Our Company Blog

Schedule an Early Chimney Cleaning

Spring is the perfect time for your annual chimney sweep because the system has been working for you all winter! Therefore, it is full of creosote, soot, grime, and ashes. As humidity rises, the moisture in the air will mingle with the soot and creosote in the chimney system, and the result is not pleasant. You may be enjoying some family time in your living room or game night with friends, and suddenly the aroma of barbecue is overwhelming. It’s not a barbecue grill in the living room. It’s your fireplace!

The same moisture that causes these foul odors when a chimney is dirty will also corrode your chimney flue. Moisture mixed with soot and creosote creates a corrosive material that must be cleaned away.

Other Reasons to Sweep the Chimney

Preventative Care – Scheduling routine chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections is the best way to have the safest and most efficient chimney system, according to both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Preparation – Once your chimney sweep is completed, you can rest assured that your system is ready for this fall. Your chimney sweep includes a level one chimney inspection which includes an examination of the readily accessible portions of the chimney system. If your chimney professional sees an issue with your system, you’ll have time to schedule a more thorough assessment and have necessary repairs before fall.

Animal Removal – Schedule a chimney sweep if you have had an animal in your flue this spring. We will remove nesting materials, droppings, and fur or feathers from the system. These things are flammable and will lead to a flue fire. Once the chimney system is cleaned, ask your sweep about a cap to keep out critters, birds, and water.

Chief Chimney Services Cleans Chimneys

At Chief Chimney Services, we clean chimneys year-round. We can sweep your wood-burning appliance and chimney, as well as oil and gas appliances and chimneys. The two differ slightly, but our techs are certified, trained, and experienced sweeping all types of chimneys.

Don’t waste another moment. Scheduling your chimney sweep now will give you time for necessary repairs before burn season. It also gets your chimney taken care of before the “fall rush”–the time between October and January in which chimney professionals are busy with emergency calls, installations, and repairs.

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

The Importance of a Chimney Cap

The official start of winter is just a few days off, which means homeowners everywhere are lighting up their fireplaces and wood stoves to keep warm. The privilege of having a fireplace in the home includes cozy evenings curled up on the couch and creating the perfect holiday backdrop. However, having a fireplace also comes with a certain set of responsibilities for keeping it safe and functional. Most homeowners know the basic rule of having the chimney swept and inspected every year, but the knowledge usually stops there. The details about the fireplace and chimney often go unnoticed. One aspect of the chimney that often gets forgotten is the chimney cap.

The chimney cap provides protection in surprising, cost-effective ways, in spite of its basic structure. Generally built with stainless steel or copper materials, the chimney cap guards the inside of the chimney from where it sits at the very top. A key function of the chimney cap is to stop critters from making a home of the chimney. With colder weather upon them, the animals that stick around for winter become very intent on finding a warm home out of the elements. Unfortunately, the warm chimney makes a pretty attractive home for little animals that do not know any better, and an uncapped chimney could end up blocked by a nest. With an obstruction like this, the fumes from the next fire cannot properly vent from the home. They start to back up into the living air, putting inhabitants at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and other harmful inhalations.

Chimney caps also act as an umbrella for the chimney by preventing water from freely pouring down the inside. If water is allowed to enter the chimney, it can leave some serious damage it its wake. First, the metal flue liner starts to rust, which exposes the interior of the chimney and the home to the acidic smoke and heat from the fire. Next, the water trickles down to the damper and rusts that out too. A rusted damper could prevent the fireplace from venting properly. Water damage may also show up inside the home, as evidenced by water stains on the walls and ceiling around the fireplace.

Luckily, by investing in the installation of a chimney cap, you can completely avoid expensive problems like this. Ask your chimney specialist if your home needs a new chimney cap. Your current chimney cap may be outdated or damaged, or it may be completely missing! Either way, a chimney specialist can safely determine this for you and help you choose the right new chimney cap. If you live in the Suffolk County area of Hudson Valley, contact Chief Chimney Services, Inc. for a professional consultation.