in my chimney! Now what do I do?

I have heard that question many times in my career as a Nuisance Wildlife Removal Expert.

Should I light a fire? For some reason, the first course of action people tend to think of is lighting a fire! This is a bad idea for you and the raccoon. We tend to think of fireplaces and chimneys as straight shots up through the house. In fact, fireplaces are constructed with smoke shelves that deliberately make a turn so it is not a straight shot up. This shelf is the perfect spot for raccoons to nest and raise their babies. If a fire is lit and the smoke rises properly up the chimney, the raccoon may very well sit on that shelf and wait out the fire. Often times they die while sitting on that shelf. Now you have a dead raccoon that will be decomposing in a short time.

The raccoon is stuck in the chimney! This is a common misconception. The raccoon didn?t fall down the chimney. It climbed down ? and it will climb back up! Raccoons are nocturnal and will go out to scavenge for food each evening. Knowing this, it would seem that if you wait until nightfall and put a cap on the chimney, your problem will be solved. I?ll give you two reasons not to cap your chimney while the raccoon is away. First and foremost, the raccoon may very well be a young Mother and now you have 3-7 dying babies in your chimney. When they eventually die, they will decompose and an odor will permeate your house. Secondly, if you exclude the raccoon from its home, it can do GREAT damage to your roof trying to get back in. Most important to that mother raccoon is to reunite with her babies, no matter what it takes to get back into your home.

GET THAT RACCOON OUT!

The best way to get the raccoon out of your chimney is to hire a Nuisance Wildlife Removal expert. They will inspect your home and decide the best way to get the raccoon out. They will determine whether there are babies involved and remove them as well as the mother. They will then advise you of the options for capping the chimney so you will never have this problem again.

Jack Ammerman has been a nuisance wildlife control operator for over ten years. He has been featured in articles in the Flint Journal Newspaper and on television news reports in Genesee County Michigan. He owns and operates Advanced Wildlife Removal in Flint Michigan and is an advisor to http://www.Advanced-Wildlife-Control.com in Genesee County Michigan.

 

Chimney Problems: Keeping it Clean

In a recent article, the dangers of an unclean chimney were the main issue. Clogged chimneys start fires and cause venting problems throughout the house. If you own a traditional fireplace, here's what you are going to have to do.

Gather your brooms, drop cloth and vacuum. You'll also want goggles and a suit for the job. You'll want to put the drop cloth down to make clean up easier when you are done. That's a trick of the old chimney sweep experts they learned at the turn of the century when it was becoming more customary to walk into a house and find a carpet rather than a wood floor. The drop cloth should be several feet wide and long so that it will be sure to catch all the soot that drops.

Sweeping the chimney isn't any harder than it sounds. Stick your broom up into the chimney and go to town. You should have different sized brooms for different locations. A small duster can handle the easy to reach areas. A broom with a long handle will reach the farther areas. Sweep until you can see through to light. Then, shine a flashlight into the chimney to look around for creosote and soot. You will also want to get on the roof to look down through your chimney.

It's like cleaning a rifle. You'll have to make several runs until you can see that you have cleaned everything. Cleaning up several times throughout the process helps you see if you are getting any closer to finishing. Simply vacuum as much soot from the drop cloth as possible so that when you make another pass at the chimney, you can see if anything is still coming out.

But, there are carcinogenic materials that you need to be aware of when you are cleaning your chimney. So, the best thing to do is call a chimney sweep expert who is going to come with all the right equipment. They know what they are looking for when they clean. They know how to detain the mess so that your house comes out spotless. And they know the dangers involved. But, they come with a price and chimney sweeping should be done at a regular basis.

But, what if you could have a fireplace without all that hassle? A ventless gel fireplace doesn't need a chimney. It's ventless. It produces a water vapor instead of soot. It burns like a candle, only it puts out some major heat. And it looks just like a fireplace without all the hassle. Most traditional fireplaces run between $5000 and $7500 to install. A ventless gel goes as low as $300 to have the complete fireplace experience.

Fireplaces are quite an expense. The chimney is just another part of the overall hassle you will have to endure to enjoy your fireplace experience. But, a ventless gel takes all the objections away. Cost effective, hassle free fireplace experience. You'll notice the difference right away!

Jessica Brylan is a home improvement expert. She loves remodeling homes. She has even built a few. In all her work, she has split off into interior design every once in awhile. But, actual construction is her first love. She knows enough to get by with the big guys.

Fireplace Chimney Maintenance

Having a fireplace at home means that in most cases you will need to have a chimney as well, if you already have a chimney all you need to worry about is its regular safety inspections and daily cleaning and usual maintenance, if you need to install a new chimney than you probably have a lot of work ahead.

For woodstoves, you must construct either a stainless steel class "A" insulated chimney approved by UL or a masonry chimney. The basic principle here is to direct combustion gases upward and away from the interior of the home. The chimney should extend at least 3 feet above any construction in the building and 2 feet higher than any surface of the roof. Of course, higher chimney is always better.

When constructing a woodstove chimney, it is important to create the best outward draft possible. Meaning, use very minimal bent.

Maintenance tips:

Stove installation should be checked at least once a year to ensure that the clearances from combustible surfaces are maintained to prevent any hazard. Stove pipes are subject to high temperature so it should be checked periodically for corrosion. Replace it if corrosion level exceeds the safe zone.

If there is a need to clean your chimney, take a professional chimney sweep to do the job. Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not used to prevent the heat or air conditioning from escaping. Always keep the damper open when building a fire. Installing a chimney cap of high quality can extend the life of your chimney. It also prevents birds, insects, and animals to nest in your chimney. A waterproofed chimney will prevent masonry damage and corrosion.

Materials being burned contribute to how much your cleaning frequency would be. Wet and unseasoned wood, incomplete combustion, and cool wall linings can contribute to creosote build up. Creosote deposits on the interior walls of the chimney can reduce the efficiency of the fireplace. Creosote deposits can also ignite under certain circumstances. Make sure that the linings are clean and the build up is controlled. Ash and charcoal deposits on the stove area can smolder if not remove immediately. Clean the stove carefully and dispose the waste properly.

Direct vent fireplaces, inserts, and stoves do not require a chimney. Usually, these types of fireplaces are easy to install and cheaper compared to woodstoves that requires a chimney. Direct vent fireplaces, inserts, and stoves can be very ideal to places with limited space - a small house that cannot accommodate big chimney with a greater need for a heating source.

A Fire Place is just what you need to add character and warmth to your home. Learn about planning, buying and placing your Fire Place in your home by following Daniel Roshard?s Fireplace Chimney articles and Fireplace tips.

 

About The Fireplace Chimney

Chimneys add a lot to a house, there is a great thing about having a fireplace in your living room and a nice picturesque smoking chimney outside your house, as you drive up to your place you can see the smoke slowly raising from it, indicating that your family is in the house and that it is nice and warm inside.

Fireplaces and chimneys need to maintained and need to be secure at all times, there is absolutely no way you can make any compromises about your fire place and chimney working state and safety.

Here are a few maintenance tips and ideas for you to consider applying to your own fir fire place and chimney.

As recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (in NFPA 211), your chimney should be checked at least once a year to ensure its efficiency; that is, if you are using your fireplace on a regular basis. However, if you are only using your fireplace for 2 to 3 months a year, you can have the option to have it checked every other year.

Stove installation should be checked at least once a year to ensure that the clearances from combustible surfaces are maintained to prevent any hazard. Stove pipes are subject to high temperature so it should be checked periodically for corrosion. Replace it if corrosion level exceeds the safe zone.

If there is a need to clean your chimney, take a professional chimney sweep to do the job. You can use the opportunity that you have a professional chimney cleaner at your property and ask for some regular cleaning advise and tips, these should be adapted to your fireplace and chimney and the area in which you live, a professional would know how humid it is in your area and what kind of animals try and get into your chimney in the summer and winter.

Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not used to prevent the heat or air conditioning from escaping.

Installing a chimney cap of high quality can extend the life of your chimney. It also prevents birds, insects, and animals to nest in your chimney, the most known and popular chimney caps are made out of copper, which is an excellent metal to use for this purpose, if you need a chimney cap you should look into what kinds there are on the market.

Installing a smoke detector inside your home will provide you with some peace of mind, knowing that if anything will go wrong you will have a clear indication of it, and that you will have a practiced routine for a case that the fire alarm goes off.

Winter is almost here, and a Fire Place is just what you need to add character and warmth to your home. Discover how to plan, buy and place your Fire Place in your home by following Daniel Roshard?s Fireplace Chimney articles and Fireplace related articles and tips at http://fireplace.advice-tips.com

 

How to Prevent Chimney Fires This Winter

Now that winter is on it's way, you may be thinking of dusting off your old fireplace in order to build a few cozy fires now and then. Before lighting the first match, consider this statistic:

42% of all home-heating fires are caused by problems with fireplaces and chimneys.

If you don't want to become a part of that statistic (who wants a house fire, after all?), then there are a few steps you should take before using your fireplace this year. Let's take a look:

1. Have your fireplace and chimney cleaned by a professional.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, you should have your chimney swept at least once a year at the beginning of the wood-burning season. This will remove soot, debris, and creosote (a substance that builds up inside a chimney and is very flammable). You can find a certified chimney sweep in your area by checking with the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

2. Cap your chimney.

You can get special chimney caps that are fitted with wire-mesh sides, which cover the top of the chimney. These caps keep birds, squirrels, rain water, and other debris from entering the chimney.

3. Inspect your chimney for damage.

When you hire a chimney sweep for a cleaning, also ask them to inspect your chimney for structural damage, such as cracks, missing mortar, or loose bricks. They should also check out the chimney liner to ensure it doesn't need to be replaced.

4. Burn seasoned wood and build your fire correctly.

It doesn't take a genius to light a fire, but there is a bit of an art to building a good fire. Use seasoned wood (wood that has been split and dried for at least six months) instead of green wood, which gives off more smoke and creosote (as mentioned, this substance can accumulate and cause chimney fires). Also choose dense woods over soft woods (i.e. oak instead of pine) because they produce less smoke and creosote.

5. Use a fireplace screen or glass doors.

Chimney fires aren't the only way a house fire can get started. Stray sparks can escape from the fireplace and catch on rugs, draperies, and other flammable items. Use a spark guard such as a screen or glass fireplace doors in order to protect against this eventuality.

Follow these five steps, and you can count on many cozy and safe fires this season.



For frequently updated information on fireplace cleaning and maintenance, visit the author's fireplace blog.

Chimney Caps: Tips on Buying, Measuring, and Use

What is a Chimney Cap?

A chimney cap is a protective covering which fits at the top of your chimney enclosure. They are typically fashioned out of stainless steel, copper, or galvanized metals; and come designed with a mesh screen to inhibit airborne hearth sparks, nesting outdoor animals, and damaging precipitation and debris from interfering with the overall safety and longetivity of your fireplace's necessary venting system.

Why is it so crucial to keep sparks confined to your chimney and these other elements out? While you are toasting marshmallows and sharing intimate discussions by the glow of your fireplace's hearth, quite a bit more is happening in the venting chamber of your chimney. The sparks produced from burning wood or faux logs will sometimes reach to your chimney's top, and if not properly stopped, can ignite the flammable material surrounding your chimney wall, such as your roof and house's construction. And all it takes is one airborne spark. Nesting animals such as squirrels and birds can find a sheltered refuge in your chimney's top, usually without anyone being the wiser...until it's too late. A chimney cap prevents them and their detrimental waste from taking up residence, thereby preventing foul odors and the mites that waste brings. Your chimney top is also exposed to rain, snow, hail, and violent gusts of wind; year after year. Without a chimney cap to insulate your chimney from its effects, rain can soak into the mortar joints of your chimney's construction, thereby loosening the bricks or stone of your masonry chimney. Or if you have a metal chimney, precipitation will lead to damaging rust; thereby rapidly deteriorating your chimney. Violent wind gusts whip leaves and assorted debris into your chimney. These flammable materials can rapidly suffocate your flue from its necessary fire by-product venting, leading to dangerous chimney fires and downdrafting of the trapped smoke into your home. Buying a chimney cap is a priceless and easy solution to preventing a whole Pandora's Box-full of natural evils, such as: fire, disease, costly repair, and strife from entering the safe harbor of your family's cozy home.

Types of Chimneys

The first step in finding yourself a chimney cap is determining what type of chimney your house has. This will determine what type of chimney cap will fit best. The most common type of chimney is a masonry chimney, which is constructed of brick, stone, or concrete. Metal Chimneys or factory-built chimneys are mass-produced, typically come with a pre-fit chimney cap, and must be used with one, due to the fact that metal is less resilient in relation to Mother Nature's elements. Typically, for masonry chimneys, you'll find that their corresponding chimney caps come in three basic sizes: 8" x 8", 8" x 12" and 12" x 12", though custom styles and fits are available also.

Types of Flues

Whether you have a masonry or factory-made metal chimney, it is also necessary to determine what type of flue it works from. This can be determined by simply looking down into your chimney's depths.

Masonry chimneys will have either single or multi flues, and these flues will be either extended or not. The most common is the single flue chimney with an extended flue. This flue will simply and visibly extend out the top of your chimney, allowing easy chimney cap installation and fit by screws which tighten to the flue's construction. Single flue chimneys without extended flues have a recessed interior flue construction and will require what is called a leg kit or bracket to for installation of your chimney cap. The decision about whether you enlist a leg kit or brackets is yours, but brackets are recommended as they provide more resiliency under varying wind and weather conditions. Multi flue chimneys with or without extended flues will, as the type suggests, have more than one flue (typically two) either protruding from your chimney top or recessed in its interior.

Factory-produced Metal Chimney will have one of three basic types of flue construction: double-wall solid-pack insulated chimney pipe, double-wall air-insulated chimney pipe, or triple-wall air-insulated chimney pipe. Looking down into the chimney, you'll see either two or three layers or walls of metal. If there is a metal cap or insulation material between these layers, you have yourself a solid-pack insulated flue system. If there is nothing but air between your flue walls, it is an air-insulated flue system.

Measuring

After determining what type of chimney and what type of flue you have, the next step is measurement of the flue system. Whether single or multi, extended or recessed, you will almost always need to know the precise width and length dimensions in order to accurately fit your chimney for a cap. Take the measurements a couple times to ensure accuracy, because being just a fraction of a size off, will negate all the purposes you've enlisted your chimney cap to demonstrate.

Masonry Chimneys: ? For a single flue with an extended flue: measure the width and length of the outside parameters of the flue, and match these to a specific chimney cap size. ? For a single flue without an extended flue: measure the width and length of the inside parameters of the flue, match to a specific chimney cap size, and order the corresponding leg kit or brackets. ? For multi flue systems with or without extended flues: measure the total outside width and length of the combined flues. If your multi-flue system has one or more extended flues, you must next measure how far the highest flue extends out the top of the chimney. It is crucial when choosing a cap for these systems that you depend upon the measurements of your total flue system, as well as the flues' height measurements to see how deep your chimney cap should be.

Factory-made Metal Chimneys: ? For a double-wall solid-pack insulated flue system: measure the diameter of the inner pipe. Then, measure the diameter of the outer pipe. The inner dimensions will be used to secure the proper fit, while the outer dimensions will give a wider secondary cap protection for your flue. ? For a double or triple-wall air insulated flue system: measure the diameter of the inner pipe. Then, measure the diameter of the outer pipe. The inner dimensions will be used to secure the proper fit, while the outer dimensions will give a wider secondary cap protection for your flue.

Materials

Chimney caps come in a variety of materials depending on your aesthetic, function, and cost preferences. Galvanized metal flue caps are the most cost-effective and simple choice; but provide basic function without regard to aesthetics, will rust, and won't last past the short-term. Stainless steel chimney cap construction is more middle-of-the-road cost-wise, and subsequently offers a more gratifying visual appeal, and will last much longer through varying elements and time. Copper chimney caps are the most expensive choice, but because of this offer: a hard-enduring quality, can be weathered naturally or coated with a special copper protectant to maintain the original color and shine. Stainless steel and copper constructed chimney caps do, more often than not, come with an extended warranty; and are the best way to go in the way of your chimney's longetivity and your home and family's safety.

Chimney Cap Types

Chimney caps also come in a variety of functions according to your cap preferences. There is the standard chimney cap which typically includes a screening material to further ward off elements and critters, is the most cost-effective, comes in a variety of materials, and takes care of your most basic chimney needs as far as insulation and protection is concerned. Draft increasing caps or vacuum chimney caps are more specific to a chimney that has difficulty, for one reason or another, drafting smoke up and out of your home. These chimney caps produce a stronger updraft, and are most often used with metal chimneys, though those with masonry chimneys can employ specific manufacturer adapters. There are two different options to cure this common chimney affliction. You can either employ what is called a flue stretcher which will extend the length of your flue and remove it from the influence of nearby or dual chimneys. This is a great option if you live in a dense city or have multi-floor fireplaces. Another option is a device which will decrease the downdraft by deflecting it within special cap fins, and subsequently suck excessive smoke out of your chimney. You may opt for a cap with an integral damper mechanism to replace a missing or loose-fitting damper system in your chimney. This type of chimney cap, once in place, will cap the previously wasted energy, restore the necessary damper functions, and insulate your home from the elements. Most come complete with a lever you'll need to install on your fireplace wall, which activates effective use of the damper. Typically, those with older fireplaces will enlist these dual-purpose caps to gently restore an older fireplace.

For more information on chimney caps and examples of, please visit: Northline Express Chimney Caps

Desmona Fratere has written many articles on subjects of the home and home maintenance to help consumers find the best and safest products for their homes.

Listen, I Smoke Like A Chimney

Your son wants you to play one on one with him, and you love him and you love the time you spend together, so you say yes. But five minutes into the game you are fighting for air and you feel as if your heart is now the basketball, pounding on the inner wall of your chest, so much it hurts. What do you do?

You could lie and say you have to go back to work, yes, that is it, you have to go back in the house, doing something passive, heart-less so to speak. You son will be hurt, of course. He likes the time you spend together too. He may say something, and he may not, but the point is that either way, you have given your son the emotional boot. You have made out that your time together is not important, you have said that work, or whatever excuse you have used is your priority. He thinks you do not love him.

You could tell the truth. You could say, Listen, I smoke like a chimney and so while I am chronologically still pretty youngish, physically I am ancient. So let me off the hook, all right? It might get you out your dilemma. It will also scare him half to death. But, hey, you told him the truth and he knows it was not him, that it was not that you did not want to spend time with him, or that you did not love him.

The fact is that when you smoke, you diminish your capacity to live; to be all you can be. Your role as a mother or father or sister or wife or husband demands that you be all you can be, and when you smoke you are forgoing your end of the deal. Do you think it is fair, do you think smoking is a valid excuse for you not playing your part? Do you think you should be excused because you are a smoker? Maybe, but I am sure your children and family would not see it like that.

It is worth taking a small inventory. List the times you would have shared physical adventures with your family, now mark those that you were unable to complete, unable to sustain, or even unable to attempt at all. It is not hard to guess the reasons why. The air in your lungs would not sustain you. You would have been this side of a heart attack. You had little to no stamina or maybe because you cough up phlegm like it is going out of style.

How many times have you disappointed those you love that traces back to smoking? Maybe the better question is this: How many times can you continue to disappoint before you decide that smoking is not worth risking the loss of those you love?

To Better Health Striving to Create a Happier Healthier Life

Copyright 2006 T&M Sales Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Why You Should Hire A Chimney Sweep

It is important to keep a chimney clean regardless of the type of fuel burned. This can prevent fires as well as prevent noxious gasses from entering the home. The chimney carries away toxic gasses emitted from the fire in the fireplace and it is an important safety measure to ensure it is clean and free from blockage. A chimney sweep will perform routine maintenance and inspection to ensure proper safety standards are met.

It is advised that maintenance on the chimney be performed once per year. In other countries this is a standard accepted practice. However, this idea is still quite new in the United States. It is growing in popularity, though, because of the increase in deaths and injuries related to fireplaces. Over 5,500 fires and 10,000 gas poisonings occur each year due to improper fireplace maintenance. These figures can be greatly reduced with proper care.

Chimney sweeps are available in all areas and can be easily found in the phone book or via an Internet search. Choose services that are experienced and affordable. It is also recommended to obtain a service that is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a non profit organization that educates tests and certifies chimney sweep services.

The chimney sweep will first inspect the chimney for any damage and determine the extent of cleaning necessary. It is advisable to hire a chimney sweep that only does inspections and cleaning, and does not actually do the repairs. This forces them to be objective about repair needs and can minimize unnecessary expenditures. After the inspection, the cleaning will begin. The room surrounding the chimney will be protected from falling dirt and particles so no damage is incurred. Once the chimney is thoroughly brushed and clean, the technician will vacuum the particles and do a final cleaning of the surrounding area.

Some people may be tempted to do the work themselves. However, there is an aspect of danger to the job and it can be very time consuming and tiring. It is necessary to utilize the proper equipment and have access to the roof and interior of the chimney. This can sometimes prove dangerous with the use of tall ladders. Professional chimney sweep services are licensed and bonded which will protect your investment. The cost of the service is affordable, generally fewer than two hundred dollars, and depending on the chimney the cleaning will only take approximately one hour. Therefore, using professionals is recommended.
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for ChimneySweepService.com. To learn about how to chimney sweep and hiring a chimney sweep, visit us.

The Reasons Why Gas Fireplace Logs Heat Your Chimney Better Than Your Room

Frustrated with the lack of heat you get from your natural gas fireplace log set? Carl Herkes explains why gas fireplace logs are inefficient.

Natural gas is on the rise. It is predicted to double in cost this year. Are you afraid to use your gas fireplace because you know those gas logs don't throw enough heat? Are you frustrated because the gas logs are downright ugly when they aren't burning? And now you won't use them because you can't stand to waste the natural gas? Let's face it. Traditional gas fireplace logs are inefficient. Let me explain why.

First, much of the gas burns behind the logs. You don't see most of the flame and you don't feel the radiant heat from it. In order to see a good deal of flame, you must turn the gas much higher than just an idle. In doing so, you are burning more gas than you should. This also presents an additional problem. By-products, mainly in the form of soot are produced. Not enough oxygen can combine with the natural gas to completely burn it up. Remember the days when cars were not equipped with catalytic converters? Remember driving down the road and smelling the exhaust of the cars around you? That is the smell of gasoline not being completely burned. The catalytic converter solved that problem. It gets very hot and helps to burn any leftover gasoline before it exits your exhaust system. Fireplaces are like cars without catalytic converters. Soot and other by-products are produced when natural gas is not completely burned.

Secondly, gas fireplace logs have some fill underneath them that is supposed to look like ash from a wood burning fireplace. That fill substance is usually crushed lava rock. Lava rock neither retains nor radiates heat. No doubt, you have seen countless styles of heaters on the market. Whether electric, natural gas, kerosene or propane, they all share a common feature (with the exception of a few radiator-style heaters). The heaters all have reflective surfaces around the heating element to better radiate heat into your room. Those heaters do not have a lava rock lining around the heating element. Manufacturers know that a reflective surface is the best surface for throwing radiant heat.

Thirdly, the gas logs themselves do not help to drive radiant heat into the room. The logs do retain heat, but the surface of them (made to look like bark on a tree) is certainly not reflective. The surface of the logs is usually very rough and starts getting covered with soot the first time they are used. The soot further inhibits the logs from radiating heat.

In summary, gas fireplace logs are sold because some people would like to see a fire that mimics what a real wood fire looks like. Often, manufacturers don't take into account that consumers are only getting half the benefit of having a fire if it's only visual, but lacks the heat advantage.

Flexible Chimney Liners Explained

When chimneys get old or are not maintained properly they can deteriorate and create hazardous conditions. Cracked tiles and deteriorating masonry can allow hazardous gases or even fire to enter your house. In order to remedy these situations there are two things that can be done. The entire existing chimney can be torn down and rebuilt, or you can reline your chimney with a stainless steel or aluminum insert. To tear down and rebuild a chimney is not a small job. It's very labor intensive and can cost quite a bit of money. Sometimes it can be next to impossible, for example if the chimney runs up through the center of the house. The easiest and most cost effective way to repair a chimney is to reline it with a metal chimney liner.

Many chimneys have jogs or offsets as they rise to the top of a structure, so a rigid pipe is not always the best solution. In the event of the absense of a straight chimney a flexible chimney liner can be used. A flexible chimney liner can come in two forms. The first is a heavy flexible liner commonly made of 316L stainless steel. Its exactly what its name implies- heavy. The second type is a light flexible stainless steel liner, this is the most common. Most light weight flexible liners are made of 316ti stainless steel. Aluminum liners are also common for low efficient gas appliances.

Are you wondering what the "ti" stands for in 316ti? The answer, titanium. It ads a bit more protection against high heat and corrosion. It's not neccessary but it doesn't hurt to have it. The flexible liners are built to withstand extremely high heat, in case of a chimney fire. They are said to last a lifetime, but they haven't been around long enough to prove it. However they have gone through extensive testing at Underwriter Laboratories and other testing agencies and have passed.

What's involved in a chimney relining job?
Installation begins with clearing any obstructions that may be inside the chimney. A probe is pulled up the chimney to make sure the chimney is clear. A thorough cleaning of the chimney is not necessary because the new liner will provide a brand new flue for the chimney. It's best to install the widest liner possible to get the best draft possible.

Some chimney liners are installed by pulling them up from the bottom with a winch that is attached to the top of the chimney. It's also possible to pull the liner down the chimney. It all depends upon each unique situation, and many installers have different preferences. Sometimes the liner may need a little coaxing to get it all the way through the chimney, but its flexible nature allows for quite a bit of contorting.

Once installed the liner should be insulated. This is a step that is often avoided, but is a good idea. An insulated chimney liner will allow for the liner to get heated properly allowing for a better draft. There are two types of common insulating methods. The first is a vermiculite and concrete mixture that is poured down the chimney and dries in place. The other is a ceramic wool blanket. This requires more clearance and can result in having to use a smaller diameter pipe which can affect the quality of the draft.

In order to insulate with a ceramic wool blanket you must wrap the liner before it is inserted into the chimney. You start by laying out the insulation on a flat surface. Then the stainless liner is placed in the center of the insulation. The insulation is then wrapped around the liner held in place with a adhesive spray. (this step is optional) A wire mesh is then covered over the liner and insulation to help protect the insulation as its snaked down the chimney. A stainless wire is then spiraled around the mesh just to add a little more strength. The mesh is then held in place on both ends by large hose clamps.

Are all Chimney Liners the same?
Most flexible stainless steel liners are the same from manufacturer to manufacturer. They may vary slightly in their steel makeup, some leaving out the Titanium. They are are very closely related in their design. Some manufacturers make the "hills and valleys" of the liner a little steeper claiming greater flexibility and strength.

Most people are impressed with the strength of the leading manufacturer's liner. Does the liner need to be to withstand the weight of a 300lb man? No, it doesn't. When the liner is placed in your chimney there is no weight pushing on it's sides. So this is something that is not really neccessary, however, it may give people some added peace of mind.

Different companies provide different components with their liner kits. Some have clamps, some use screws, and some use a combination of clamps and screws. Transcontinental Equipment manufactures components that use a patented tab and clip system. The liner kit is very easy to install and can accomodate tight bottom termination areas. The liner is identical to other leading manufacturers. For more information about liner brands click here.

A job only for the pros?
This is a job that is recommended to be done only by pros. However, it is possible for a do-it-yourselfer to tackle the job. If you do decide to do it yourself, make sure to do your research and then carefully select the products you need in order to complete the job.

Reference
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Checklist: Do I Need to Replace My Chimney Cap?

As you are cleaning leaves out of your homes gutters, dealing with Christmas lights, or adjusting a satellite dish, dont forget to evaluate your chimney caps while youre on the roof. Chimney caps are those mesh-sided enclosures (usually made of stainless steel, copper, or galvanized steel) atop your chimney to prevent water, animals, bird droppings, and leaves from entering your home. A once-a-year assessment of your chimney caps condition can be well worth your time for protecting your house. Here are four things you can easily check on your chimney caps:

1.Are the chimney caps there?
If there have been high winds in your area, your chimney caps may have blown off. Properly secured chimney caps withstand most high winds, but exceptional winds can do damage, including blowing chimney caps off.

2.Are the chimney caps securely attached?
Time, wild animals, or high winds can degrade the security of your chimney caps attachment to your flues or chimneys. You can retighten screws or reapply a sealant if your chimney caps are no longer securely attached.

3.Are the chimney caps rusting through?
Galvanized steel chimney caps generally last about three to five years before they become too rusted to serve their purposes. In salt water environments, galvanized chimney caps corrode even more quickly. Stainless steel and copper chimney caps usually have lifetime warranties, so they are good replacement choices for those who dont want to be replacing their chimney caps every few years.

4.Are the sides of your chimney caps clogged?
The mesh or screen sides of your chimney caps may get clogged with leaves or other detritus forced into the mesh by very high winds. More frequently, chimney caps mesh can get clogged with soot and creosote, especially if you are using unseasoned, green firewood. This clogging is most common in chimney caps designed with smaller mesh holes for use in wildfire prone areas. If the mesh sides of your chimney caps are clogged, your fireplaces or woodstoves draft will be reduced, leading to poor performance or even to a chimney fire.

When you head up to the roof, take along a metal tape measure, paper, and pencil. In case you find you need new chimney caps, you will have the tools at hand to measure your flues or chimney crown for their replacement chimney caps.

Susan Penney appreciates simple ways to make our homes renewing spaces for our families. She invites you to visit http://www.fireplacemall.com/ for fireplace accessories to serve your fire-less or your fire-filled fireplace.

Checking Your Chimney Caps

While you are cleaning leaves out of your homes gutters, dealing with Christmas lights, or adjusting a satellite dish, dont forget to check on your chimney caps while youre on the roof. Chimney caps are those mesh-sided enclosures (usually made of stainless steel, copper, or galvanized steel) atop your chimney to prevent water, animals, bird droppings, and leaves from entering your home. A once-a-year assessment of your chimney caps condition can be well worth your time for protecting your house. Here are four things you can easily check on your chimney caps:
1. Are the chimney caps there?
If there have been high winds in your area, your chimney caps may have blown off. Properly secured chimney caps withstand most high winds, but exceptional winds can do damage, including blowing chimney caps off.
2. Are the chimney caps securely attached?
Time, wild animals, or high winds can degrade the security of your chimney caps attachment to your flues or chimneys. You can retighten screws or reapply a sealant if your chimney caps are no longer securely attached.
3. Are the chimney caps rusting through?
Galvanized steel chimney caps generally last about three to five years before they become too rusted to serve their purposes. In salt water environments, galvanized chimney caps corrode even more quickly. Stainless steel and copper chimney caps usually have lifetime warranties, so they are good replacement choices for those who dont want to be replacing their chimney caps every few years.
4. Are the sides of your chimney caps clogged?
The mesh or screen sides of your chimney caps may get clogged with leaves or other detritus forced into the mesh by very high winds. More frequently, chimney caps mesh can get clogged with soot and creosote, especially if you are using unseasoned, green firewood. This clogging is most common in chimney caps designed with smaller mesh holes for use in wildfire prone areas. If the mesh sides of your chimney caps are clogged, your fireplaces or woodstoves draft will be reduced, leading to poor performance or even to a chimney fire.
When you head up to the roof, take along a metal tape measure, paper, and pencil. In case you find you need new chimney caps, you will have the tools at hand to measure your flues or chimney crown for their replacement chimney caps.

Susan Penney appreciates simple ways to make our homes renewing spaces for our families. She invites you to visit http://www.fireplacemall.com for fireplace accessories to serve your fire-less or your fire-filled fireplace.