Flexible Verses Rigid Chimney Liners

Annual chimney inspections are absolute home maintenance necessity but inspections alone aren’t enough to prevent a tragedy. A well made, properly installed chimney liner will protect the structure of your chimney and keep your family and home safe. Chimney liners include the option of flexible or rigid styles. Your preference will depend on a combination of factors including the cost, installation difficulties and the particular shape of your chimney.

The purpose of a metal liner is to secure the flue’s integrity, so that dangerous smoke and flammable material do not leak back down the chimney into your home or set the chimney itself on fire. Surprisingly, a number of old homes in this country still have not had a liner installed. You can place a metal liner on top of an old clay tile liner or directly on an unlined chimney. However, if the flue space is very small, the clay tiles may have to be removed in some cases. Your chimney specialist will be able to tell you if that will be required.

If your chimney’s flue is straight from the top to the bottom (where you will connect with the vent of the fireplace, furnace or wood burning stove), then a rigid liner will work very well. If the flue has one or more bends in it, a flexible liner will be the better choice. The more complex the system, the greater your need for a flexible liner will be.

It is true that a rigid liner is generally less expensive, but if there are several bends in the flue the increased labor costs will make the flexible liner a much cheaper option. A flexible liner will also be easier to clean and maintain than a rigid liner that has several bends and turns.

If you are unsure about which type of liner you need, ask the advice of your professional chimney cleaner when he does your annual inspection. Or contact us if you have any questions. We will help you get the job done.

Chimney caps keep critters out

Few things are more horrifying than going to start a fire in the wood stove or fireplace and realizing that you are not alone – there’s a pest in the chimney, stove or worst case the living room!  No one wants to hurt a little animal, no matter how unwanted the “varmint” is, and usually there’s a way to capture the squirrel or racoon and release it to the wild, but the better solution is to prevent this from happening in the first place with a chimney cap.

Chimney caps have many added advantages in addition to keeping your chimney animal-free, but for animal lovers it is a true added benefit. The possibility of having a wild animal access your house via the chimney poses many problems including the possibility of disease spreading vermin and damage the animal may cause while trying to escape.  There is the very real possibility that the animal-intruder will be injured by the fire or have to be destroyed by a pest control professional if it does not escape voluntarily, neither of which is a good outcome for an animal-loving home-owner.

Chimney caps can add an architectural element or blend seamlessly into the roof-line. Options include stainless steel, copper and terra cotta with different elevations and visible detail. Originally created to prevent rain from entering the chimney, chimney caps are an important line of defense against the local animal kingdom.

Chimney caps are easily installed by the handy homeowner who is comfortable working on the roof. For a checklist of the items needed for a successful installation and a detailed “how to,” contact us.

Chimney Caps to Solve Common Fireplace Problems

When you think of chimney caps, you probably think of something that is designed to keep animals out of your flue. What you may not know is that chimney caps can also be used to solve a number of other fireplace issues. Here are some different problems that can be eliminated by installing the right chimney caps.

If you live in an area where high winds are common, you could have downdraft problems that result in smoke building up inside your home. A draft-increasing chimney cap could be the solution to this problem. These caps are designed so that air is forced to circulate around the top of it, which in turn creates a vacuum that forces smoke upward. These devices are most effective on metal chimneys, but can be installed on masonry ones as well.

If you have both upstairs and downstairs fireplaces, you may notice smoke coming out of one of them whenever you are using the other. In this instance, a flue stretcher cap could resolve the issue. Flue stretcher caps create more space between the two flues, thereby reducing the odds of smoke escaping from another. Although these caps are functional, many homeowners choose them because they like the looks of them, as they add height to very short and stubby chimneys.

Outside mounted caps are designed to fit over the top of your crown, and can serve a number of purposes such as:

• Concealing a poor design
• Providing energy efficiency and protection from the weather
• Allowing a more uniform look whenever you have multiple flues constructed from different

A cap/damper combo can be the perfect solution if your fireplace has a broken or missing damper. One of these models will also help guard against air loss, making it a practical investment for the money.

These are just a few problems that can be resolved with the right chimney caps. To find the one that is right for your flue, contact us.

Which Chimney Caps are Right for You?

Sometimes, trying to find the right chimney caps can make you feel overwhelmed. Allow us to help, as we guide you to find the right chimney caps for you.

Chimney caps are available in a variety of materials, with some of the most common ones being:

Galvanized steel
Stainless steel
Aluminum
Copper

Aluminum and galvanized steel caps tend to cost less, but are less durable than ones made from aluminum or copper are. Aluminum caps are the most popular, because they are a good value for the money when it comes to durability. Copper is the most expensive material, but provides a unique look that is most suitable for historic homes.

Mesh Size

Chimney caps come in two basic mesh sizes: 3/4” and 5/8”. There is very little difference in the look or performance of the two different sizes; however, that doesn’t mean mesh size is not important. In certain areas, fire safety codes require homeowners to install chimney caps with ½” spark arrestors, which means they must prevent sparks larger than ½” from escaping. In these areas, chimney caps with 5/8” mesh must be installed instead.

Slip in vs. Screwed On

If you have a square, rectangular or oval flue, your chimney cap will likely need to be attached with masonry screws, unless you have a flue that is recessed inside your chimney. Should you have a round flue, you can choose between a slip-in cap and one that is screwed on. Slip-in caps can be easier to install, provided you buy the right size. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of screwing on a chimney cap, consider hiring a professional so you can avoid doing damage to your structure.

These are only a few things to think about when choosing the right chimney cap for your fireplace. To see the selection we have available, contact us.

Things to Know when Having Chimney Liners Cleaned

If you use your fireplace regularly, you should plan on having your chimney liners cleaned annually. Before hiring a chimney sweep, here are some things you should consider in order to make sure you receive quality service.

Although not required, having certification from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) or the National Fireplace Institute (NFI) can go a long way toward ensuring a sweep is properly trained. Always ask what if any certifications a chimney sweep has, in addition to finding out:

• How long he or she has been in business

• The exact method that will be used to clean your chimney

• The names and contact numbers of any references

• Whether the quoted price includes cleaning and an inspection

• Whether or not the sweep also performs other repairs

• The amount of insurance coverage he or she carries

Ideally, any inspection performed by the sweep will include checking the firebox for damaged mortar, an inspection of the damper, and damage to the flue liner. Make sure the chimney sweep you hire inspects all of these things and provides you with a written report on each one’s condition.

Avoid hiring chimney sweeps that go door to door soliciting business. Many of these companies are in business for only a short while, and may not perform the work to your satisfaction. As such, you could be spending money for shoddy work, and unknowingly increase your risk of fire.

You should also avoid chimney sweeps that use “scare tactics” to convince you to get extra work performed on the spot. If you feel pressured in any way, ask the sweep to leave and then call another professional for a second opinion.

Having your chimney liner cleaned on a regular basis is important, and finding the right professional to do the job is equally as important. For more information on chimney liners, contact us.

How Chimney Caps Protect Your Fireplace

Owning chimney caps has become more and more common among homeowners that have fireplaces. Fireplaces are often lovely to admire and provide a heat source during the cold winter months, but they do require some maintenance. There are some common issues among fireplace owners that can be helped with the use of chimney caps.

Chimney caps are an important part of keeping your chimney in proper working order. They protect the flue and keep debris, animals, pests, and moisture out. This allows the chimney to work well throughout all seasons and allows chimney users to concentrate on enjoying the fireplace rather than ridding it of pests on a regular basis.

 

Chimney caps also provide ventilation for hot flue gases and smoke from fireplaces. Having the ventilation can help the home from being overrun with gases and smoke. Having too much smoke in the home can be dangerous to family members and the chimney caps can prevent that from ever occurring.

The fact that fireplace chimney caps are helpful for a variety of reasons are a great reason to ensure your home has one. The need to have a proper one is essential to keep out debris and other nuisances as well as encourage proper flow in the home during fireplace use.

Another crucial benefit to having chimney caps is that they shed ice and rain from the crown of the chimney. This means that the life of the chimney crown will be extended and the flue tile will likely not be cracked from these weather issues. It also saves money because those issues will not be as much of a problem for homeowners.

Getting the proper sized chimney cap is important. It is recommended to contact a professional to ensure the right one is selected. They can also help install the chimney cap on your home and teach you how to do regular maintenance on it, if needed. If you have any questions about how to handle your fireplace or about any fireplace accessories, please feel free to contact Us

How Chimney Caps Protect Your Fireplace

Owning chimney caps has become more and more common among homeowners that have fireplaces. Fireplaces are often lovely to admire and provide a heat source during the cold winter months, but they do require some maintenance. There are some common issues among fireplace owners that can be helped with the use of chimney caps.

Chimney caps are an important part of keeping your chimney in proper working order. They protect the flue and keep debris, animals, pests, and moisture out. This allows the chimney to work well throughout all seasons and allows chimney users to concentrate on enjoying the fireplace rather than ridding it of pests on a regular basis.

Chimney caps also provide ventilation for hot flue gases and smoke from fireplaces. Having the ventilation can help the home from being overrun with gases and smoke. Having too much smoke in the home can be dangerous to family members and the chimney caps can prevent that from ever occurring.

The fact that fireplace chimney caps are helpful for a variety of reasons are a great reason to ensure your home has one. The need to have a proper one is essential to keep out debris and other nuisances as well as encourage proper flow in the home during fireplace use.

Another crucial benefit to having chimney caps is that they shed ice and rain from the crown of the chimney. This means that the life of the chimney crown will be extended and the flue tile will likely not be cracked from these weather issues. It also saves money because those issues will not be as much of a problem for homeowners.

Getting the proper sized chimney cap is important. It is recommended to contact a professional to ensure the right one is selected. They can also help install the chimney cap on your home and teach you how to do regular maintenance on it, if needed. If you have any questions about how to handle your fireplace or about any fireplace accessories, please feel free to contact us

Facts You Were Not Aware About Fireplace Chimney Liners

Fireplace is a great way to heat up a room and surely makes a house feel a lot more like a dwelling. Nevertheless there are some stern potential dangers that can come from fireplace usage. Even if you’re familiar on fire safety and have few smoke detectors in your home, here are few other fireplace safety concerns you might not have thought of.
One big obstacle when it comes to fireplace maintenance is how hard it is to view the inner view of chimney. Even if you go on the roof it’s actually too dark to see its inside. The most intricate problems that can occur in a chimney generally begin with the smallest holes that can be tricky to see if you are not trained enough. That is why people hire chimney inspectors to come with their tools to get a sneak peak inside the chimney and recognize any potential trouble.
An indispensable part of both indoor and outdoor fireplaces, fireplace chimneys release the dangerous and lethal gases, created by the burning of fuels, firmly to the outside atmosphere. Fireplace chimneys adjust and control the flow of air and keep acute heat from combustible materials that enclose the fireplace.
Mainly, fireplace chimneys were made from brick and mortar, and surrounded with fireproof tiles. Though, the latest models of metal are quite easy to install. Fireplace Chimney Liners should have the potency to tolerate the recurrent heating and cooling process of the fireplace and also the acidic compounds that are created after combustion.
Flue, consisting of the combustion products, forms the most significant and the inner section of fireplace chimneys layer. In wood burning fireplaces case, an extremely combustible substance called as creosote gets deposited on flues, it blocks the passage of air via the system. A clean flue is fundamental for the unhindered dispersal of combustion products.

Chimney Caps: What You Don’t Know About It

For the persons who possess a home, particularly in cold countries, one might undoubtedly have to deal with a fireplace. There are several constituents of a fireplace, one among them are chimney and their caps. Generally, it is the last constituent one might think of their home or whilst purchasing a home. Yet it could cause as much damage as good if it is not maintained aptly.

What a chimney cap means and why are they required?

Most of the chimneys have a brick and a mortar top and a chimney cap’s first task is to defend it. There are several things which find their way into the fireplace and even the home through the chimney and the chimney cap serves to prevent the access. The second most integral reason for having suitable Chimney Caps is to prevent dampness and humidity spoilage to the chimney by keeping it out of the water from heavy rain and melting snow on the roof.

Chimney Cover: The Prerequisites Of Buying It

Having a fireplace in your home is always a magnificent thing which the whole family can enjoy. Fireplaces are stunning and could help to make any room feel more like home. In the winter, a fireplace can bring warmth and light to the whole room, particularly during the Christmas season. In the time of Christmas, a fireplace can be the main focal point of the room and help in making the holiday that much more exciting for everyone. There is though a huge downside for having a fireplace in their home and that is the chimney.

The chimney can become very filthy very quickly and for adding to that when it rains or snows, this bad weather could come right in to their room. What is the answer? Go for a chimney cover. Chimney cover can save a ton of time and work and would make life just that much easier over time.