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A well-built chimney has two (or more) fire-resistant layers, such as two layers of brick, two walls of steel, or steel insulated with stone wool. However, as soon as a break appears, there is a chance that flames will pierce these layers and reach the flammable
objects close to the firebox. Burning embers could also possibly blow through the crack and into the wall if the breach is larger.
Any fireplace crack, no matter how minor, should be repaired right away because these are significant fire hazard.
Imagine your chimney as a tube, with the damper acting as a flap inside the tube to block it off.
The metal damper will eventually deform or get covered in rust, creosote, and ashes, making it impossible for it to close tightly and form a tight seal.
You will be losing important heat from your home down your chimney if your damper doesn't close tightly.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that homeowners and renters have their chimney flues and utility flues cleaned at least once a year.
Blocked or clogged utility flues can be just as dangerous as a dirty chimney. If the carbon monoxide produced by your boiler or water heater is not able to vent outside through the flue, the dangerous gas will leak into your home instead..
One of the most vital parts of your roof is the roof flashing. It is the thin material, usually made of galvanized steel,
that is used to anchor joints in valleys, dormers, chimneys, and skylights since these regions frequently experience heavy rainfall.
These exposed surfaces are susceptible to water damage when flashing gets loosened or damaged. In essence, flashing guards the edges where the roof meets neighboring buildings.
The problem is that even well-maintained fiberboard is not a durable product for the exterior of your home over the long term.
It’s highly susceptible to rotting, swelling, and deterioration. As a result, a chimney that looks good from the ground can be completely rotten and allow water to enter the home.
In the winter, when you build a fire in your fireplace or wood stove, the severely fractured chimney crown heats up and cools down.
Any rainwater that is absorbed into your chimney crown will freeze and thaw as the temperature drops below freezing, producing expansion and contraction.
It is crucial to stop water from entering the chimney crown in the first place because this procedure eventually leads to your crown cracking and deteriorating.
The crown will either need to be repaired or completely replaced, depending on the extent of the damage.
Thank you for making our chimney operational again in such a timely manner! Rico and his team were great
I am thoroughly impressed with the job that Roberto and Tolin did for me. I was in need of a chimney repair and they were cordial, efficient and the work was done very quickly
I was blown away by their professionalism and overall quality of service. I called to set up an appointment for a chimney sweep and from the first phone call, I knew I was in good hands. They knew what they were doing, explained the process to me and had the job done in no time. A seamless process, thank you
I found Instant Chimney on Google and had them rebuild my chimney top. The guys were friendly, tidy and meticulous. Well done
My fireplace was making smoke inside the house and a friend referred Instant Chimney to me. Rico arrived promptly and he was honest and professional throughout, and I was very happy with his efforts
These guys came to do a fireplace cement repair and I was so impressed with them. They were organized, fast and went above and beyond to make sure I was happy with the work
On the spot with there work. Extremely professional. Reasonable pricing. Very knowledgeable . Even gave us recommendation's for other vendors. Hire hire hire!!
They were very professional and did a wonderful job. The fireplaces had not been used in over 5 years. The cleaned the damper put a cover on the chimney, repaired some other things and the fireplaces are now good for another 25 years.
I have never used my fireplace since I purchased my home over 10 years ago. Never inspected, never cleaned so when I saw a leak in my ceiling where there were no water pipes I figured the leak must be coming from the fireplace. Rico and Tolin contacted me and offered a free inspection from top to bottom, inside and out with photos. They worked with my schedule and gave me options for the repair. They were extremely professional, kind, and ready to start repairs immediately if needed. They cleaned up afterwards as well. They explained to me how everything worked and that if you use your fireplace throughout the year then it is recommended to have an annual cleaning. I am very happy with their work and will definitely use them to clean my fireplace in future and recommend them to anyone who may need inspiration, repair and/or annual cleaning.
Came out on Labor Day, took care of problem
I was impressed with the professionalism and prompt attention.
Very professional and was available to answer all my questions. They came on time and completed the work in a timely manner. Always replied to my text. Extremely helpful.
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."
The smell is because of the creosote deposits in your chimney, a natural by-product of wood burning. The smell is sometimes worse in when it gets hot, when the humidity levels are higher and the a/c is turned on. A good sweeping will help but usually won't solve the problem completely.
This has become quite a common issue in modern air-tight houses where weather-proofing has sealed up the air infiltration routes. The fireplace in use exhausts household air until a negative pressure situation happens. If the house is tight, the simplest route for makeup air to enter the structure is often the unused fireplace chimney. As air is drawn down the unused flue, it picks up smoke that is exiting nearby from the fireplace in use and delivers the smoke to your living area. The solution is to introduce makeup air to the house so that the negative pressure problem is no longer a problem, thus eliminating not only the smoke issue, but also the potential for carbon monoxide to be drawn back down the furnace. Another solution is to install a top-mount damper on the fireplace that is used the least.
Yes! Despite the fact that gas is a cleaner burning fuel, the chimney can become non-functional from bird nests, animals, or other debris blocking the flue. Some newer furnaces can also cause many problems with the avg. flues made for older generation of furnaces. It is best to check the areas on gas and carbon monoxide to be on the safe side.
A complete chimney sweeping includes the chimney flue and smoke chamber. You will be able to visibly see the that the flue is cleaner. Ask for a report after the sweeping is done.
Liners for oil-fired and gas appliances do not require insulation to meet the manufacturers’ installation and warranty reqs. Due to the lower flue gas temperatures and lesser heat transfer they are less likely to get surrounding combustible material on fire. If combustible materials are in close contact with the chimney, there are provisions that allow the liner to be installed in what is called as a zero/zero install. It is more logical to insulate every liner serving a wood burning appliance. Even oil-fired and gas appliances that are vented into an outside chimney will benefit from liner insulation.
It is safe to burn dry, seasoned firewood in your fireplace. Dry firewood typically has a moisture content of less than 20% and has been properly stored for at least six months to a year. Hardwoods like oak, maple, birch, and ash are excellent choices as they burn longer and produce more heat. Softwoods like pine and fir can also be burned, but they tend to burn faster and produce less heat. It is important to avoid burning treated wood, painted wood, or any materials that may release toxic fumes when burned. Additionally, never burn trash, cardboard, or paper products in your fireplace as they can cause excessive smoke and potentially start a chimney fire.
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