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CSIA Expands its Certification Offerings with New Master Sweep Credential

Indianapolis, IND – During the 2016 National Chimney Sweep Guild Convention held in Orlando, FL, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) announced the addition of the Master Chimney Sweep designation to its current line of nationally-recognized credentials.

The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry. In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential, which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements, the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors. Among other requirements, Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years.

CSIA Board President, Mark Stoner, makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right. “This credential identifies the best of the best”, said Stoner, “the individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their field.”

As part of the surprise announcement, the Master Sweep credential was awarded to two individuals: John Pilger of Smithtown, New York, and Dennis Dobbs of Fort Payne, Alabama.

For additional information regarding the Master Sweep credential, including requirements for application, please email the CSIA at office@csia.org.

Chimney Inspections: A Job for the Professionals

There are D-I-Y pallet projects, and there are serious property safety precautions and maintenance. When you’re talking about your chimney system it is too important to cut corners. While some things affect the comfort and aesthetics of your chimney system, there are other things that affect the safety, efficiency, and life of your chimney system.

If you use a furnace or fireplace in your home or business, there is almost nothing more important than your regular chimney sweeps and annual inspections. If your appliance or chimney has not changed, and you plan to continue use in the same way you have, then a level 1 inspection should be appropriate. However, there are three levels of inspections offered by certified chimney sweeps, and it’s important to learn which one you need!

Because Chief Chimney Services places our clients’ safety as top priority, we recommend regular chimney sweepings and annual inspections. There are reasons to schedule a level 2 and 3 inspection as well, and home owners who make safety a priority, make chimney inspections a priority.

When to Schedule Your Inspection

A level 1 inspection is a routine inspection recommended annually, and required by many home owners insurance providers. In a level 1 inspection a Certified Chimney Sweep will assess all working parts of the chimney system that are readily-accessible. This inspection is recommended if there are no changes to the system or the fuel, and is to assess the structural soundness, check for flue obstructions, creosote levels, and the overall condition of the chimney system.

A level 2 inspection is recommended if you have made any changes to your chimney system or if it’s suffered any damage: if you’ve changed fuel types, had your chimney relined, experienced a change in efficiency or function, or experienced a fire or earthquake, you need a level 2 inspection. In a level 2 inspection an experienced technician will perform all the parts of a level 1 inspection with a more thorough eye, assessing all accessible parts of the chimney. Because it is a more thorough assessment the technician may need access to basement or attic areas in order to inspect the areas around the chimney system.

Chief Chimney Services utilizes a CCTV (closed-circuit television) video camera as part of a level 2 inspection, along with a detailed report for the benefit of the home owner, future buyers, and insurance providers.

A level 3 inspection may be recommended by your inspector if a problem is discovered in a routine inspection. A level 3 is the most in-depth inspection and includes removal of parts in or around the chimney system to gain access to the problem. During a level 3 inspection Chief Chimney Services has removed a small section of plaster around the chimney system, and has had to remove the crown of the chimney for example.

A trained professional will access the problem areas of your chimney system in the most efficient way possible. Safety is of the utmost importance to us, and we want to ensure your safety and proper use of your chimney system while limiting the inconvenience to your home or business.

When it’s time for your inspection look no further than Chief Chimney Services, whose professionalism and experience knows no comparison in and around Suffolk County, New York. Schedule your inspection today.

Should You Start a Fire With a Cold Chimney?

The end of the summer is a fantastic time to begin planning for winter weather and the use of your fireplace or stove. It’s also a great time to schedule a fireplace and chimney inspection.

You should never light a fire in your fireplace or appliance unless you have had an annual inspection and cleaning. During the several months of summer animals can crawl into your flue causing obstruction, water can seep into your lining causing damage, and numerous other things can happen in your chimney system. For this reason the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)  recommends regular chimney sweeps, and annual inspections.

Once your fireplace is clean, safe, and you have properly-seasoned wood on hand you are ready to light a fire! However, a roaring fire and a cold chimney do not make a good combination.

The Problem With a Cold Chimney

When lighting your first fire of the season it’s important to remember that the chimney is cold. It’s filled with cold air that will fall into your house as soon as you open the damper. If the chimney isn’t primed before you build the fire, that cold will block the warm air from rising up, causing “air sink”, which will push smoke into your house.

Fortunately, there are a couple of things you can do to warm your chimney before you light that first fire.

• Open the damper and you will usually feel the cold draft fall into your fireplace or stove. Some people decide to leave the damper open and let the heat in your house warm the chimney. Not only can this take several minutes or hours, if your fireplace is your method of home heating this won’t work for you. Also, if your chimney is on the outside of your house, this method most likely won’t work as the winter temperatures continue to cool the chimney.
• Roll a newspaper and light it, holding it direction under the damper for three to four minutes. This allows for direct heat to move into the chimney and force it’s way up. If it is very cold, you may need to repeat this method with a second newspaper. During this process you can usually feel the exchange of warm and cold air. Once this happens, your chimney is primed.
  Build a top-down burn in the fireplace or appliance. A top-down burn, sometimes called an upside-down fire, allows for a cleaner burn, and makes the best use of the fireplace, producing less smoke in the process. Instead of placing tinder at the bottom and building on top of the struggling fire, you build in the opposite way: placing large logs at the bottom, then medium logs, then tender and kindling, adding a bit of paper to the top to light. This fire burns from the top, lighting the larger wood as the fire and ash falls. A top-down fire will also burn hotter, ensuring your chimney flue is thoroughly primed.

Avoid the headache of a smoky house and a struggling fire by following these simple tips before starting a cold fireplace. At Chief Chimney Services we urge you to take all precautions to have a safe and warm winter season.

Keep Your Home or Business Safe by Scheduling Your Level II Inspection and Chimney Sweep

If you use a furnace or fireplace in your home or business, there is almost nothing more important than your regular chimney sweeps and annual inspections. If your appliance and chimney has not changed, and you plan to continue use in the same way you have, then a level I inspection should be appropriate. However, there are three levels of inspections offered by certified chimney sweeps, and it’s important to learn which one you need!

What is a Level II Inspection?

In a level II chimney inspection the chimney sweep will examine the readily accessible portions of your chimney exterior, interior, appliance, and chimney connection. The technician will evaluate basic soundness of the chimney structure, flue, appliance installation and connections, and verify the chimney is free of obstruction or debris. All of these elements of the inspection exist for a level I inspection. However, a level II inspection also includes all accessible portions or the chimney interior and exterior, including attics, crawlspaces, and basements. During this inspection the technician will also address any clearance issues with area combustibles.

A level II inspection also includes a visual inspection of the interior flue lining, surfaces, and joints, whether by video device or other method.

What a Level II ISN’T

A level II chimney inspection requires no heavy machinery. If you schedule a level II inspection and the chimney sweep wants to add or remove any permanent pieces or structure to your appliance or venting system, that is work for a level III inspection.

If your certified chimney sweep notes hazardous structural issues or other dangerous problems, a level III inspection may be required.

When To Schedule a Level II

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends a level II inspection for a few reasons, and as of 2000 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires a level II inspection for the following reasons (as per NFPA 211):

• The property is sold or transferred
• Fuel type is changed
• The chimney flue is relined
• An appliance is replaced or added
• A part or parts of the heating system has malfunctioned
• The chimney or flue has experienced a fire
• The home or business has endured an earthquake or equally catastrophic occurrence
• BTU rating has changed

While it’s important to schedule a level II inspection for these reasons, you may also need a level II inspection if the chimney sweep finds something concerning in your level I inspection.

Learn more about chimney inspections with this informational article and tutorial.

Call a Professional Today

Only a certified chimney sweep should perform level I, II, and III chimney inspections. Even insurance companies trust the sweeps to make such an assessment, and often rely on a level II inspection to determine where a chimney or flue fire originated.

Our technicians at Chief Chimney Services are licensed, certified, and insured. Our Master Sweep has 30+ years experience for all of your appliance and venting system needs. When Chief Chimney performs an inspection we use a CCTV video camera to thoroughly examine your venting system. We also provide a detailed report of our findings for your knowledge and your records.

To schedule your appointment, call or schedule online today. A technician is standing by.

All You Need to Know about Glazed Creosote Removal

If you have a wood or oil-burning furnace or fireplace, you may have heard about glazed creosote. Information online, in the hardware store, and from well-meaning friends or loved ones may be confusing.

Chief Chimney Services has all the information you need to keep your home or business safe from glazed creosote.

What is it?

Creosote is a highly flammable, tar-like substance created when fuel is burned at high temperatures. This powdery residue can remain on the walls of a smoke box or chimney and compound over time in several layers. A professional will sometimes call this buildup glazed creosote, or level three creosote. At this level of buildup the creosote bubbles and boils when high-temperature fires burn in the furnace, then cools into a solid, very flammable, mass.

This hardened buildup can become a hazard as it begins to obstruct the chimney, causing the heat, smoke, and gases to slow, and begin to heat the flammable substance.

CSIA-Certified Chimney Technicians

At Chief Chimney Services, we are qualified, licensed, and insured to clean and repair damage caused by glazed creosote. Our licensed chimney sweeps are the difference in chimney maintenance. Using the proper tools we can transform the glazed creosote into a more pliable substance to be easily removed.

What We Do

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends regular chimney cleaning and inspections, and urges consumers to not depend only on chemical cleaning products like those found in hardware stores. A licensed and experienced chimney sweep provides fast service, inspections, and offers expert advice.

The way our chimney sweeps remove the creosote will depend on the consistency of the buildup. If it is gummy or moist we may use a chemical designed to transform the creosote to a powdery substance. This allows our sweeps to brush it out. These chemicals are safe for your home or business, and our chimney sweeps are qualified and experienced in their use. If a chemical remover isn’t needed, we use tools and brushes to detach the creosote from the chimney walls. After the creosote is properly removed, the chimney returns to safe function.

What You Can Do

As a home or business owner you can regularly check your firebox and chimney for signs of creosote buildup. Burning a high-temperature fire, with plenty of oxygen to the flames, helps the fuel burn completely. Also, burning proper fuel can help prevent creosote buildup. Proper wood should be cut and set aside to dry. This process could take as little as six months, or up to two years for denser types of wood.

Creosote is caused primarily when wood isn’t completely burned. So using improperly seasoned wood raises the risk of buildup.

In addition to burning proper fuel, home and business owners should not skip an annual cleaning and inspection. A regular cleaning should remove creosote before it reaches level three buildup.

Call or set up an appointment online and let Chief Chimney Services make the difference for your home or business today.

Let the Chief Tell You Why Your Chimney Needs a Cap!

Whether you have a brick-and-mortar chimney, a new or aging insert, or a simple stove pipe, you may wonder about a chimney cap. A lot of home owners may have a policy of “out of sight, out of mind”, but although the chimney stack is outside, it can cause major issues inside without a proper cap.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) describes the chimney cap as “an important chimney safety and damage prevention component.”

Keep the Outside Out

Although chimney caps can be found at your local home improvement stores at an affordable price, some home owners don’t find them important. Although we at Chief Chimney Services are happy to service all chimneys, we recommend the use of a chimney cap for safety as well as prevention.

Wood-burning furnaces are designed to heat the inside of the home, the chimney designed to release gases and equalize pressure in the home, and the chimney cap designed to keep certain things outside the home.

Weather

Chief Chimney Services will clean, maintain, and inspect chimneys to make sure the path is clear for gases to escape, but rain, snow, and ice can cause flue obstructions if allowed into the chimney. We recommend using chimney caps to keep the path clear!

Since chimneys have to allow large amounts of pressure and gas to escape, there are sometimes multiple openings at the top, called flues. If moisture is allowed into the openings it can run directly into the chimney itself, causing minor problems like bothersome odors in the home, and more serious damage like rusted damper assemblies, deteriorated firebox assemblies, rot, clogged heating and clean-out systems, stained chimneys, decayed mortar, cracked or damaged flue lining, collapsed hearth support, and tilted or collapsed chimney structure.

Wildlife

If a chimney cap is damaged, improperly installed, or nonexistent you essentially have a hole in your roof that animals can access. Any animal that can climb onto your roof can also climb into your home. A chimney is a warm and safe place for animals to shelter their own families, so if they have the opportunity, expect them to take advantage!

If an animal finds a way into you chimney it can definitely cause obstruction, and could even suffocate, causing a foul odor in the home, and need removal.

Keeping the Inside Out

At Chief Chimney Services, we recommend chimney caps to prevent sparks from escaping the chimney. A hot fire has the power to push hot sparks up the chimney along with the smoke and gases. These hot sparks can damage the roof around the chimney, and can cause accidental environmental fires.

It’s our responsibility as home and business owners to be responsible for our homes and buildings. We strive to give our customers the best opportunity for success, and we are readily available to help you with your chimney.

When to Call a Professional

If you are ready to install a chimney cap, or have concerns there is a problem with your existing chimney cap, notice a smoke or draft problem in your fireplace, furnace, or chimney system call a Chief Chimney Services professional today, or click here to schedule an appointment online.

Is Your Dryer Vent Putting Your Home at Risk?

Everyone knows the importance of cleaning the lint trap of your dryer before each load of laundry, but what about the importance of dryer vent cleaning? It’s easy to see the lint and hair that builds up in your lint trap, but what you may not see so easily is the same lint, hair, and debris that builds up inside the dryer vent. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, you should “Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation.” Keeping your dryer vent clean and clear of this debris is vitally important for your dryer’s efficiency as well as your home’s safety. Neglecting to do so is not only a threat to your wallet but to your life as well.

Beyond just cleaning your dryer vent, a professional can also help identify and prevent:

Animal Nests

Especially during colder months, some animals will try to seek shelter in your dryer vent system. This causes air flow issues, as animals such as birds leave behind flammable debris that can be ignited by the dryer’s heat. Animal nesting can also damage dryer ducts, which can lead to overheating and inefficiency.

Leaky Ducts

During a dryer vent cleaning and inspection, it’s important to check for damage or leaks in the ducts. Especially if your ducts are only sealed with duct tape, which can easily wear with the presence of heat and moisture.

Carbon Monoxide

According to the CSIA, the Chimney Safety Institute of America, “If a gas clothes dryer is improperly vented or the exhaust duct itself is blocked by lint or debris, carbon monoxide can be forced back into your living space.” If your dryer vent is not clear, then your dryer and home are not receiving proper air ventilation. Carbon monoxide is difficult to detect without equipment, and can cause serious health problems such as brain damage, organ damage, or even death before it is discovered. By annually checking your dryer vent system and installing a carbon monoxide detector nearby, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is greatly reduced.
Although the issues above are serious, regular cleanings and inspections can help prevent them before becoming fire hazards. Without an annual professional cleaning and inspection, though, these issues can go unnoticed and cause inefficiency and fire risks to your home.
Chief Chimney Services, Inc. technicians use high-quality brushes and an incredibly-high-powered vacuum to clean your dryer vent system from start to finish. Lint and debris is loosened and immediately vacuumed up by a high-intake vacuum cleaner, guaranteeing a dust- and mess-free job. We will also check for any damages, leaks, obstructions, or air flow problems. With a Chief Chimney Services, Inc. technician, you will have a safe and efficient dryer vent system in no time!

To schedule your dryer vent system cleaning, call Chief Chimney Services, Inc. today!

How to handle a chimney fire

Homeowners hope they never have to deal with a fire, but it’s something every homeowner should be prepared for. If your home has a fireplace or heating stove, you also should be prepared to deal with a chimney fire.

Recognizing the signs of a chimney fire

First, you should know the signs of a chimney fire. Oftentimes, chimney fires are extremely dramatic and obvious. Flames and sparks shoots out the top of the chimney, dense smoke billows out, and people inside the home hear a roaring noise like a low-flying plane. Other times, however, chimney fires are far more subtle. Some smoke may begin entering the house, or there may be a popping or “raining” sound from inside the chimney.

Responding to a chimney fire

If you believe you are experiencing a chimney fire, your first priority should be to get everyone out of the home safely. While most metal chimney are made to withstand a chimney fire, there is a risk that the fire could escape and ignite your home’s structure. Because of that risk, you should immediately call the fire department. If you feel safe doing so, you can close the doors to the fireplace, and turn off any fans or blowers. Once outside, you can spray water on your roof to prevent any sparks coming from the chimney from igniting your roof.

Following a chimney fire, your chimney should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep before you attempt to burn another fire. A sweep will clean the chimney and inspect the structure. While metal flues can withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degree, they still may be damaged by a fire. The extreme temperatures of a chimney fire can cause major damage to a masonry chimney. Mortar can melt and bricks can crack, compromising the chimney structure.

Preventing a chimney fire

As the saying goes, “Clean chimneys don’t catch fire.” The majority of chimney fires are caused by a buildup of creosote, which is extremely flammable. The best way to protect your home from a chimney fire is to have your chimney swept by a certified chimney sweep at least once a year, and potentially more frequently if you rely on a woodstove as a main source of heat. Your chimney sweep will remove all creosote buildup from your flue, and will look for any signs of chimney damage or weakness.

Creosote forms when smoke cools near the top of your flue, causing condensation. Burning properly seasoned hardwood that is the right size for your fireplace can slow the buildup of creosote in your fireplace. Also, make sure you always burn fires with your damper fully open, and if you have an open-hearth fireplace, never close the fireplace doors when a fire is burning. Having a partially closed damper or closed fireplace doors interrupts the draft of smoke out of your chimney, causing smoke to linger longer and encouraging creosote buildup.

If you’re overdue for a chimney sweeping, or if you’re concerned that your chimney has experienced a fire, call the experts at Chief Chimney Services. We can help keep your home and family safe from the risk of a chimney fire.

Is Your Chimney Ready for Winter?

As winter weather sets in, we all start to look longingly toward our fireplaces for warmth and light. But before you light that fire, make sure your home, fireplace, and chimney are ready and safe. Here’s a checklist to start with:

Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.

Smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home, and should be checked often.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas produced when certain fuels are burned that has the potential to kill if left undetected. Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed on each level of the home, especially near sleeping areas.

Stock up on seasoned firewood.

Only use firewood that was cut and split at least six months ago, and has been stored in a high and dry place protected from rain and dampness. Green and/or wet wood produces more creosote, which could lead to chimney fires.

Reverse your ceiling fans.

During the summer months we use our ceiling fans to move cool air around, but in the winter months the fan blades should rotate the opposite way to make sure the warm air that has risen to the ceiling is pushed back down to the ground where you can enjoy it.

Have a CSIA-certified chimney technician visit.

Chimney Safety Institute of America-certified technicians have gone through extensive training and education to ensure that they can identify and treat fireplace and chimney damage or problem areas. You should have a CSIA-certified technician inspect your chimney at least once a year. The tech should inspect your chimney and fireplace and will alert you to any structural issues like cracked linings, missing or broken masonry, and mortar joint issues.
If necessary (the technician will tell you), have them sweep your chimney to remove any potentially flammable creosote left over from last year’s fires.
Consider having the technician install a chimney cap. People aren’t the only things that get cold in the winter! Birds, bats, and other small animals like to escape the cold, and your chimney seems nice and cozy. A chimney cap will keep these little guys out, making your life much easier.

Before you light that fire, call Chief Chimney Services serving the Suffolk, NY area. Our CSIA-certified technicians can talk to you about inspection options, sweeping, and chimney accessories to keep your home warm and your fires safe.

Chimney Liner Repair

When most people think about damage to their chimney they think about crumbling mortar and chipped bricks on the exterior of the chimney structure caused by age and weather erosion. While this is something to be concerned about the most common (and the most dangerous) chimney damage happens inside the flue where it cannot be seen without a proper inspection. Cracked and damaged chimney liners are more common than people realize and can put your home and family at great risk if not properly repaired.

How Can I Tell If My Chimney Liner Is Damaged?

The best, most effective way to tell if you have a damaged chimney liner is a proper inspection by a CSIA certified chimney technician [https://chiefchimney.com/]. A certified tech will run a camera up your chimney so that they can see exactly what state your entire chimney liner is in. If you have a clay tile liner (the most common among older chimneys) the tech will be looking for cracked, broken, or missing tiles.

When you burn a fire the chimney heats up and cools down rapidly causing stress on the clay tiles. Over time these tiles will fracture and break and can even fall off completely. When this happens it leaves a gap in the liner exposing the masonry structure to the heat and combustible byproducts of a wood burning fire. This can cause major structural issues for your chimney and can create a potentially hazardous situation for you and your family.

If My Liner Is Damaged What Are My Options?

If your chimney liner is cracked or damaged your chimney sweep will know what to do next. Depending on the severity of the damage a relining job [https://chiefchimney.com/chimney-repairs/chimneys-relined/] might be necessary. In many cases this is the best option regardless. If your chimney liner is starting to show signs of wear and tear it will eventually have to be replaced. It is better to have that done at the first sign of an issue otherwise you are simply prolonging the inevitable and spending money on small repairs in the process. Your specific chimney system will dictate what type of liner to have installed but in most cases HeatShield is the way to go.

What is HeatShield?

HeatShield [http://cecurechimney.com/heatshield-system.html] is a Cerfractory Flue Sealant product that is used to either repair or completely replace your chimney liner. It is one of the most trusted products in the chimney industry and comes with a 20 year material warranty. There are 2 methods of using HeatShield to repair a damaged chimney liner.

Resurfacing – If the damage to a chimney liner is not too extensive the chimney sweep may recommend using the HeatShield resurfacing system. This process is performed in several steps. The first step involves a “tie-coat” that cleans the interior of the chimney liner of dust and debris and acts as a primer for the final HeatShield application. Once this primer has dried the HeatShield material is applied into the flue at ¼ inch thickness. After this is all finished a camera is run up the length of the chimney to ensure that there are no gaps left in the liner.

CeCure Sleeve Relining – If the chimney liner is extensively damaged or missing all together your chimney sweep may recommend completely relining your chimney. This is where the CeCure Sleeve Relining system comes in. When installing a CeCure Sleeve Relining system the first step is to coat the interior of the chimney with a coating of HeatShield Cerfractory Flue Sealant and a drying accelerator. Next a custom fitted CeCure Sleeve is lowered into your chimney and secured to the top of your system. This sleeve provides ceramic insulation and is reinforced with stainless steel fabric. Once this is in place another coating of the Flue Sealant is applied and another camera is run to ensure that everything is in place properly.

How Do I Schedule A Chimney Inspection?

If you have a fireplace and chimney you should have a chimney inspection performed annually by a CSIA certified chimney technician. Call Chief Chimney Services today to schedule your appointment or visit us online at chiefchimney.com.