Cleaning & Maintenance

How often should I have my chimney Inspected?

Inspected??  The NFPA address’ and defines inspections in chapter 15 of the NFPA 211.  It is our professional opinion that an annual inspection is necessary to assist in disclosing any potential hazards that may have occurred from one year to the next.  The level of Inspection will differ from situation to situation.  Please consult one of our on staff F.I.R.E. Certified Inspectors for the right inspection for your application.

How often should I have my Chimney Swept?

Swept??  Your chimney should be swept as needed.  This question is often confused with annual inspections.  For many clients once a year is simply not enough.  Burning habits, moisture content of the wood, temperature of flue gases, combustion air needs of the appliance; to name a few, all affect the amount of creosote buildup in a system.  We recommend sweeping your chimney system prior to a quarter inch (1/4 Inch) of build up.

What should I do if I have a Chimney Fire?

Fire??  First things first! Get everyone out of the home and call 911 from a neighbor’s phone or a cellular phone.
Once emergency services have deemed the dwelling safe for you to return, we recommend scheduling a chimney inspection.  Only through a detailed inspection by a qualified inspector, is it possible to determine potential hazards caused by the failure of materials within the fireplace and chimney systems.  Most chimney systems are designed to contain 1 fire.  It is our professional opinion that you should never use a chimney system after a fire until it has been inspected by a qualified inspector.

Why does my fireplace smoke (into my house)?

Smoke??  There is nothing worse than a fireplace that doesn’t work!  Not only is the smoke a nuisance, it is a health hazard.  The fireplace or stove should not be operated until the condition is repaired.  There are many reasons a fireplace smokes.  Some of the reasons include inadequate combustion air, (especially true in tight houses), improper chimney sizing, negative pressure in the dwelling, a stack affect in homes with severe pressure zones, downsizing of a chimney due to debris or creosote buildup or just poor location of the chimney itself.  The good news is many of these smoking problems can be solved.  The first step to solving this problem is obtaining an accurate evaluation of the system.

Do gas fireplaces need service or maintenance?

Maintenance??  Gas fireplaces need service and maintenance just like any appliance.  The manufacturer of these appliances will typically outline a maintenance, or service schedule in their operating manuals.  There are many components working together, and if just one of the components fails, typically the whole system fails.  The best course of action is annual maintenance to ensure working parts, and that the fire continue to be the aesthetic center point you expect and originally intended.