Chestnut
Hill Chimney Chestnut
Hill Chimney
(Level 2 Inspections are also available for an additional fee)
There
have been a rash of chimney fires and house fires lately. There are 2 major
contributing factors to this:1. The weather we have been having this winter. When the temps warm up during the day, or for several days in a row, everyone tends to "choke down" their woodstoves because they don't need as much heat. This causes a faster build up of creosote. Then when we have cold nights, or a cold snap, everyone fires the stoves back up hot again, often igniting that creosote build up. It seems weird but you actually need to clean your chimney MORE during a mild winter than you do in a very cold one!
2. Improper installations. So many of the fires we read about and/or investigate could have been prevented had the unit been installed correctly the first time. Cheap, quick installs are usually not proper installs. Proper clearances, airspaces, and looking for hidden combustibles is essential (for ANY heating appliance).
And, of course, the better the quality of product you use, the better it works. The "box store" do it yourself kits for metal chimneys will only contain a chimney fire for 10 minutes. The metal chimney brand we use contains a fire for 30. That 20 minutes can be the difference between saving your house or not. It's difficult for the Fire Department to get to your house and put out a fire in less than 10 minutes. Yes the better pipe costs more, but not as much as the potential damage to your home.
If you have
a chimney fire or suspect that you did, please give us a call.
Chimney flues should be inspected after any chimney fire. Also if you had been burning more
frequently than usual, or wet wood, or keeping the stove "choked down"
you may have built up more creosote than you normally do as there are several factors that can increase creosote buildup. Most of the
time damage caused by a chimney fire is covered under home owner's insurance.Clean chimneys don't catch fire. It's that simple. But a wood stove flue isn't the only type of chimney flue that needs sweeping. Anything that burns leaves a deposit behind, commonly known as soot (creosote). Even oil furnaces leave soot in the chimney. Soot is highly flammable, it is what causes a chimney fire in a wood burning chimney. A simple chimney sweeping can prevent chimney fires.
An oil flue doesn't catch fire like wood flue does, however oil soot is full of water and corrosive chemicals that can eat away at and damage masonry and clay flue tiles. This can lead to cracks and gaps in your chimney flue system, and allow carbon monoxide into your home. Also, and more common than anyone would think, oil soot does accumulate and pile up, and can eventually block off the connection from the pipe to the chimney, causing a no draft situation. It does take many years for this to happen, but when was the last time you had your oil flue swept? (the oil service technicians do not touch your chimney).
Metal chimneys also need regular sweeping. Soot does not stick to them as readily as masonry, but it is present and does need to be removed.
NEWS: There is a possible chimney inspection/sweeping/repair scam in the Rochester NH area, please check out the "News" on the first page of our main website for more details www.chesnuthillchimney.com.
1. A good chimney fire once or twice a year is all the chimney cleaning you need.
Yes, a chimney fire does burn up the creosote in the chimney. It can also crack the flue and allow the fire to spread through the walls of your home, and/or sparks from the fire can catch your roof on fire. You can not control a chimney fire, and an out of control fire in your home is not a safe way to accomplish anything.
2. I use chimney sweeping logs, salt or other chemical means to keep soot from building up in my chimney, so it doesn't need sweeping.
These still do not remove everything, and can actually cause "sheets" of creosote to loosen and fall onto your smoke shelf, piling up and causing a chimney fire. If you look at the directions for any log or chemical it clearly states that this does not replace professional cleaning. And never ever use a chimney sweeping log in a woodstove, you will cause permanent damage to it.
3. I burn hardwood only, or seasoned wood only, so it burns clean.
Nothing burns clean. Some things burn cleaner than others, and may reduce the need for frequent sweepings, but if it burns it is carbon based and if it is carbon based it does not ever burn completely and perfectly. Also most firewood vendors that advertise "seasoned wood" aren't actually delivering it. To properly season (dry) wood it must be cut, split and stacked for 1-2 years, minimum. It cannot start drying until it is split (the bark prevents that from happening). We sell a very easy to use moisture meter that can give you a reading on the moisture content of any log. The best way to buy firewood is to buy next year's supply this year, stack it, cover it and leave it alone.
4. I clean my own chimney, it's not rocket science.
Nope it isn't. However I assume you also brush your own teeth daily and yet you still go to a dentist for checkups and cleanings? Why? Because the Dentist has training to do a better and more thorough cleaning, will examine your teeth and gums for problems that may be starting, and fix them. It is the same with us. We have professional training, certifications and experience. We can clean everything well with the properly sized brush, and conduct an "exam" of your appliance and chimney to make sure everything is in good working order, no problems are developing and if there are problems, fix them before they get worse. We can also usually remove any brushes etc that you get stuck in your flue when doing your own cleaning (we have removed, brushes, rods, chains, rocks, tree branches, sledge hammers...all used to "clear" blockages by the homeowners).
5. The best time to clean my chimney is in the fall.
Actually the best time is in the spring, when you are done using it. Soot, like any dirt, doesn't get better with age so why keep it around? Any corrosive properties in it are going to eat away at your chimney, in the summer when it gets humid it will have a nasty smell, and then when you need your heating system you have to wait, sometimes weeks, to get it cleaned. Also it is less busy in the spring so you don't have to wait as long for an appointment, and if the inspection does uncover a problem you have plenty of time to fix it. It is especially important to clean pellet systems in the spring, "leftover" pellets in the system can swell and burst from summer humidity and actually shorten the life of your appliance. All pellet manufacturers require a professional servicing at least once a year, check your manual. And most specify that it should be done by someone who is NFI Certified for Pellet (both Mark and David are). However we will be happy to provide you with service any time of year, including the middle of winter.
6. It's too late to get my chimney cleaned once it is winter /snowing or you don't go on the roof in the heat of summer.
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