The two main types of fireplace inserts are direct vents and natural vents. Direct vents help heat your home efficiently while simultaneously maintaining the quality of indoor air, whereas natural vents use a flexible liner installed in the chimney to exhaust air from the fireplace.
Have you ever wondered how your fireplace works? Simply put, because heat rises, it carries the smoke and harmful chemicals out of the house through the chimney. This process can cause a dangerous build-up on the inside of your chimney, which is why you need regular cleanings.
Did you know that the concept of fireplaces dates back to the 1700s? During this time, Abraham Darby used smelting methods with iron to provide a cost-efficient way of producing heat. However, fireplaces did not start to become popular until the Victorian era.
It’s important to remember that some types of fires are inherently dirtier than others when it comes to your chimney. For instance, burning things like cardboard or old Christmas trees can create more debris to accumulate in the chimney and could even spark a fire.
Chimney Sweeps are seen as a good luck symbol in many parts of the world. In Great Britain, a bride sighting a chimney sweep on her wedding day is thought to bring good luck. British chimney sweeps sometimes hire themselves out to attend weddings.
Did you know that water can be a chimney's worst enemy? In fact, chimney leaks can cause more damage to masonry chimneys than fire. Chimneys are particularly vulnerable to moisture, as they are constantly exposed to rain, snow, wind, and the freeze and thaw cycles of winter.
Today's chimney sweeps do a lot more than just clean out the flue. They will also inspect your fireplace and chimney for possible installation and venting issues. They can even help you figure out ways to be more efficient with your heating.
Chimney sweeping is much more regulated and standardized today than it ever has been in the past. Trade organizations like the National Chimney Sweep Guild and the Chimney Safety Institute of America provide training and certification, so you can be sure that your chimney sweep will be knowledgeable and professional.
Did you know that more chimney fires tend to occur after warm winters than cold winters? This is because low-temp fires lead to a higher amount of creosote build-up on the inside of chimneys, and why it is important to have a chimney cleaned out even after a warm low-use winter.
A Level 2 chimney inspection typically involves three stages. The sweep confirms the chimney is sound and clear; inspects adjacent attic, crawl spaces, and basements for potential fire risks; and conducts a smoke or pressure test to assess chimney performance.
Did you know that Benjamin Franklin played an important role in the invention of fireplaces? He created the first freestanding firebox, known as the Franklin stove, after discovering that fireplaces lost a lot of heat through the wall.
While many home maintenance tasks are good candidates for handy homeowners, cleaning and maintaining your chimney isn't one of them. What do-it-yourselfers may not know is that there are sometimes thin layers of flammable material building up inside your flue or cracks that it would take professional equipment to detect.
Did you know that many of the DIY chimney sweep techniques that are available online are completely ineffective at properly cleaning out chimneys? To thoroughly remove the layer of creosote on the inside of chimneys that can lead to safety issues, professional tools and expertise is needed.
Using a fireplace or wood-burning stove is a great way to keep your heating bills low, but don't skimp on the maintenance. Having your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once a year is a necessary expense, because it detects and addresses issues before they become costly problems.
While the cleaning of your chimney and flue lining can be an extremely messy job, chimney sweeps protect all inside items and rely on a vacuum that sucks up soot, dust and dirt before it can fall into the house.
In many central European countries, chimney sweeps were associated with good luck. This concept was so prevalent, postcards from the early 1900s often featured painted images of chimney sweeps scattering on the ground lucky talismans like four-leaf clovers.
Soot buildup from an uncleaned chimney can be acidic, which means that its can corrode your chimney system and leave it vulnerable to still more problems. Having your chimney cleaned will prevent these problems keep your chimney working like it should for years to come.
One of the most frequently asked questions is this: Will there be a mess when we clean your chimney? No. We use the latest in vacuums, tools, and equipment; and we protect carpets, floors, and furniture with tarps and drop cloths.
Legend has it that, in 1066, a chimney sweep pushed King William of Britain out of the path of a runaway carriage. William declared sweeps to be lucky and in gratitude, he granted them the right to wear top hats, a privilege reserved for the gentry.
If you're using wood fires to heat your home, or even cook, hardwoods burn hotter and longer. Soft woods have more spark and smell and burn faster. Just remember, for every cord of wood you burn, have your chimney cleaned.
If you have a chimney, you might wonder when the best time of year is to have it cleaned. Late summer or early fall is a good time, since this means the fireplace will be ready to use when it gets cold, but chimney sweeps can do cleaning and inspection at other times if necessary.
One important part of a chimney inspection is the metal flashing on the roof that's designed to keep water from coming inside. The caulking on the flashing can give way over time.
