Our Company Blog

Time to Get Your Fireplace and Heating System Swept!

After a long winter, we’ve finally reached consistent temperatures for spring. Homeowners are shutting down their systems for the off-season and forgetting fires, firewood, and all the work that comes with them. Part of preparing your fireplace and chimney system for the off-season and ensuring it’s ready for fires again in the fall is scheduling professional services. Now is the time to schedule your fireplace and heating system services. We sweep fireplaces wood, gas, and oil fireplace and heating systems!

Safe and Efficient Chimney Systems

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the safest and most efficient chimney systems are those that are cleaned and inspected regularly. Sweeps may be necessary less or more frequently, depending on your fireplace use, but the inspection should be scheduled annually no matter what! Inspecting the chimney annually cuts down on the chance of chimney fires, helps prepare your chimney system for burn season, and prevents damage caused by water and other wear-and-tear.

We Clean Wood, Gas, and Oil Fireplaces and Chimney Systems

At Chief Chimney Services, we clean chimney systems and fireplaces throughout Suffolk County, New York. Whether your fireplace is fueled by gas, oil, or wood/pellets, we have the experience, training, and tools to get the work done.

Wood-burning Appliances
When sweeping wood-burning appliances, we take the utmost care to clear the flue of soot and creosote that can lead to obstruction and danger. If the creosote isn’t cleaned away regularly, it can build up and obstruct the airflow, slowing it as it vents. This process will lead to smoke stalling in the system and depositing MORE soot and creosote each time the fireplace is used. When we sweep regularly, we use drop cloths to protect the floor and furniture while we work. We use rods and brushes to clean the flue and a vacuuming system to keep the mess contained.

Oil and Gas Appliances
Though oil and gas appliances burn cleaner than wood appliances, they still produce soot that can bring down system efficiency. While they burn, these fires also produce water vapor which can mingle with the soot, damaging the flue liner and more.

We Clean Dryer Vents

It’s not only chimneys and fireplaces that pose a threat when they aren’t maintained properly. Your home may be in danger if you have other systems that are neglected. Clothes dryer vent fire occur almost 3,000 times a year across the U.S. They cause 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Failure to maintain the clothes dryer can lead to an obstructed dryer vent, cost you money, damage your home, and affect your air. Having the dryer vents cleaned once per year will mean your system works properly, drying clothes in one cycle, and saving you money in the process.

We don’t just clean chimneys, we also clean and properly install dryer vents, restore chimney systems and repair all ventilation systems in your home.

If you reside in Suffolk County and you haven’t had your heat systems checked in the last year, it’s important to call the professionals today.

Call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or contact us online.

Fix Your Leaky Chimney Now

It doesn’t matter what is making your chimney leak. It may be from winter damage, or it may be from a minor issue such as a worn out chimney cap, but whatever is amiss, it needs to be corrected before serious damage occurs.

Water and Your Chimney

Nothing destroys a chimney quite like water. Because of the materials that make up masonry, it is highly susceptible to moisture damage and can actually be destroyed from the inside out due to one small problem allowing the water into the system. These leaks, minor or major, go unnoticed because much of the system is hidden from view. By the time a homeowner notices signs of a chimney leak, there may be substantial damage behind the scenes. A professional will catch issues before the average homeowner, saving money and time, and keeping your system safe and ready for use again in the fall. A professional will notice issues and small damage that may allow water in, such as a damaged or missing cap, deteriorated crown, damaged masonry, and dislodged or missing flashing.

Chimney Leaks

Your chimney leak may be as obvious as water running down your masonry or dripping near your chimney. However, it may create a leak in another part of your house entirely! When you have a leak in your home, it’s important to call a chimney professional. A general contractor may fix the damage, but a chimney expert will check the chimney first. It’s likely this type of leak is caused by damaged flashing that allows water into the home, where it runs inside walls and ceilings until it pools at the lowest point, and then forms a leak.

Your leak may be inside the chimney, only detected by the sound of dripping and the smell of mildew. This leak still needs attention, as it deteriorates the liner and masonry, rusts the damper assembly, and more. Make sure that when you have a chimney leak you call the chimney professionals who can fix the damage and prevent recurrence before more damage occurs.

Professional Prevention and Care

When you call on Chief Chimney Services to repair your leaky chimney, you can expect the best care and attention in the area. At Chief, we install chimney caps to keep water, weather, and animals out of the chimney. Our expert masons repair and restore masonry, no matter the stone or brick, size, or design. Our experienced techs also replace and install flashing to protect the intersection of the roof and chimney. We do it all, and then we offer waterproofing services for good measure.

After we repair your leaky chimney, we protect your masonry for years to come with ChimneySaver water repellent products. These environmentally friendly and vapor-permeable products are the best on the market and allow the chimney to continue working properly. Unlike other products and sealants, ChimneySaver water-repellent allows the chimney to breathe as it should and vent the fire properly.

Have you noticed moisture in your chimney this spring? If you suspect a leak, call the professionals at Chief Chimney Services or schedule online today.