Blog

When you’re shopping for prices to get some work done to your chimney, your natural inclination may be to choose the company with the lowest price. A low bid on chimney repairs, chimney sweep services, chimney inspections and the like doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get poor service, but it could. Here’s why. Looking closer at […] Read more

If your heating bills are rising even though you are using your fireplace, your chimney may be to blame. That’s because a drafty fireplace and chimney problems can affect its heating efficiency. For starters, a traditional wood-burning fireplace is surprisingly inefficient. As much as 90% of the heat goes up the chimney instead of warming […] Read more

It’s not a good sign when you look up at the chimney and notice it leaning away from your house. It’s no optical illusion, and it is a dangerous situation. Depending on its size, a brick chimney can weigh over 8,500 pounds. It is secured to the foundation and attached to the roofline. But when […] Read more

A chimney is an inviting place for squirrels, small birds, and other critters, looking to build a cozy nest away from the reach of predators. Most homeowners don’t realize that the neighborhood critters are using the chimney as a hotel until they hear the pattering, squealing, and gnawing of critters in the night. The chimney […] Read more

Does your fireplace periodically (or regularly) have drafting problems? Does smoke back up into the house when you’re burning a fire? Are your fires sluggish and never seem to get up and roar? A “yes” answer to any of these questions may point to a drafting issue. If this is the case, a chimney pot […] Read more

Here are a few quick tips on getting the most out of your fireplace, stove or fireplace insert.  Open Masonry Fireplaces Traditional masonry fireplaces bring wonderful ambience to a home, but they’re not high-powered heat producers. If you have one of these fireplaces and want to increase its heat production, you have a few options. […] Read more

The fact that there’s such a product as chimney-cleaning logs tells you that cleaning built-up creosote out of chimneys is an important job. Chimney-cleaning logs are burned like any other logs but have special ingredients that are said to remove creosote. Sounds easy and simple. But do the logs actually work? Look for CSIA-approval Just […] Read more

The days are getting warmer, and migratory birds are making their path back across North America. You have likely noticed large flocks of birds flying across the sky or settling in fields and in power lines and trees. These birds are traveling now, but will soon begin nesting. There is one bird that instinctively nests […] Read more

It’s that time of year again..  you open the door to the wood stove and smoke rolls into the room.  It doesn’t usually do this, but it’s gotten worse over the past few weeks. Smoking issues in a wood stove can be caused by a myriad of reasons – clogs, warmer outside temperatures, wetter wood […] Read more

Ok, it’s the middle of summer so this may not be on your mind now, but it’s useful information anyway. Let’s say you hear a strange roaring or chugging sound from your chimney, maybe you can even hear some crackling or popping.  Smoke may fill the house – you are having a chimney fire.  What […] Read more