Our Company Blog

Tips for Starting a Cold Fireplace

It shouldn’t be a big deal to light a fire in a cold fireplace, but it’s more than you think. Your chimney works by using the draft that hot air provides to push byproducts up the chimney. These vapors include smoke, tar, chemical gases, water vapors, and microscopic particles. These gases can affect the air quality in your home. Your health could be harmed if the gases are allowed into the living area. The best way to prevent a smoky fireplace is to make sure that updraft in the flue is present. If the chimney is cold, the cold air in the flue will not only block the warm air from rising, but will fall into your house. The temperature has to rise in the chimney before it will work properly.

Priming the Chimney

The process of bringing the flue’s temperature up is called priming. The easiest way to prime a cold chimney is to light a newspaper roll and allow it to burn at the base of the chimney. This is usually possible with a fireplace as well as a stove once you locate the opening. When the newspaper roll is burned completely the chimney should be warm enough to support the updraft needed for an efficient burn.

Lighting a Fire in a Cold Chimney

A cold chimney pushes smoke into your house, but it can make the process of fire-building long and bothersome. To make it easier on yourself and your chimney, you can hone your fire-building skills. This means burning only properly seasoned wood, and building a fire that will make some heat. This is because the chimney needs enough heat to create an updraft. After you have primed your chimney, you want to build the best fire possible.

Introducing the Top-Down Burn

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends the top-down burn to build the best fire possible. The top-down burn contradicts everything we think we know about fire-building, but the industry’s top professionals know its worth. Traditionally you would build a fire with kindling and paper at the base, with bigger sticks, medium logs, and finally the largest logs on top. The top-down burn is built the opposite way, with the larger fuel at the bottom, up to the kindling and small bits of lighting paper at the top. This way the fire and embers burn and fall onto the other fuel. The fire burns more efficiently and fuel burns more completely, decreasing smoke and particulate pollution. It also creates a better-burn faster, which drives the exhaust up the chimney.

There is a lot that goes into an efficient chimney system. Be sure your fire is primed before lighting it, otherwise you may ruin your night with a smoky living room. Your chimney is more likely to be cold if its on the exterior, even if central heat is your main heat source. Don’t let the cold air from your chimney fall into your warm house!

Call a professional if you have bigger concerns about your system.

Make the Fireplace the Center of Your Home This Holiday Season

The fireplace has long been a focal point of traditional holiday festivities. Gift-exchanges, holiday parties, dinners, and more have been situated at the hearth for many years. This could be because of the traditional folklore about Santa sliding down the chimney and enjoying milk and cookies next to the fireplace, or it could be that the family just loves the ambiance of fireside festivities. The fireplace is such a traditional backdrop for festivities that many television providers even have a fireplace channel for families without a fireplace!

Your Holiday Backdrop

You can have the perfect backdrop for your holiday festivities this season simply by using what you have. Odds are you have worked very hard to create the perfect fireplace in your home, so it really is the best backdrop for all of your parties, dinners, and Christmas movie nights with the family. With beautiful decorations and a clean hearth, your fireplace can also be the perfect backdrop for family photos.

At Chief Chimney Services we know the most important thing this season is family.

Because of our extensive training and experience we have some suggestions to keep your family safe and comfortable this season:

1.  Decorate the mantel safely. Your certified chimney sweep is able to tell you if chimney decorations are safe above your mantel. This can depend on the original construction of the chimney (if the correct materials were used), and whether or not there is damage to the flue liner, which can allow dangerous heat to affect decorations.
2. Don’t let your tree become a fire hazard. If you decorate with a Christmas tree it’s best to place it across the room from the fireplace opening, stove, or appliance. Positioned so that it won’t reach the flame in case of an accidental fall is the best place for it—especially if you have pets or small children that might pull the tree down.
3. Keep stockings, lights, and garland away from the fire. It’s common for decorations to be placed on the hearth itself, as well as stockings hanging from the mantel. This is acceptable, but stockings should be removed from the mantel while the fireplace is in use. Also garland and other decorations should be secured so that nothing falls into or near the fireplace opening.
4. Practice fire safety and set rules for children and guests in your home. Children should never be left alone while a fire is burning. Also, branches and needles from a live-cut Christmas tree should NEVER be put into the fireplace. These are often too light and can cause sparks and can possibly damage the chimney flue.

Stay Safe This Holiday Season

When you have your dream fireplace it makes sense to enjoy it through the holiday season. Make sure it’s ready to work for you! When your chimney is clean it will be more efficient and safe. Don’t put your family’s safety or comfort at risk by burning a fire in a dirty or damaged chimney. Chief Chimney Services has expert technicians available through the holiday season for chimney sweeps  and inspections.

Call us now and we can do our part to make your holidays merry and bright!

Build the Best Fire

Once you have a chimney and fireplace installed, it seems lighting the fire should be the easy part. Cave men did it, but there is definitely a learning curve involved, and many factors come to play that can make it extremely difficult to build the best fire.

The Most Efficient Fire

If you depend upon a fireplace, stove, or appliance to heat or supplement heat to your home, you want the fire to start almost as easily as flipping a switch. This convenience is only possible in gas appliances, so if you depend on wood heat, you should learn to build and start the best fire possible.

Most of us learned to build a fire from small to big—kindling on the bottom, logs on the top. While this works fine, there is a better way!

The top-down burn is basically a fire built upside-down, with the logs on bottom, and kindling on top. This allows for the flame and cinders to fall as they burn, igniting the rest of the fuel. Once you have mastered the top-down burn you will better be able to light a fire in a cold fireplace/chimney. You will also be able to start the fire quickly, and with less kindling.

The kind of fire you decide to build is only the start.

Consider these tips to help you build your best fire:

1. Proper fuel
   You should only burn properly seasoned wood in your wood fireplace or stove. Using wood that is seasoned raises the efficiency of your fire and chimney system. Using the proper wood also cuts down on smoke issues, creosote buildup, air pollution, and fire risk.
2.  Never use starter fuel
   Starter fuels like kerosene, gasoline, and lighter fluid are dangerous and should NEVER be used to ignite your fireplace fire. Use of these fuels can be unpredictable and can cause injury, fire, and death.
3. Use the system
   The chimney system is made up of many parts that work together. The damper, for instance, can assist while you light the fire, allowing oxygen to flow through the system. Making sure that these parts work properly is important to building the best fire.
4. Choose proper kindling
   When choosing kindling for your best fire you should avoid using light branches with pine needles or leaves to light your fire. Not only do they create thick smoke, but they’re also very light, so they often rise up the chimney while ignited. When debris rises up the chimney flame, the creosote in the flue can easily ignite.
5. Remember to schedule routine maintenance
   It’s important for homeowners to keep up with routine maintenance in order to build the best fire. It doesn’t matter how well you are at building a top-down burn if your chimney system is damaged. Your fire will lose efficiency, and flue fire risk will increase.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)  recommends annual chimney inspections and regular chimney sweeps. These service appointments are the best safety measures you can take for your chimney system. Schedule today, and get it done before the holidays.

Call Chief Chimney Services today at 631-863-2460 or schedule an appointment online for your convenience.

Firebox Repair

Your firebox is the space within the chimney system where the fire actually burns. Of all the parts of the chimney, the firebox withstands the most heat and abuse. Therefore, it can become damaged quickly. When the firebox is damaged, it becomes an extreme fire hazard and needs attention immediately.

Firebox Damage

There are a few things that can cause the firebox to deteriorate faster than normal. The firebox is commonly constructed in a way that is heat-resistant and built-to-last. So, it’s important to discover the reason for the damage.

Common causes include:

• Water Damage. Water wreaks havoc on masonry! When water mixes with soot it can deteriorate masonry quickly, leaving cracks, holes, and spalling masonry. Even a small amount of water can become trapped inside the masonry. This causes freezing and thawing, causing larger cracks, and allowing more water. The cycle is detrimental to even a well constructed fire box.
• Poor Construction. An experienced chimney technician will use refractory bricks and materials to construct the firebox. These special heat-resistant bricks are designed to withstand a high concentration of heat. The kind of heat that exists daily when you use your fireplace regularly. If regular bricks are used, a homeowner may need chimney maintenance often. Consequently, a dishonest chimney sweep company will continue this cycle. Therefore, it’s important to find a chimney sweep that will fix a problem at its source.
• Age. Overtime even a well-constructed and maintained firebox can deteriorate. Small cracks in mortar and bricks can quickly become bigger cracks. Plus, damage in the firebox, big or small, raises risk of fire!
• Environmental Changes. Environmental occurrences can cause damage to the firebox that homeowners often don’t expect. Earthquakes are a common cause of damage to the firebox and masonry in general. In addition, heavy winds and storms can also cause water damage that leads to firebox damage.

Let Chief Chimney Services Repair Your Firebox

When it comes to firebox construction, repair, and restorations, count on Chief Chimney Services. We has the training, expertise, and experience to get the job done, and get it done right. We only use refractory bricks and materials. This is because we want you to be able to use your firebox for years to come. If your firebox doesn’t require a full restoration, we can repair it with a simple tuckpointing, using refractory materials to ensure a long life for your firebox.

Chief Chimney doesn’t just place a band-aid over the problem, we solve it at its root. We don’t just repair the damage, we find its source and fix that too. Even if your firebox damage is caused from water damage, our chimney sweeps are expertly trained and experienced. They will find the source of the leak swiftly and formulate a repair plan that works for your family and your budget.

Call Chief Chimney Services and talk to a certified chimney sweep today. For your convenience you can also request an appointment online.

Chimney Leaks and Water Damage

Oil and Gas Appliances: Relining

Oil and gas appliances are some of the most efficient on the market. They burn cleanly and use almost all of the heat produced to heat the home. This makes it even more important for a chimney liner to be installed, and for it to be properly sized. If the liner is too big, and the fire exhaust is not hot enough to push the toxins up the large chimney space, it settles in the chimney. The chimney walls will then become coated in these toxins, soot, and creosote, damaging the liner, and essentially allowing carbon monoxide to penetrate the masonry, entering the home. Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic poison that can cause a host of health problems, organ failure, and essentially death.

Your Older Chimney

Older oil and gas appliances were not operating at such a high efficiency when they were installed, so their chimney flues were larger. This is the main reason why a chimney inspection is required any time you install new hardware. The newer appliances are highly efficient and require much smaller flue liners. So when you wish to change appliances, fuel type, or make other changes to the chimney system, you should schedule a level 2 inspection with a certified chimney sweep. Your sweep can tell you if the flue liner is correctly sized for the capacity of your new appliance.

Our chimney sweeps at Chief Chimney Services are experienced and trained in chimney inspections, as well as installation of gas and oil appliance, and relining. We encourage homeowners to schedule inspections and chimney sweeps before burning season so that repairs and relining can be completed before winter. It’s our goal to keep your family and home safe and warm this winter. This starts with the liner.

Your New Liner

The best choice for a new chimney liner is the stainless steel liner. Most often, especially in old chimneys, it is lined with clay tile. Your chimney sweep will remove this tile and reline the chimney with an appropriately-sized metal liner. Stainless steel is the best option as it’s the longest lasting, and works with any fuel type. However, aluminum is a cheaper option often chosen for that reason, but aluminum is only compatible with gas appliances, and it isn’t as durable as stainless steel.

Chief Chimney Services can install a stainless steel or cast-in-place liner designed specifically for an oil-fired appliance. We choose these specific liners due to their durability and years of safe use with gas and oil appliances.

Are you concerned your liner is damaged, sized-incorrectly, or simply interested in an update to a longer-lasting liner? Schedule an appointment online, give us a call at 631-863-2460!

HeatShield Cerfractory Surfacing

Sometimes, following an annual chimney inspection you receive bad news. When you have bad news about your chimney liner, we may have good news for you! If your liner is worn, cracked, or otherwise damaged, don’t assume you have to replace it completely. When you choose a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® (CCS) who is trained in the HeatShield® system you can end up with a functional, and smooth liner. The chimney diagnosis may be bad news, but the good news is you can get back to home heating in no time. Your chimney sweep can restore your liner to safe operation without replacing it.

Cerfractory Surfacing

Flue liners become damaged due to regular use over time. Heat and moisture can deteriorate the flue liner over time, especially a clay liner. While it’s recommended to replace a badly damaged liner with a stainless steel liner that works across fuel-types, a cerfractory sealant can restore a clay liner the same way a new stainless steel liner can. In fact, cerfractory sealant is a combination of refractory (fire resistant) and ceramic materials that creates a finished product that is long-lasting, and works with all fuel types, without having to replace the liner.

Why Choose HeatShield?

Resurfacing provides the same result of relining, is less work, and costs less. This product resurfaces broken, cracked, and crumbling tile without replacing it. In addition, it provides the same long-lasting result. Depending on the chimney sweep company, removing a tile liner and replacing can be a costly undertaking. It takes time. Plus, the chimney is out of use during this repair. Removing clay tiles can also damage masonry depending on the way it was installed, and how long it has been in the chimney.

HeatShield is a great option if there is minor damage to the flue liner. If there are cracks, holes, and flaking, you do not want to continue to use the liner. It is a fire hazard and can lead to more extensive damage as well as flue fire, costly repairs, and insurance claims. Replacing the liner is not necessary, though. Restore your liner back to safe use by choosing HeatShield. Restoring it to full function is the goal of the engineers who formulated this product. It’s heat resistant up to 2900 F, comparable to a stainless steel liner, and lasts longer than similar products in the industry.

Chief Chimney Services Offers HeatShield Cerfractory Resurfacing

HeatShield stands alone in an industry full of similar products. It has been studied, tested, and perfected for twenty years. It gets its name from its promise: Heat Shield. The company has accomplished this through a combination of heat resistant material with ceramic compounds to create this cerfractory sealant effective up to 2900 F! HeatShield trains and certifies it’s independent installers, is “eco friendly”, and is covered by a 20 years warranty! This product truly is comparable to a new stainless steel flue liner. Really, what reason is there not to choose HeatShield?

Chief Chimney Services is available to resurface your flue liner with HeatShield today. We strive to offer the best services in the Suffolk County area and to keep all of our customers safe and warm this winter season. Ask us about HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing today.

Call Chief Chimney Services today at 631-863-2460 or schedule an inspection or consultation online today.

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.