Chimney sweep

Living in a home, your house will require maintenance. No matter what type of furnace you have, chances are that you have a chimney of some type. The chimney should be cleaned every few years to prevent the build up of dust, particulars, and to prevent any failure in how the chimney works to protect your home. A chimney sweep is one that is experienced in cleaning and in maintaining a chimney. The chimney sweep in your local area is one that is going to service, clean and make any recommendations to you about the condition of your chimney.

How do you find a chimney sweep?

If you have a need for a chimney sweep, you can look in the yellow pages online or offline for good leads. Chimney sweeps, those are certified and trained, are also found in chimney sweep directories. Affiliations and memberships to unions and to trades that are specifically chimney sweep related are regional and national.

Your chimney is important to the over all function of your home. Poisonous gases that can be emitted from the fuels that are burned in your furnace are meant to escape the home through the chimney. When your chimney is clogged with soot, damages or dirt, the gases, smoke and fumes will enter into your home.

When you have too much soot in your chimney, you could find smoke through out your home. When smoke enters your home, your contents, walls, and everything in your home could become soot covered. This would require a lot of work to clean up. Many times an insurance company is going to pay to have your home cleaned, but it is an inconvenience you could avoid if you were to have your chimney cleaned every few years.

A chimney sweep often times is going to give you the best results in the summer months. Don’t wait until it gets cold outside to call in a chimney sweep, you will find they are very busy during that time of the year. A chimney sweeps is going to have more free time during the summer months when people are thinking about their furnace or using their heat.

A chimney sweeps is often times going to be a mason as well. Ask if your chimney sweep can repair the brick on your chimney or put up a new chimney if needed. If you find that your chimney has been struck by lightening, a chimney sweep can inspect the interior of the chimney, completing a chimney scan to tell if you have additional damages.

A chimney sweep will be able to provide you with an estimate of how much it will cost to inspect your chimney. A chimney sweep will also be able to provide you with an estimate of how much it would cost to clean out your chimney. If there is anything you do not understand about a chimney sweep, what they do, or if you really need their services, do not be afraid to ask the chimney sweep that you contact in your local area. You will find this is a very select group of people, that take their time and inspect all chimneys, as a chimney sweep knows just how vital their job and their services are for those who need a chimney.

http://www.chimneysweepsite.com

Have Your Chimney Inspected By A Certified Chimney Sweep Before Buying

Over the years that I have been a Chimney Sweep, I have seen a lot of problems with new homeowners that have had their chimney and fireplace checked by a Home Inspector, only to find out that the chimney should not or could not be used; most are very disappointed, and some are downright mad. Some buyers bought the house with the fireplace being the main "focal point". Do not get me wrong, I am not bashing the Home Inspectors but, most are not trained to see the problems that a Certified Chimney Sweep can see. CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) Chimney Sweeps, have to pass a Certification test (given every three years) that covers three National Code books:

The CSIA Test covers NFPA-211 (National Fire Protection Association), the Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances. NFPA-31, covers the Standard for the Installation of Oil-Burning Equipment. NFPA-54, covers the National Fuel Gas Code. It is a closed book test that is given by a representative of the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

There is not a law that requires a Chimney Sweep to be Certified but, it goes a long way with Insurance Companies when you find a problem with a Chimney or have to repair a chimney. A Certified Chimney Sweep knows what to look for inside and outside of your home. That being said, all problems can not be seen without doing demolition or creating access areas to view the chimney.

Some Chimney Sweep companies have Chim-scans that enable a camera to run through the inside of the chimney allowing the customer full view. The monitor is set up on the hearth of the fireplace and the camera can be raised or lowered, so the customer and the sweep can see the problem areas. Most Chim-Scans have the capability to be recorded and/or have snap shots made of the areas in question. Do expect to be charged extra for the chimney scanning; but, it is a worthwhile investment to show problems found to the insurance company or the previous homeowner, so further action can be taken.

Have your chimney cleaned and evaluated annually and always have your chimney evaluated before you close on the home so you neither have to pay for something you have bought but cannot use nor must pay out of your pocket later when you decide to sell...and, as the seller, before the new homeowner has the chimney inspected himself and finds your problem. Remember: a chimney is a very large selling point for the simple reason of the heating advantages that it extends to the buyer.

Joe Honea is a Chimney Sweep who lives in South Carolina. He is married to an Italian girl and they have three sons; two are in the military, and one works in automotive collision repair. They have two protective German Shepherd pups that share their home and they have also recently opened an online chimney supply store. http://www.Fireplaceandchimneysupplies.com my blog is http://www.garagedoordr.blogspot.com

Choosing The Right Chimney Cap For Your Home

Chimney Caps are a small amount to pay for the immense amount of work they do for you. A Chimney Cap does several different things. It keeps animals, birds, leaves, debris and snakes from entering your Chimney. It will also stop some "down-drafts" of air that would normally rush down the Chimney causing smoke to enter your home. Most of all, a Chimney Cap keeps rain from entering your Chimney, preventing a small "lake" inside the firebox area and deteriorating the firebox floor.

When rain enters the Chimney, it causes the fireplace to smell like an old, damp cellar filled with smoke. If you are allergic to mold spores, this is one area you may want to check if you cannot find the source of your allergy. Rain, when mixed with soot, creates a caustic acid that starts to deteriorate the mortar between the joints of the bricks. Mortar between the bricks has a life expectancy of around seventy years, but, the rain can rapidly speed up the process.

If you have Gas Logs, you definitely need a Chimney Cap. A Chimney Cap keeps the rain off the expensive gas log burner unit. If it has a remote control system, the rain will cause it to fail, costing you several hundred dollars in repairs. And, if you are burning the gas logs while it is raining, the rain hitting the ceramic logs can cause them to crack or break under the extreme heat change.

Animals can be a nightmare in a fireplace; not only for the homeowner, but for the poor ol' Chimney Sweep that has to get them out! I have taken out squirrels, birds, ducks and even released an Owl which had been trapped for several days within the Chimney. Worst of all, I once opened a damper and had a live black snake fall into my lap while sitting in the firebox! If you want to see land-speed records set...let a snake fall into my lap; I can promise you, you have never seen a six-foot, one-inch, 235-pound, former Marine, squeal like a little girl and outrun any deer in your county. So, do yourself--and the Chimney Sweep--a favor and put a Cap on it!

Chimney Caps come in three types of metals. Galvanized caps are cheap and do the job, but will also require continual maintenance of paint to prevent rust. The cap's rust will run down onto the crown and the chimney, deteriorating the mortar and the brick and will stain the roof, paint and/or siding of your home; Galvanized is also not recommended with gas logs due to caustic exhaust. Stainless Steel is durable, never has to be painted and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Copper, very pretty, will not rust, but will later turn a nice green patina (like an old penny), leaving streaks on your roof shingles, brick and Chimney. Copper is usually the most expensive, followed by Stainless Steel and Galvanized. Do keep in mind that caps which simply slide into the flue (instead of being installed with tap screws) will fly off during heavy winds and can cause serious damage to your neighbor's home and/or vehicle. Talk with your local Chimney Sweep to see what best suits your home.

...And remember, it is "Good Luck to shake hands with a Chimney Sweep."

Joe Honea is a Chimney Sweep in South Carolina. He is married to an Italian girl and together have three sons; two are in the Military and one works in automotive collision repair. They share their home with their two German Shepherd pups and have just recently opened an online Chimney Supply store.

http://www.Fireplaceandchimneysupplies.com

http://www.garagedoordr.blogspot.com

http://chimneysweep-joe.blogspot.com

Firewood and Chimney Safety

Burn Only Seasoned Wood

Seasoned wood usually contains 20 - 25% moisture content, while unseasoned wood can have up to 45% water content. Seasoned firewood is easier to start and produces more heat. In order to make sure that you are purchasing seasoned wood, buy it in the summer 6 months before you plan to use it. Green wood or unseasoned wood must dry out before it will burn properly. Burning green wood can cause smoking problems, odor problems, creosote buildup and possibly dangerous chimney fires.

How to recognize seasoned wood when you see it

With a bit of practice you can learn to recognize seasoned wood when you see it. One sign is that the bark has loosened its hold, or has already been knocked off with handling. Also, the log ends have darkened, dried out and started to crack.

A well seasoned firelog will be lighter in weight than an unseasoned or green piece of the same size and species. When it really is well seasoned, expect to pay more. Cutting trees down, transporting, handling and working up wood is a risky, labor-intensive pursuit. The more times a supplier has to handle it, and the longer he ties up space storing it, the more he will charge.

Storing Firewood

Store wood off the ground in a location away from the house because termites will be looking for it. You can easily make a place to hold the wood by placing two 2x4s or 2x6s parallel to eachother on the ground. Stack wood across these boards, then cover with a tarp to protect it from the elements.

Buying Firewood

Firewood is generally sold by volume, the most common measure being the cord. A standard cord of firewood is 128 cubic feet of wood, measured as a stacked pile of wood 8 feet long by 4 feet tall by 4 feet deep.

Although firewood is usually sold by volume, heat production is dependent on weight. Pound for pound, all wood has approximately the same BTU content, but a cord of seasoned hardwood weighs about twice as much as the same volume of softwood because it is denser. It contains almost twice as much potential heat and this means that you will have to load your fireplace less often if you purchase hardwood, but it is certainly find to use soft woods. Mixed wood (soft & hard wood) by the cord or 1/2 cord is a good buy. Use the softwood to get the fire started and then add the hardwood for a nice long burn.

Never burn any construction scraps of treated or painted wood, especially treated wood from decks or landscaping ties. The chemicals used can release dangerous amounts of arsenic and other toxic compounds into your house. Never burn plastic because it releases toxic chemicals. Never burn large amounts of paper (use your shredder). As for Christmas trees, I know it's tempting but don't do It!

For more information on chimney and fireplace safety, please visit Chimney Sweep & Dryer Vent Cleaning

Don't Hurry Down The Chimney With A Vacuum In Tow

If your lady love is waiting for her Santa Baby to hurry down the chimney, you had best not disappoint! Unfortunately, if you show up with the wrong gift in hand, you might find the temperatures at the bottom are colder than expected. Or worse, she might light the fire to "break your fall!"

Guys being guys are not always blessed with the best gift giving skills in the world. Sure, some of us are real Casanovas. This type of guy can make even Santa look like a clod, wrapping up just the right ring or necklace; bringing flowers at the perfect times and so on. The rest of us sit on the sidelines in wonderment.

Many of us, carrying that unusually strong practical gene that must come from caveman days or something, often think we have found the "perfect gift," because she can use it! Think again, fellas. Practicality and presents do not go together.

I am not a gift giving natural, but I have learned a thing or two along the way. There are some things to watch out for on the present buying front. This advice goes out to all of you guys who are not Casanovas by nature. My personal list of the Top 5 worst gifts to buy a lady (honed with hard hitting, first hand experience) includes:

Vacuums and cleaning appliances.

If it means "work" for her or even you, do NOT buy it. Even if you really, really need it, get it the day after the holidays. Do not hurry down the chimney with a vacuum in tow. You might just find out how flexible those hoses really are!

Kitchen items.

Unless she is a five-star chef who has personally asked you for a $500 hand mixer, do not buy things for the kitchen. Here and again it means "work" and this could mean a very blue Christmas for you!

Flannel anything.

Even if it is really cold and the nightshirt looks really warm and comfy, do not do it! She will think you think she is frumpy, dumpy or old. If clothing is on your list, think sexy, youthful or fun. Better yet, get her a gift certificate and pick out something else to wrap up!

Romantic gifts!

They are a wonderful idea, but if they only serve your purposes, think again. Consider items she would enjoy. Think romantic music CDs, a cord of firewood and a bottle of champagne, sensual massage oils. Do not think a striper costume and wrap it up with her name on it! (Maybe for her birthday, but not the holidays!)

Anything impersonal and/or generic.

If you would give it to a client or a perfect stranger, DO NOT BUY IT for her! While a chocolate and teddy bear gift basket is ideal for her, a fruit basket with a card filled out by a stranger will earn you a night on the couch. The same goes for anything that can be picked up at a convenience store.

Finding the perfect gift for a lady requires a little planning and preparation. If all else fails, ask her friends for advice, but whatever you do, do not buy any of the Top 5 things to avoid as the "big" or "only" gift during the holidays.

Randy Gardner is Romeo-Your Romance Resource and is the exclusive writer for Got To Have It Romantic Gift Creations. Visit Ask Romeo Blog to read more of Romeo’s articles about dating, romance, relationships and romantic and holiday gifts.

To find that perfect unique romantic gift for that special someone, go to Got To Have It Romantic Gift Creations Christmas Gifts

What Is This Chimney Starter Thing? And Do I Have To Use One?

First Question: It's a big can without a bottom.

Second Question: NO.

OK... you might want a little more information than that, right?

A chimney starter is a metal cylinder, roughly 8" by 12" tall, with a suspended wire mesh bottom. It's purpose is to start a charcoal fire for a grill. It also has holes or slots cut into the sides, toward the bottom, to help with air flow. It's hollow and has a handle on it for safe handling. The wire mesh or grate bottom will hold the charcoal briquettes in place inside the chimney, allowing for airflow underneath.

If you have not heard of a chimney starter, or never used one, you probably just stack charcoal briquettes in a pile on your grill, douse them with a little lighter fluid, and light them. I too have had very good luck with fires for many years without using a chimney, by doing just that.

But because heat rises, using a chimney starter will get all the briquettes burning evenly (better than just an old pile). Since it is set up for good air flow, the fire is ready fairly quickly, too. But the big advantage I see in using a chimney is that you don't have to use lighter fluid anymore (unless you still want to).

When using a chimney starter, simply crumple up some newspaper and put it into the bottom of the chimney under the grate. Leave a little opening in the middle so the air can flow upward. Then place it right-side-up on the grate of your grill and fill it with charcoal.

Carefully light the paper and let it burn for 10 to 20 minutes. When white ash starts to form on the top briquettes, empty it onto the grate and your fire is ready to go.

Be careful doing this, and wear some heavy gloves. The charcoal is very hot at this point. It is easy to get burned, even when wearing gloves. Try not to get any part of your body directly over the briquettes while they are being poured onto the grate.

If that turns out to not be enough charcoal to do the job, leave 2 or 3 burning briquettes in the bottom of the chimney and fill it up again. You will shortly have another chimney of fuel, hot and ready.

Use a chimney... don't use a chimney?

If you've gone this long without using one, you already know that you don't have to use a chimney, unless you want to. It is just a tool that's meant to make starting a fire easier. It's like choosing between a match or a lighter. Use whichever one you want. And so far, I haven't seen any Chimney Police out there.

Jeff Slankard is the owner of original-bbq-recipes. It is the place to find out how you can be the creator of your own delicious BBQ recipes.
http://www.original-bbq-recipes.com/

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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