Ask the Experts

Even if you only use your fireplace a few times a year, you should have your chimney swept annually in order to ensure the system is in good working order. It only takes a few burns for soot to accumulate and cause unsafe conditions. Even with gas fireplaces.

Creosote is simply un-burnt fuel in the form of carbon. Creosote starts out as a fine powdery substance that settles and sticks to the inside of the chimney and fireplace. Over time however, if not regularly cleaned, creosote can accumulate into hazardous deposits such as in the picture above.

There are many reasons for a fireplace to start smoking into the house or for a smell to develop. You could be having issues with house pressurization, or temperature inversions but the most common reason for this is that the chimney is dirty which decreaces its aerodynamics.

We recommend yearly inspection and cleaning which will clear the vent of all dirt, dust, and debris. Once the vent is cleaned, the air can flow freely through to the outside. You might be surprised at how quickly lint can clog your dryer vent.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) over 15,000 fires occur in homes nationwide as a result of dryers. In over half those cases, the likely cause for the dryer catching on fire was from backed up lint that had nowhere to go because of a clogged vent. In addition to a blocked vent being a safety hazard, the heating element will also burn out if there is too much lint, dust, or debris in the vent.

Absolutely! Chimney caps are multi functional. Not only do they help keep burning embers inside the chimney and off of your roof, and keep rain water outside where it belongs, they also keep critters like this guy out of your house.