2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Chimney Cleaning’ Category

How to Prevent Cracks in Your Plymouth Chimney

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Checking for cracks on the exterior of your chimney is something that any Plymouth homeowner can and should do.  Depending on the size of the crack and the potential soot around it anyone can determine if chimney repairs are needed.  Here are a few characteristics of chimneys in need of inspections, and ways you can prevent future damages.

One of the primary steps contractors and homeowners should know to take is leaving space between the chimney flue and the brick exterior.  This space needs to be present because of the heat expansion that occurs within the chimney while it is being used.  Without this additional space the chimney flue will expand and crack the brick exterior, which will lead to potential smoke leakage and further chimney damage.

Chimneys must be made to withstand some amount of movement, especially in towns that are known to have seismic activity.  Contractors should also be particularly careful of the soil that the place the chimney on, so that the foundation of the chimney is not resting on unsecure ground.  If your chimney does experience some movement it is important for homeowners to check the mortar joints, or the area where the chimney protrudes out of the roof, for gaps between the roof and the chimney.

One quick way homeowners can avoid any chimney sealing and resurfacing issues is by installing a chimney damper or cap.  During the colder months, if water travels down your chimney, and freezes, there is a good chance that the expansion of water to ice will crack your brick mortar exterior.  Right now 2nd Generation Chimneys is offering a discount on chimney inspections and cleanings when homeowners purchase a chimney damper.  By taking advantage of this deal people will be able to save money on their heating bills by restricting air flow through their chimney, reduce water from entering their chimney, and receive a discounted chimney inspection.

To learn more about ways to reduce chimney cracks, and increase chimney efficiency please call 2nd Generation Chimneys today.

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Plymouth Chimney and Fireplace Tips: Ten Fire Safety Tips

Monday, May 21st, 2012

If you utilize your fireplace frequently in Plymouth, there are some preventative chimney cleaning and maintenance tasks that you should follow to avoid safety hazards. Even if you heat your home with a gas furnace or rarely use your fireplace, chimney fires and carbon monoxide leaks are still major concerns. Your chimney is part of your home’s ventilation system.

To maintain proper ventilation and prevent hazards, follow these guidelines:

1. Annual Inspections
The general consensus among fire safety experts is that chimneys should be inspected once a year by a certified chimney inspector. A qualified professional will inspect and clean your chimney to prevent air flow problems, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning due to blockages and creosote buildup in homes heated with wood.

2. Burn the Correct Fuel
If you have a wood-burning application, such as a wood stove or fireplace, you should only burn wood that has been properly dried and stored properly for at least six months prior to burning. Never burn wood that has high amounts of resin, such as pine or other evergreens, and if you have a pellet stove, make sure you are burning pellets from a trusted source.

3. Chimney Cap and Cage Are Important – Without a chimney cap animals and birds will make your chimney their home.  These unwanted guests could lead to fires and poor ventilation for your chimney smoke.

4. Trash or Debris Do Not Belong in Your Fireplace– Burning trash or debris in your fireplace is never a good idea because the smoke could produce increased levels of creosote, or toxic smoke.  The smoke could also be highly pollutant.

5. Build the Fire Correctly – The first step to having a safe and efficient fire is to build the fire right.  Make sure that the logs are piled up towards the back of the fireplace, make sure the screen is ready to cover it up, and do not use flammable liquid to start the fire because if the liquid gets anywhere else in your home that could be dangerous.
6. Keep the hearth area clear – Remember that the fire in your home is still an open fire, and can throw out hot ash or embers that can ignite other flammable materials. Keep other materials at least 4 feet away from the fire in order to avoid this issue.

7. Install a Fireplace Screen – In order to avoid hot ash and embers from flying out of the fire, and things falling into the fire put up a fire place screen anytime you have a fire going. This will reduce all interactions with the fire, and make for a safer environment.

8. Smoke and carbon monoxide Detectors Save Lives. Smoke and carbon monoxide is definitely dangerous for the health of a family, but can sometimes go unnoticed until it is too late.  Installing a smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is incredibly easy and could save lives.
9. Pay Attention to Your Fire – Always extinguish your fire before going to bed or leaving the house.  A fire is unpredictable and potentially very damaging.  Even if you are in the house make sure to keep an eye on the fire so children or animals do not wander too close to it, especially if you do not have a fireplace screen.

10. Safe Distance from Chimney Flue – When smoke leaves your home it is warm enough to catch trees on fire over time.  Make sure to keep an eye on trees growing around your home to make sure they are not creeping closer to the top of your chimney.  Try to keep a fifteen to twenty foot distance between the top of your chimney and trees.

If you would like us to service your chimney or you have any questions please call 2nd Generation Chimneys.

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Golden Valley Wood Burning Tips: What NOT to Burn in your Fireplace or Wood Stove

Monday, May 14th, 2012

In addition to proper ventilation and annual chimney inspections in Golden Valley, burning the right type of fuel in your wood burning application is part of preventing chimney fires and other safety hazards. Making sure that you have installed interior and exterior spark arresters is also important in protecting your home and your property from potential fires created by embers.

If you have questions about choosing firewood, check our blog archives for more information on how to select and store your firewood. You can always call 2nd Generation Chimneys any time, and our fireplace and chimney experts will be glad to answer any further questions you might have.

In the meantime, here are some of the more common items that should NOT be burned in a fireplace or wood stove:

  • Cardboard and Garbage:  While this may seem obvious, many people think that burning trash and paper products, such as cardboard and magazines , is safe because they do not burn too hot; however, these products are typically treated with toxic chemicals that can be released into the air you breathe when you burn them.
  • Treated Wood and Construction Materials:  Like household garbage and cardboard, pressure-treated wood contains harmful chemicals that are released when burned, particularly stained or water-treated wood from decks or landscaping and rail road ties. This applies to construction scraps, such as plywood, particle board, gypsum board, press board, or any material that contains glue.
  • Ocean Driftwood:  When ocean driftwood is burned, it can release the sea salt and minerals that will turn into corrosive and toxic gases, which are harmful to your health and can damage your flue lining.
  • Green or Moldy Wood:  Wet or “green” wood causes excess smoking, creosote buildup, foul odors, and could potentially cause illness if the wood contains bacteria, mold, mildew, or other fungi.
  • Christmas Trees or Evergreens:  While all wood will create some creosote buildup, evergreens and trees that contain sap or heavy amounts of resin can create excess creosote. If you choose to burn this type of wood, be sure that you have your chimney cleaned and inspected  at least once a year, if not twice a year.

We also get many questions about burning artificial logs. Most fire safety experts agree that while these are convenient, they should only be used to start a fire if you do not have proper kindling. In addition, they should be burned in an open fireplace, and one at a time.

If you use fire starters, make sure you are careful about stirring the fire before they have completely burned, since moving them around could cause the fire to get too hot or out of control. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before you start the fire.

Don’t hesitate to give the fireplace experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys a call any time you have questions or concerns.

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