Why a Functional Chimney Cap is Essential

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Why a Functional Chimney Cap is Essential

A chimney cap is an essential component of your chimney system. Here are five reasons why you need a functional chimney cap installed:

Reduces Moisture: A chimney cap will keep rainwater from coming down your home’s chimney and potentially damage chimneys with stainless steel liners, chimney dampers, and chimney mortar joints. Moisture from rainwater can also produce mold and mildew and create costly damage. We offer professional chimney cap installations that can help prevent these issues.

Keep out animals: Wild animals like birds, raccoons, and squirrels often attempt to make their homes within chimneys. In many cases, these critters will enter the chimney but won’t be able to exit, eventually dying, which can introduce maggots, flies, and unpleasant odors into your home. A properly installed chimney cap, sized accurately, will prevent animals from entering the chimney area.

Block Downdrafts: A chimney cap is designed to help prevent wind-induced downdrafts, which can occur when the wind is blowing in a particular direction. Without a chimney cap, if you’re using a wood-burning fireplace, a wind-induced downdraft has the potential of blowing smoke back into your home.

Stop Sparks and Embers: Chimney caps are also referred to as spark arrestors, as they prevent lit embers or sparks from traveling up the chimney and landing on the roof, which could catch it on fire.

Prevent Debris Build-up: Chimney caps prevent leaves, branches, twigs and other debris from entering a chimney, preventing build-up and expensive damages.

Don’t wait until it’s too late; get a chimney cap installed today. Contact us for more information on professional chimney cap installations.

Tips for Safe and Efficient Wood Burning: A Guide for Fireplace Owners

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Tips for Safe and Efficient Wood Burning: A Guide for Fireplace Owners

Before burning wood in your fireplace, it is essential to have it inspected by a reputable company such as US Chimney Corp. Our experts can inspect your fireplace and chimney to ensure safe and efficient wood burning. Contact us for more information.

To minimize the expense and environmental impact of indoor wood-burning, follow these tips recommended by the American Lung Association:

Only burn seasoned firewood. Never burn painted or treated wood, plastics, glossy magazines, particle board, or plywood as these materials release toxic chemicals into the air, which can be harmful to your health and damage your fireplace.

Allow at least a year for your wood to fully cure before you burn it. This will give the wood enough time to dry completely. You can check if the wood is ready by hitting two pieces together. If you hear a sharp crack, the wood is ready to burn. If you hear a dull thud, it’s not yet ready.

Split your firewood into pieces with diameters of 4-6 inches. Wood dries from the surface inward, so splitting helps the wood dry out faster. The more surface area exposed to the flame, the better the wood will burn.”

By following these tips, you can ensure efficient and safe wood burning while saving money and reducing your environmental impact.

Common Causes of Chimney Leaking

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Common Causes of Chimney Leaking

Cause #1: Rain Entering from the Top
Chimneys without covers are susceptible to rainwater falling directly into them. It’s important to install a chimney cover to not only keep rain out but also prevent birds, animals, and debris from entering. The primary benefit of a chimney cover is to keep the chimney clear because blockages can lead to CO poisoning.

Cause #2: Cracks in the Chimney Crown
The chimney crown, the cement part on top of the chimney, is designed to prevent rain and snow from entering around the flue liners. When cracks develop in the crown, water can seep through them and cause leaks. It is crucial to address these cracks to maintain a watertight seal. Learn more about chimney cleaning to keep your chimney in good condition.

Cause #3: Leaks due to Condensation
Gas fumes, especially at lower temperatures, contain a significant amount of moisture. In an oversized or cold chimney, these fumes can condense on the inside, leading to constant moisture on the bricks. The implementation of a chimney liner can effectively resolve this issue and prevent further leaks.

Cause #4: Problems with Chimney Flashing
Flashing is used to prevent water from entering where the brick structure intersects with the roof or comes close to it. If the flashing is not properly sealed, there is a gap that water can easily flow through. Oftentimes, aluminum flashing is used and sealed with waterproof “stuff,” such as tar. While tar is not the ideal choice, it is frequently used for this purpose.

Addressing these common causes of chimney leaks is crucial to maintain a dry and safe chimney system. If you’re facing any of these issues, it’s recommended to consult professionals for appropriate repairs and solutions.

Chimney Safety Tips From the CSIA

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Chimney Safety Tips From the CSIA

No matter the condition of your fireplace, wood stove, or other chimney-connected appliance, if you don’t understand how your system works, it will be difficult getting it to perform in a way that optimizes both performance and safety.

When trying to light a fire it’s important to remember that your entire house works as a system.

For example, you could have a sparkling new home with a fireplace you could eat out of, but if you don’t understand some basic concepts of thermal dynamics, your first fire could send smoke spilling out into your living room and not up your chimney as intended.

No matter the condition of your fireplace, wood stove, or other chimney-connected appliance, if you don’t understand how your system works, it will be difficult getting it to perform in a way that optimizes both performance and safety.

When trying to light a fire it’s important to remember that your entire house works as a system.

For example, you could have a sparkling new home with a fireplace you could eat out of, but if you don’t understand some basic concepts of thermal dynamics, your first fire could send smoke spilling out into your living room and not up your chimney as intended.

From a young age we are taught that “warm air rises”, so, why then would a fire in a firebox not naturally send smoke straight up the chimney? There could be a number of reasons for this, but here are three common issues with simple solutions:

  1. The damper is closed.
  2. Sufficient draft has not been established — basically, what this means is that the air inside the flue is too cold and heavy for the smoke to push up and out of the chimney. This is a pretty easy fix: grab some newspaper and twist it into a torch, light one end and hold it up as high as you can reach inside the fireplace. You will know that sufficient draft has been established once you see the smoke and flame being pulled up towards the chimney. Once that happens, go ahead and light your fire.
  3. There is too much negative pressure in the house. Are you running a whole-house fan or an exhaust fan in the kitchen or bathroom? Either of these appliances can make establishing an effective draft difficult, especially if your home is relatively new (newer homes tend to be more tightly sealed than older homes).

Don’t risk a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning call the experts US Chimney or visit our website at uschimney.com for an inspection of your chimney system or a new stainless steel chimney liner to ensure that your chimney system is clean and safe. 

A Guide to Understanding the Different Levels of Chimney Inspections

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A Guide to Understanding the Different Levels of Chimney Inspections

To prevent potential fire hazards, it’s crucial to have your chimney inspected annually. While some homeowners think they can perform this service themselves, this is not recommended. Certified technicians have the knowledge and expertise to recognize safety hazards, code violations, and potential problems that an average homeowner may not.

There are three levels of chimney inspections:

Level 1: This is primarily a visual inspection of the exposed components of the chimney system. It’s recommended that you get this inspection annually, regardless of how frequently you use your chimney.

Level 2: This inspection is needed when there may be a problem after the level 1 inspection, or when you are selling your home. It involves sending a specialized camera down your chimney to take video and still images of the interior and provide a more in-depth look into any potential problems.

Level 3: This inspection is only to be done if there was a major catastrophic event, such as an earthquake, tornado or chimney fire. It consists of levels 1 and 2, in addition to an inspection of the interior venting components, which usually requires removing the chimney walls to access the damage.

If you haven’t had your annual level 1 inspection done yet, please contact a certified expert such as US Chimney to ensure the safety of your home and family. Don’t wait until there’s a problem to get your chimney inspected.

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Some Questions To Ask When Having Your Chimney Liner Installed

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Some Questions To Ask When Having Your Chimney Liner Installed

Having a new chimney liner installed is something every home owner will have to experience at one point in their lives. The proper chimney liner installation is necessary to maintaining the wellness of your house and safety of your family. While it is of the utmost importance to contact a trained and reputable company to handle your installation, you should have some background information about your chimney liner. Here are some important questions to ask to better educate yourself when having your liner installed:

  • Why does my chimney need a new liner?
  • Can my chimney liner be repaired?
  • What types of chimney liners are available?
  • How much does it cost to replace a chimney liner?
  • What happens if I don’t replace a damaged chimney liner?
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