How
often should I have my chimney cleaned?
The
National Fire Protection Association
Standard 211 says, "Chimneys,
fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected
at least once a year for soundness,
freedom from deposits, and correct
clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and
repairs shall be done if necessary."
This is the national safety standard and
is the correct way to approach the
problem. It takes into account the fact
that even if you don't use your chimney
much, animals may build nests in the
flue or there may be other types of
deterioration that could make the
chimney unsafe to use.
My
fireplace stinks, especially in the
summer. What can I do?
The
smell is due to creosote deposits in the
chimney, a natural byproduct of wood
burning. The odor is usually worse in
the summer when the humidity is high and
the air conditioner is turned on. A good
cleaning will help but usually won't
solve the problem completely.
The real
problem is the air being drawn down the
chimney, a symptom of overall pressure
problems in the house. A tight sealing,
top mounted damper will also reduce this
air-flow coming down the chimney.
I heat
with gas. Should this chimney be checked
too?
Without
a doubt! Although gas is generally a
clean burning fuel, the chimney can
become non-functional from bird nests or
other debris blocking the flue.
Why
Install a Chimney Cap?
-
Chimney caps serve many purposes. 90% of
the time we install chimney caps to keep
animals out of chimneys. A good cap that
is installed correctly will prevent
squirrels, raccoons and bats from
getting inside or falling into your
chimney.
-
Besides preventing animals from entering
your chimney a good chimney cap also
stops water and snow from entering. It
has been said a chimney without a cap is
like having a hole in your roof.
Rain and
snow will come into your home running
down the chimney and seeping into the
bricks and mortar, settling behind the
firebricks. This moisture erodes the
mortar joints and weakens the brick. All
fireplace dampers made of metal are
subject to corrosion by water.
Cracks
in my Firebox
Cracks
and gaps in firebox bricks and mortar
are a potential fire hazard. In most
masonry fireplaces the areas behind the
firebox sidewalls are typically hollow,
and since a fire will produce a minimum
of 500 degrees of heat, it will cause
these cracks and gaps to expand and can
transfer the heat and gases to areas
behind the walls where there may be
direct exposure to combustible building
materials such as wooden walls studs or
drywall.
Masonry Repairs
Grey Oaks
specializes in Brick Repair/Tuck
pointing which is the restoration of
deteriorating mortar between the bricks.
As always, we will continue to provide
the highest quality of service and
product to our customers at reasonable
prices.
Crown
Repairs
Chimney
crowns are the cement block on top of
your chimney. Crowns are exposed to
weather conditions all year round and
need to be repaired or replaced when
they crack or split to prevent water
coming in your chimney.
Chimney Rebuilds
Grey Oaks
can partially or totally rebuild your
chimney, from a single brick to an
entire chimney.
