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Service
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Learn more about your chimney!
Maintenance
Miscellaneous
Safety
How often should I get my chimneys cleaned? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommend an annual inspection with sweeping and repair if needed. I don't have a fireplace, so why do I need to get my chimneys cleaned? It is recommended by NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) that you should have the chimney serving the central heater and/or water heater inspected annually and cleaned when necessary. What is a level I inspection? A routine visual inspection only of a chimney for verification of the suitability of that chimney for continued service. Click here for more information on The Three Levels of Inspection. Why do I need a chimney cap? A chimney cap is a preventative maintenance measure to protect against water entry, backdrafts, and pest entry into the chimney. An uncapped chimney:
Pests can, not only cause physical harm to humans (especially when surprised by you!), but they can also cause significant damage to your home. Their nests can block the flue, which can contribute to dangerous back-puffing, carbon monoxide poisoning, and chimney fires. No one wants their family exposed to that. Along with these dangers, animals nested in chimneys are noisy and can carry diseases so be sure to keep animals and birds outside where they belong!
Of any of the elements, water causes the greatest damage to your. It soaks into porous bricks, eats away at the mortar, accelerates the deterioration of your chimney liner, and damages the mortar crown on the top of your chimney. A chimney cap does a great job of protecting your chimney from water damage. For maximum chimney protection we recommend a multi-flue cap. That's because a multi-flue cap covers the entire chimney, not just one flue.
Certified technicians undergo intensive training outlined by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). They must pass a test given by the CSIA every 3 years in order to maintain their certification. This training and certification assures you that our inspection and sweep service is thorough and professional. CSIA Certified Technicians are able to recognize safety hazards not noticeable to the untrained eye. All of our sweeps are conducted by CSIA Certified Technicians. What causes that bad smell when our central air is on? Air moves up a chimney when the air in the chimney is warmer than the outside air. When these temperatures are reversed, air will move down through the chimney carrying that nasty creosote odor with it. Also, the air circulation within the home can create pressure imbalances that will draw smelly air down through the chimney. The air conditioning return vents are pulling a negative pressure on the home. If not enough make-up air is introduced as the appliance is running, the chimney becomes a natural fresh-air supply along with the wood smell from the flue. Stop this downward air flow or reverse it, and you eliminate the odor. Here are (3) common solutions:
The outside of my chimney looks fine, so everything is OK, right? You can tell a lot about a book by its cover. However, until you actually look inside you will not know everything about the story contained on the pages inside. In much the same way, the outside of a chimney can tell you a lot about the status of your flues, but it may not tell you the whole story. A trained look within can reveal things that can often go unnoticed by homeowners and untrained technicians. Have you had your chimney inspected by a CSIA Certified Technician lately? What kind of wood should I burn in my fireplace? The best wood to burn in your fireplace is seasoned hardwood at least (1) year old (after being split). You should store the wood undercover and off the ground. Can't I clean my chimney myself? It is possible, and anyone can service a chimney. However, Certified Technicians undergo intensive training outlined by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). They must pass a test given by the CSIA every 3 years in order to maintain their certification. This training and certification assures you that our inspection and sweep service is thorough and professional. CSIA Certified Technicians are able to recognize safety hazards not noticeable to the untrained eye. All of our sweeps are conducted by CSIA Certified Technicians. I have water stains on some of my ceilings. Could that be related to my chimney? Yes. It could mean a problem with your chimney flashing, pointing, crown, liner, etc. has developed. Call for an inspection to diagnose the problem. What about chimney lining systems? We line/reline chimneys with Homesaver stainless steel liners or with a ceramic lining system. For more information about why or with what to line your chimney, please visit the Homesaver website.
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