Ask Danny | Ep. 11: Conserving a Chimney in Tip-Prime Form

This week, we’re speaking about chimneys and fireplaces with Mitchell Lovell, a second-generation licensed chimney sweep with Coastal Chimney Sweeps. 

In 2009, Mitchell began working at Coastal Chimney Sweeps, the corporate his father based in 1979. Like his father, Thomas, he’s devoted to doing the very best work to maintain clients secure.

Cleansing and Inspection

What all’s concerned in cleansing a chimney?

Mitchell: First, we transfer all of the furnishings out of the way in which and lay down a drop material across the chimney.

Then clear the chimney with a specifically made vacuum with a three-stage filter and HEPA filter. This accommodates the soot and retains the within air clear.

We are able to get wherever from 5 to 10 gallons of soot out of some chimneys!

At Coastal Chimney Sweeps, we carry out a licensed inspection for each scheduled cleansing. If wanted, we’ll do an inspection with a Chim-Scan Video. This can be a digicam inspection system that scans each joint and connection to ensure all the things is functioning correctly.

Relining a Chimney

What’s concerned in relining a chimney?

Mitchell: A chimney liner prevents the switch of warmth to flamable elements that encompass a chimney. Over time, the liner deteriorates, and this will increase your threat of a home fireplace. 

Principally, there are two varieties of chimney lining: masonry and stainless-steel. 

For a masonry liner, we use a bladder (chimney balloon) to dam the underside of the chimney, then spray firebrick cement inside to line it. As soon as the cement is dry, we deflate the bladder.

With a chrome steel liner, we run a flex-pipe metallic liner by way of the chimney and join it to block-off plates on the underside and the highest. 

Stainless-steel liners work effectively in older homes with a number of chimneys or chimneys with a number of offsets. 

Preventative Upkeep

What are some normal guidelines for preventative upkeep?

Mitchell: Most significantly, have your chimney inspected a few times a yr should you use it continuously.

Subsequent, ensure your wooden is dry and don’t use pressure-treated wooden. Burning inexperienced wooden, or wooden that has a number of moisture, creates a number of smoke. Not solely will it smash your indoor air high quality, however it is going to additionally clog up your chimney quicker. 

Additionally, sparingly burn lighter knot wooden, often known as fatwood. Such a firewood comes from the heartwood of pine timber and is saturated in sap, so it burns simply. Nonetheless, it has a powerful odor and can clog up your chimney with a creosote coating in a short time.

Gasoline Fireplaces

What about fuel fireplaces?

Mitchell: Gasoline fireplaces must be inspected identical to wood-burning fireplaces.

The embers and filter sand will fritter away finally and clog the fuel strains and block the warmth sensors.

In case your fuel hearth isn’t lighting, the warmth sensor might be blocked.

Dealing With Animals

What about animals nesting in fireplaces?

Mitchell: Squirrels and birds will usually construct nests on high of a chimney if the display screen is damaged, which might then result in a build-up of a number of flamable materials inside.

I’ve seen one chimney with eight ft of twigs constructed up inside it from squirrels.

Additionally, these nests can fall down on high of the damper and block the entire chimney.

Have your chimney inspected frequently to ensure nothing is hiding in it and the display screen remains to be doing its job.

Finest Time for a Chimney Inspection

When’s the very best time to have your chimney inspected?

Mitchell: Spring is the very best time for a licensed chimney sweep to examine your chimney.

Enterprise at Coastal Chimney Sweeps often picks up on the finish of summer time, and by November, we e-book appointments three to 4 weeks out. So, by the point you discover the issue, you’re ready for nearly one other month. 

Dryer Vent Cleansing

What about dryer vent cleansing?

Mitchell: In case your garments take longer than one cycle to dry, it’s worthwhile to clear your dryer vent more than likely.

Some dryer vents run 20 or 30 ft beneath a house’s slab basis, which makes it simpler for the vents to clog with not solely lint but additionally water.

Additionally, should you don’t clear your vent out for years, the lint can solidify and utterly block the pipe.

We use air stress and agitation instruments together with a vacuum to scrub all the vent. Dryer vent cleansing cleans the road that travels by way of the partitions and ceilings to the skin vent of your house.

As soon as cleaned, we’ll clear out the connection piece, re-attach your dryer and re-check the vent whereas your dryer is working.

Cleansing out your dryer vent extends the lifetime of your dryer, reduces operation prices and makes your house safer to your you and household.

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