Chimney Cleaning List

Nature is an awesome force. It?s constantly reshaping our world. Sometimes on an immediate basis, like the action of December 2004?s tsunami, but more often the changes are more gradual, like the erosive forces of wind and rain. There?s a special place in Wayne County that I?d been to before to see the effects of […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]