- Chimney Cleaning Schedule - Chimneys and flues should be cleaned and/or inspected annually. Neglecting to do this could endanger everyone in the home. Birds or other animals can make nests or get stuck in chimneys and flues blocking them. When this happens it is possible that carbon monoxide that should have been vented to the outside will, instead, build [...]Read More about Chimney Cleaning Schedule
- Don’t Burn THIS in the Fireplace - There are two things you do not want to burn in the fireplace. Do not burn newspapers, magazines, old bills, or other paper products in your fireplace or stove. Burning paper can produce 1400 degree temperatures in an instant, whereas a normal fire burns at between 400 and 600 degrees. This sudden and excessive heat [...]Read More about Don’t Burn THIS in the Fireplace
- Flue Pipes (Types of Chimney Liners) - There are three different types of chimney liner commonly used. Brick Liners Brick was used in the older homes built in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century. These bricks tend to deteriorate with age and moisture and should not be considered suitable for further use without a professional inspection annually. Using a [...]Read More about Flue Pipes (Types of Chimney Liners)
- Gas Log Fireplaces - There are two types of gas logs available; the traditional vented type and the newer vent-free type. The vented type must have a working flue (chimney) if they are to be installed. The vent-free or un-vented type does not need a flue. Vented Type Fireplaces For regular vented gas logs the flue must be in [...]Read More about Gas Log Fireplaces
- Reasons for Chimney Failure - Chimneys suffer from a two-pronged attack throughout their life. The first attack comes from the outside; wind, rain, freezing weather and ice. Over time these elements wear down the exterior’s defenses, cracking the crown on the top of the chimney, damaging brickwork, and causing mortar joints to fail and crack. The second attack is from [...]Read More about Reasons for Chimney Failure
- Using a Log Stove - When burning a fire in a log stove or insert fireplace with glass doors that are closed on a regular basis, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Most manufacturers recommend after a slow, relatively cool fire has been burning for a few hours, that the fire should be stoked up and burned hot [...]Read More about Using a Log Stove