Such questions include:

1. How often should my chimney be swept?

We recommend your chimney be inspected yearly, and swept if needed at that time. We're not alone, that's also recommended by the Chimney Safety Institute of America as well as the National Fire Protection Association. Too many factors make it impossible to predict how often it will actually need swept, that's why it's best to at least have it checked every year, then you'll know for sure if it needs it.

2. What's the best kind of firewood to use?

We recommend burning only seasoned hardwoods like Oak, Hickory, Birch, & Maple. Although, the type of wood is not as important as the fact that it needs to be seasoned. Remember, The only way to insure that you have good seasoned wood is to aquire it early enough to be sure that the wood is split and stacked for at least 6 months. Burning dry seasoned wood with a moisture content of around 20% is one way to help prevent creosote buildup in your chimney.

3. Why does my fireplace smoke back into the house?

Here are a few possibilities : The chimney may be too short. The NFPA code says that chimneys should be two feet above anything within ten feet from them. The flue may be too small. There may be a pressure problem in your home causing a flow reversal down the chimney. The flue may need to be "prewarmed" before lighting the fire. The chimney may just need swept. Creosote buildup can progressively close off the flue. We can diagnose and treat these and other draft problems, just give us a call!

4. How long will it take to sweep my chimney? And what does that involve?

It usually takes us about one hour, sometimes an hour & 1/2 to complete a detailed, level one inspection and sweeping, depending on what type of appliance is being serviced. We generally follow a 6 step procedure. Preliminary Examination, Inside Preparation, Rooftop Examination & Cleaning, Inside cleaning, Final Examination, & Customer Review. This always includes a chimney condition report and receipt for your records. The procedure will vary slightly depending on the type of appliance being serviced and all work is done without dirtying your home. We not only sweep your chimney, We also inspect the entire system to insure there are no obstructions, damage or deterioration and to be sure there are no other obvious problems.

5. I have a gas fireplace. It doesn't need service right?

Wrong! Gas fireplaces, if left unchecked, can pose a more serious threat to your well being as they produce toxic gases that can be hard to detect. We can inspect the system and check for proper combustion and chimney problems as well as detection of gas leaks. We always recommend an annual inspection of your gas fireplace/chimney and it's a good idea to replace the sand and burning embers as well, every few years. Refurbishing your gas fireplace can maintain a realistic look and feel, and help prevent delayed ignition.

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