Our Company Blog

Have Your Chimney Swept Before Lighting Your First Fire

Spring Cleaning is for the house and chimney cleaning is for the fall. There are many reasons to clean the chimney and many homeowners understand why it’s important. However, this isn’t just any job. It must be done by a professional. Having the work done before fall is done means your system will be ready for winter, but having a professional do the work means it will be safe, up-to-code, and efficient. You should never light a fire in a fireplace that hasn’t been swept and inspected since last season.

Dangers of a Dirty Chimney
A dirty chimney is dangerous because it may be filled with soot and creosote from regular use last season. When this isn’t cleaned away regularly, it can become a fire hazard. Not only does a buildup in the system slow airflow and drop the efficiency, but the materials themselves are flammable. Materials left behind by animals, debris from outdoors, and byproducts of the fire can ignite at any time, putting your family at risk of fire. A chimney fire is devastating, can result in an insurance claim, loss of property, expensive repairs, and even injury or loss of life.

Other Dirty Chimney Problems
You might have noticed during the summer months, but dirty chimneys stink. When summer humidity mingles with soot and creosote in the system, it can begin to emit a powerful smell of a dirty barbecue grill. These types of odors in the chimney system are a clear indicator of a dirty chimney. The soot and creosote in the system may be deteriorating the lining (especially if mixed with moisture from the humidity of a chimney leak). Dirty chimneys also work less efficiently than clean chimneys. As the lining of the system becomes coated with soot and creosote, the airflow is slowed, and the chimney system depends on this airflow to work properly. A drop in efficiency means a rise in fire risk.

Why Schedule Now
Chimney sweep companies are busy during this period of time between October and January, called the fall rush. If you schedule now, you can get on the books and will be able to have your services completed before you need your fireplace. You must call as soon as possible, however, so a professional can get a look at your chimney system right away. When you schedule a Chief Chimney Services chimney sweep, you will not only get your chimney system cleaned of soot, creosote, ashes, and other debris, but you’ll get a standard level one inspection as well. Schedule soon, and you’ll have time to make necessary repairs before your first fire. If no repairs are needed, you can rest assured that your system is ready to work for you all winter long, and is safe and protected from winter and water damage.

What to Expect
Schedule today and a certified chimney sweep will come out at the assigned time with brushes and a vacuuming system to clean your system from top to bottom. Using drop cloths and a powerful vacuum, we keep the mess contained so that you don’t have to clean up after us! You’ll get a full report of our findings and the peace of mind that you’ll be safe for another season.

Call Chief Chimney today at 631-863-2460.

Schedule Your Sweep Before the Rush!

Just as you’d leave for a trip before rush hour, or get holiday shopping finished before the week-of, you should plan ahead to have your chimney system cleaned.

Avoid the Fall Rush

At Chief Chimney Services we clean and service chimneys year-round. We’re just much busier from October through January, a time we call the “fall rush.” During this time you may not get the desired appointment time, you may have to schedule several days or weeks in advance, and you may be cold while you wait. We don’t want our customers to be cold or unsafe this winter, so we suggest scheduling your chimney sweep early. Avoid the wait, the hassle, and the cold. Schedule now, and you can be on the books this fall, or get it done this spring or summer.

Scheduling a Spring Chimney Sweep

Many homeowners decide to schedule a chimney sweep in the spring so that the system is ready for fall, and there is plenty of time for necessary repairs before the first fire of the season. Scheduling in the spring will also ensure your chimney is waterproof, animal-proof, and won’t stink when summer humidity mingles with the soot and creosote-covered walls. They’ll be clean after a Chief Chimney Services professional completes this hassle-free chimney sweep.

Scheduling a Fall Chimney Sweep

Do not wait until the weather turns cool before scheduling your chimney sweep! You can schedule now for your service in the fall and avoid the fall rush. Scheduling now also means your chimney is not forgotten. When you neglect to schedule routine sweeps and annual inspections, your chimney and your home may suffer. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) agree that routine chimney maintenance means a safer and more efficient chimney system.

Put Your Trust in Chief Chimney Services

The technicians that make up our team at Chief Chimney Services will not disappoint. We treat your home with the utmost professionalism and clean your chimney system from top to bottom, paying attention to the smallest detail. When you schedule with us, you can also rest assured that your chimney will get a thorough once-over, and we won’t miss a thing. This is the best way to ensure that damage is detected before it becomes unsafe and before it affects the rest of your system and your house. After our technician presents you with a detailed report of the findings, we can help you work out a repair plan that will get your chimney back to work before cold weather strikes in the fall! When you work closely with your chimney sweep, you can work around the fall rush.

Get started today. Call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or contact us online!

Keep a Clean Chimney for Santa

Your fireplace may be the most popular aspect of your home this season. The adults can relax by the fire after the kids go to bed, use it as a backdrop for countless festivities and photographs, and even save on utility costs by lighting a fire for zone heating. The real moment for the fireplace to shine is Christmas morning, though. Stocking stuffers, gift exchanges, and family photos are just the beginning. The Jolly Elf himself makes his entrance by way of the fireplace! If you have a fireplace, you are one step ahead of everyone else, but it’s more important than ever to make the experience great for everyone (including Santa Clause), by keeping the chimney clean.

Routine Maintenance

You might have your dream fireplace, but the best way for it to work like a dream is to keep it well-maintained. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) both recommend regular chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections to keep your chimney system working safely and efficiently. Keeping up with this maintenance will make your chimney system work well year after year. The damaged, broken, and forgotten chimney is one that has been neglected. Make sure your fireplace is in tip-top shape for Christmas and all year-round by scheduling your chimney sweep now. Chief Chimney Services offers chimney sweeps and inspections year-round, to best serve our customers in Suffolk County area.

Why Clean Your Chimney

A clean chimney is a chimney that works well. When you schedule a chimney sweep with Chief Chimney Services, a certified technician will come into your home, and clean your chimney from top to bottom, removing all creosote, ash, and soot from the fireplace and flue.
While we’re there, we’ll also:

• Check the flue for cracks or obstructions that can affect airflow and cause a drop in efficiency
• Check the cap and crown for damage that can cause water damage and allow animals into the flue
• Check that the damper is functioning properly so that drafts don’t affect your chimney, waste your central heat, or cause smoke to push into your house
• Check the masonry for water damage, cracks, or gaps that can cause a drop in efficiency, raise the risk of fire, and put your family at risk for carbon monoxide intrusion
• Check the firebox for damage

Besides checking traditional wood-burning masonry fireplaces and appliances, we also specialize in gas and oil-burning appliances.

Contact Us

It’s not that Santa needs the cleanest chimneys possible. It’s that he, like Chief Chimney Services, wants every boy and girl and family to be safe and warm this holiday season. When you hire a professional to clean your chimney system, you will be your safest. You will have less issues with your fireplace, and you will need less services in general. Give yourself a Christmas gift this year, and hire Chief Chimney Services to clean your chimney.

Call 631-863-2460 or schedule online.

Elements Of A Perfect Chimney System

Your chimney is designed to last a lifetime. Ideally, it will last as long as your house stands. However, this is only possible if it is properly constructed, maintained, and used.

Your Chimney System

Your chimney has one job: to vent your fire. A fire, no matter what type of fuel it burns, will release byproducts as it burns. These need to be vented out of the home. This protects the house from smoke saturation, added moisture, and health risks. In order for all of the many parts of the chimney system to work correctly, there are factors that need to be in place.

Proper Construction

Your chimney should have been constructed by a CSIA certified chimney sweep. A general contractor doesn’t have the training or knowledge of chimney science to design and build a chimney. Especially one that will vent properly, stand as long as it should, and withstand high heat.

• Design and Function
  In order for your chimney to vent properly, it should be built specifically for the size of the fireplace. A chimney that is too tall or wide will not vent properly because the air will cool before it escapes through the opening, leaving the soot, creosote, and unburned wood particles on the flue walls.
• Chimney Liner
  Your flue liner should be properly fitted for your fireplace or fire appliance. In many older chimneys, clay tile liners were installed, and are now damaged or not appropriate for the fuel type that is used in the fireplace. The best liner available is a stainless steel one, appropriate for all fuel types, affordable, and long-lasting. Another option, and one available at Chief Chimney Services, is a relining with HeatShield® Cerfractory® Flue Sealant, which repairs and relines the flue from top to bottom at a low cost, transforming an old clay tile liner into a durable, long-lasting one, and safe for all fuel types.

Properly Maintained

Even a well-constructed chimney system can become deteriorated prematurely, when it isn’t properly maintained. The ideal chimney system is swept and inspected regularly. This is to identify any weaknesses or hazards. In addition, to maintain the highest level of safety and efficiency. When the chimney is inspected, all parts are assessed, and should be replaced if damaged.

• Chimney Cap
  Prevents damage caused from water and animals.
• Chimney Crown
  Protects against water from the flue liner to the outer edge of the chimney opening.
• Flashing
  Protects the intersection of the chimney and roof, the weakest part of the chimney system, and most susceptible to water penetration.
• Waterproofing
  An industrial sealant that prevents water from penetrating the masonry, while still allowing vapors to escape.

Proper Use

Your chimney system is designed for one fuel. Also, it should only be used appropriately. Wood-burning systems should burn only properly seasoned wood. Gas systems should only burn natural gas, and should be checked and connected by your gas company. Proper fire safety protocol should be remembered. Plus, municipal codes and manufacturers instructions should be followed at every turn.

The chimney is a large system with many parts. Having said that, when built properly, maintained properly, and used properly – it can be the perfect addition to your dream home!

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.

Benefits of a Chimney Video Inspection

If you own a home or business with a fireplace and chimney system, there are a few things you need to know. First, the maintenance of the chimney system is of top priority and ensures the safety of your family or customers. Second, proper maintenance of your chimney system protects your property. Basically, this preventative maintenance is essential for buildings with chimney systems.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends regular chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® (CCS). It’s during these important inspections that problems are discovered, and can be addressed and repairs can be made before burning season.

Routinely, the three types of inspections are done various ways. A level 1 inspection is an inspection of everything readily accessible to the inspector and should be performed yearly if no changes occur with chimney use. A level 2 inspection is required if changes have been made to the system or if property has been sold or transferred. A level 2 inspection includes everything readily accessible as well as everything that is accessible around chimney interior and exterior, including attics, crawl spaces, and basements. A level 3 inspection is required if there are concerns in a level 1 or 2 inspection, and may require removal of components of the building or chimney to gain access to worrisome areas of the chimney system.

Video Technology and Chimney Inspections

Because the chimney is a closed system, and a large portion of it is hidden from the naked eye, only a professional should assess them. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that all Level 2 inspections are to include a video surveillance of the inside and outside of the chimney system and Chief Chimney Services is equipped to do just that.

Chief Chimney Sweeps are CSIA certified and trained in NFPA protocols. Our CCTV (closed-circuit television) video camera system records in real-time and provides a professional-grade surveillance picture. This allows our chimney sweeps to see a detailed picture of the entire interior and exterior of the chimney, and since it’s in real time, they can assess problem areas thoroughly as soon as they see them. Homeowners also receive video footage to assist in real estate or insurance reports.

Other Benefits to Video Surveillance

In addition to video footage, when you hire Chief Chimney Services to perform your inspection, you will receive a detailed report. Our reports are thorough and accurate with the help of our video inspection, and make it possible for our chimney sweeps to provide a repair plan, detailing each crack, gap, obstruction, deterioration, creosote buildup, or other damage.

We at Chief Chimney Services put customers above all else and understand the importance of a safe and functional chimney system. With our video inspection system, we will provide the answers you’re looking for and get your chimney back to work in no time! Call and schedule your video inspection or make an online appointment today!

Plan Your Masonry Repairs Now

Spring is a great time to jump into annual cleaning: carpets, garages, yards, and more. While you are in spring cleaning mode, don’t forget about your chimney. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)  recommends periodic chimney sweeps and annual inspections. It’s at these appointments that a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® will be able to detect a problem before it becomes a bigger problem.

There are a couple of reasons why spring is the perfect time for your masonry repairs.

Season Changes and Weather

The weather is finally warm enough to light your last fire. This is a great time to have your chimney cleaned, so that your fireplace or furnace doesn’t stink in the heat and humidity of summer. Having your chimney swept and inspected in the spring also leaves you the summer to make extensive repairs if damage is detected.

Spring also starts the off-season for chimney sweep companies. You can schedule routine maintenance and repairs easily, as chimney sweeps have less emergency calls at this time. Some masonry repairs can be completed in as little as a day, and others may take more, but scheduling during the off-season allow homeowners more freedom in availability.

Common masonry damage includes:

• Water damage which leaves holes and gaps in the masonry, causing internal deterioration and discoloration of the bricks
• Poor design and improper installation causes smoke problems in the home, as well as fire hazard
• Age causes regular wear-and-tear on masonry chimneys
• Environmental changes such as storms, natural disasters including tornadoes and earthquakes, and drastic temperature changes can dramatically reduce the life of your chimney
• Chimney crown damage or improper seal can cause a leaky chimney, which wreaks havoc on masonry

If your chimney has damage that needs to be addressed, this is the time to repair it. A wet spring is not a good combination with a damaged or leaky chimney. Scheduling your repairs today will save you money in the long run because damage only gets worse with time.

Common Masonry Repairs

Some masonry repairs may be more cosmetic than anything—repairs you’d consider before putting your home on the market or renovating. These repairs are also best scheduled at this time of year. The weather and temperature make it possible for the chimney sweep to work easily, and the chimney to remain cool during the repair. Cosmetic repairs can range from mortar repairs, brickwork, and restorative stonework, to minor cleaning and water proofing.

Other repairs can include tuckpointing, which is needed when the mortar between the bricks is cracked or damaged. The mortar is carefully removed and new mortar is packed in. The chimney sweep works meticulously to match the color, composition, and strength of the existing mortar so the finished product looks seamlessly matched. Brick re-facing is a masonry repair in which bricks are removed and replaced one-by-one because they have begun to spall or lose its facing.

No matter your masonry repair needs, there is no better time than spring, and with chimney repairs, sooner is better than later. Schedule an appointment with Chief Chimney Services today.

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.

The Value of CSIA Certification

No one wants to be a trailblazer when it comes to their safety and health. That’s why Chief Chimney Services in Long Island, New York and hundreds of other chimney professionals belong to and have their technicians certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).

CSIA is a non-profit organization dedicated to “public awareness while educating and certifying industry professionals” throughout North America.

Since 1983 the CSIA has been the recognized authority on the prevention of fires. CSIA has established uniform standards of performance for both chimney and dryer exhaust technicians.

In order to earn the CSIA Certified Technician status, the technician must complete a rigorous process of learning based on the National Fire Protection Association and International Residential Fire Codes and Standards, chimney construction, and cleaning processes and then the technician must pass comprehensive exams. As part of the certification process there is also extensive hands on training and testing with leaders in the industry.

For those in the industry, earning the CSIA credentials for your business and technicians means more than just paying dues and belonging to a “club”. Being an active participant in CSIA sends a message to your existing and potential customers that you are committing your time and financial resources to provide the highest level of expertise and superior customer service necessary to keep their family and home safe.

Remember consumers can be very particular about the service team they let into their homes. As they should be. Many have heard horror stories of big messes during the chimney sweeping process, unscrupulous businesses practices, and shoddy work and so they procrastinate in calling for service to avoid the hassles. It is your job to educated the consumer on the importance of regular maintenance and why they can trust you to be their solution and the expert they can trust.

From a consumer’s perspective seeing your CSIA credentials ensures they are doing business with a trusted professional not just some guy canvassing your neighborhood. The CSIA provides homeowners with a list of qualified chimney companies who can perform the maintenance and repair services they need according to the CSIA standards. As a business owner, you want to be included in that elite group.

Equally important in assessing your consideration as the chimney sweep consumers choose to do business with is, the fact that you display your all your credentials which tells the consumer you are serious about the service you provide and you want to develop a long term relationship with them. Be sure to post on your website and on other marketing materials that you have participated in continuing education classes.

The CSIA website provides a wealth of information for those in the industry as well as consumers. The fact that your company is part of such an impressive and prestigious organization adds value to the services you provide. Your membership and commitment to having your technicians certified and renewing their certification helps distinguish you in the marketplace and tells potential customers (and your existing customers) why they should be doing business with you rather than your competitors!

Why Ivy Is Damaging Your Chimney

Rarely does fantasy live up to the facts associated with reality. One of the strongest fantasy verses reality buzz-kills is associated with picturesque ivy covered stone and brick buildings. From an aesthetic point of view, nothing is more quaint and dignified as ivy covered buildings and fences. However, ask property owners who battle this invasive predatory, albeit beautiful, vine and its beauty becomes insignificant. Chief Chimney Services, Inc. in Long Island know that growing ivy is a wakeup call that structural damage is being done.

Ivy spreads quickly and homeowners need to have the ivy removed from your chimneys and other stone and brick structures before its roots and vines can work their way into your masonry and be the catalyst for a whole host of problems. Once the ivy is removed it is important to have a thorough inspection done to find and repair any cracks, crevices, and gaps in the masonry caused by the invading green leafy pest. The roots are so invasive and embedded that damage can even be done to masonry and shingles during the ivy removal process.

Your chimney is built from masonry. Masonry is a naturally porous material and holds water. Bricks are held together with mortar that can become damaged over time due to weather exposure, freezing and thawing, age, and pressure. Once masonry starts leaking, water starts seeping in to your chimney, down your fireplace, between your gutters and roof, and along the foundation of your home. Water damage rots wood, erodes masonry and soil, causes mold, and can be a breeding ground for unwanted germs, insects, animals, birds, and rodents. Introduce a robust and resilient vine like ivy that works its way into the nooks and crannies of masonry and the water and vine damage begins a downward spiral of maintenance and repairs.

It is important that during your annual inspection, your CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certified chimney inspector and technician look for the early signs of ivy growth and remove it before it takes root. Ivy growing on one part of your home or in your trees will quickly invade everything around it.

On the website Ask Metafilter.com readers gave their responses to a potential homeowner who asked about the ivy growing on a house he was interested in purchasing:

• Ivy is the devil’s plant. I have spent the summer helping my mom removed it from a neglected house she bought. It was choking out and killing BIG trees. Any vegetation growing against a house will hold moisture and decaying matter (against) the building a (drastically) shorten the lifespan of the exterior of the house if not the whole structure.
• It will destroy chimneys, trim, and woodwork; it will weasel its way into your home through your windows, if you let it; it will vex you by sprouting from every corner of your garden no matter how many sprigs you pull; it will turn neighbor against neighbor. (Truly. Just ask anyone who has lived next to a house with ivy.)

Don’t put yourself and your neighbors through the aggravation of dealing with ivy. Make sure you have a professional immediately eradicate any existing ivy growth and do a complete inspection of your chimney, fire box, and their surrounding area to identify, repair (and prevent any future) damage. There are plenty of ways to improve the curb appeal of your home without ivy…Don’t get tangled in the illusion of its beauty. Be pro-active in your efforts to work closely with a chimney professional to avoid ivy’s potential damage.