Our Company Blog

Benefits of Wood-Burning Appliances

There are many options for fireplaces and furnaces today including a variety of fuel and designs. There are many products and appliances available that can supplement your central heat or heat your home completely. It can be difficult to decide which to purchase and install in your dream home. Therefore, it’s important to educate yourself on your options so you can make a choice you can live with.

Today’s Wood-Burning Appliances

Wood-burning stoves are more economical than they’ve ever been. The appliances themselves are designed for efficiency that allow for high heat output. The new designs on the market are also beautifully made. They are available in all kinds of styles and colors to match a wide variety of home decor.

Renewable Fuel Source

Wood is also economical because it is a renewable resource. Split wood can be cut, collected, and properly seasoned at home. If it’s not possible for you to collect and replenish your own wood pile, you can often find a reliable source for wood. If you are looking to purchase split wood it’s important to find a source that cuts hard woods and allows the wood to dry properly. You can check the wood yourself by checking the corners that should begin cracking, and the color which should begin graying, as the wood dries.

Free of Utilities and Electricity

Another great benefit of wood-burning appliances is that they still burn when the electricity goes out. During winter storms in which others lose electric heat, you can maintain a fire in your appliance and stay warm. Some appliances have a blower that helps circulate the heat throughout the home, but even if the blower is unavailable during a winter storm, your furnace will still provide adequate heat for you, but they will not work when the electricity is out.

Aesthetics of a Wood-Burning Appliance

Wood is the only fuel that creates an authentic flame that so many homeowners long for in a fireplace. The appliances that Sweeps America offer a high-heat front window that allows you to view the flames in the same way you could with an open fireplace, except without the particulate pollution and the low efficiency of an open fireplace.

High Heat

Today’s wood-burning appliances can warm a room quickly, and some appliances can maintain heat in the entire home. When you have access to wood, it is an inexpensive way to heat your home. Gas prices can be unpredictable, and pellet stoves require homeowners to buy pellets regularly. Wood is the only fuel source that anyone can have access.

There are numerous benefits for wood-burning appliances. If you are ready to choose, purchase, and install your wood-burning appliance, our certified chimney sweeps are ready to work with you. Call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or schedule an appointment online today!

Avoid Fires With Dryer Vent Cleaning

When Talking about household appliances it’s important to note that low maintenance does not mean no maintenance, and neglecting routine maintenance can lower efficiency, shorten the life of an appliance, and likely cause fires and extensive damage.

Your Dryer Vent and Fire Risk

A clothes dryer is a heat appliance and should be treated as such. Just like a chimney should be cleaned to avoid flue fires, the dryer vent should be cleaned to avoid dryer vent fires. These fires are the leading cause of dryer-related fires. Every year hundreds of people are injured, dozens are killed, and thousands of dollars worth of property is damaged due to dryer vent fires.

You may not think it will happen to you, but if you’re like most Americans you assume cleaning the lint trap is enough maintenance for your dryer. This isn’t true!

If you have a dryer or are thinking of purchasing one, keep these things in mind:

1.  Have it professionally installed.
   A common cause of dryer vent fire is a buildup of lint inside the ventilation hose due to improper installation. If the hose is especially long, has several corners, and is compressed to fit behind furniture or into walls, the risk of fire increases. It is best to have your dryer professionally installed to avoid this risk. Most home improvement stores offer professional installations. An even better option would be to choose a CSIA Certified Exhaust Technicians® who is trained to install, clean, inspect, replace, and repair dryer vents.
2. Schedule semi-annual cleaning.
   If you have your dryer vent cleaned in the fall and winter, you will have the best results. Your certified exhaust technician will be able to remove the lint that builds up inside the vent, as well as any nesting animals and their nests. The way that the vents are designed often allows for small animals to climb inside. In spring animals search for a warm, dry place to nest, and in winter they do the same. Schedule your appointments during these times and your dryer vent will stay clean, and you can avoid the increased risk of fire when an animal and its nesting materials restrict airflow.
3. Do not clean your own dryer vent.
   During a routine dryer vent cleaning your certified exhaust technician will not only clean the ventilation hose with a high-powered vacuum, but will also recognize any risk factors or issues with the dryer vent. It’s important for a professional to see the vent periodically in order to notify you of damage that may cause leaks or other problems. Leaky ducts can cause carbon monoxide poisoning over time, as well as slow the airflow, which can cause hot hair to ignite flammable debris such as lint.
4. Lint passes through the lint trap.
   It is impossible for the lint trap to collect all of the lint. Lint is made up of single fibers that collect on the screen of the lint trap. These fibers slip through and around the screens with every load of clothes that is dried. These fibers collect inside the ventilation system and become the fluff we’re so used to seeing in the lint trap. It is highly flammable and should be removed often.

The dryer vent is an essential element that keeps the dryer functioning, but needs to be maintained and cleaned regularly. Schedule an appointment with Chief Chimney Services today to avoid a fire in your home.

The Dangers of Creosote and How to Reduce Fire Risk

If you are new to fireplaces and chimneys, the mysterious creosote may be intimidating. The truth is that creosote is bothersome and can be quite dangerous, but it is manageable.

What is Creosote?

When organic fuel like oil, gas, and wood are burned byproducts are released into the chimney. As vapor and soot is pulled up the chimney, the soot clings to the flue liner and coats it. As this soot builds up, it becomes a substance known as creosote. Through a process of high heat melting the creosote followed by cooling, glazed creosote is created. Glazed creosote is not only highly flammable, but it can obstruct the flue completely if left to build.

How to Reduce Fire Risk

In order to avoid creosote buildup and increased risk of fire, keep these things in mind while enjoying your fire this winter.

1. Chimney Sweeps and Inspections
   It is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) to schedule regular chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections to avoid increased risk of fire.
2. Choosing Proper Wood
   Wood should be properly seasoned, or dried, in order for it to burn completely, and more cleanly, with less byproduct. Choosing the right wood for your appliance or fireplace will make it easier to burn a high-temperature fire, thereby decreasing creosote left behind after burning.
3. Monitor Your Chimney System
   Monitor your firebox and flue for signs of creosote buildup and schedule a chimney sweep before your creosote becomes a problem. This makes it easier and cheaper to remove, while also lowering fire risk.

Hiring a Professional

There are chemical cleaning products on the market that promise creosote removal, but these products cannot replace regular chimney maintenance by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® (CCS). Chief Chimney Services is experienced in glazed creosote removal and can do so using brushes and tools as well as chemicals that are safe for use inside the home and will not affect your family. A Chief Chimney sweep will assess the creosote before forming a removal plan. If the creosote is moist, a chemical will be applied in order to allow the tools and brushes to work. The creosote is removed with the use of tools, brushes, and a high-powered vacuum. A professional knows the importance of safety and comfort. Our services will be as timely as possible, and with as little disruption to your home as possible. Hiring a professional is a necessity, and here at Chief Chimney Services we aim to offer the best services in Suffolk County, Long Island.

If you have questions or concerns about creosote, or want to schedule services for your chimney, call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or request an appointment online today.