Blog
- July 28, 2011
There are a number of things you need to check for when buying an older house. Any number of things could be wrong with it. What you want to keep the sharpest eye out for are things that could be a potential safety threat.
One thing people tend not to think of is the dangers connected to old or worn out chimneys. Not many people realize that a fireplace can actually be a fire hazard after many years of use.
The brick and mortar used to build old fashioned fireplaces can start to wear down over time. Be sure to check for this when looking at used homes. Old chimneys also tend to house the buildup of highly flammable grimes and oils along the interior walls.
If you buy a house with an old chimney, you’ll want to seriously do something about the potential fire hazard. The most effective
- July 28, 2011
Creosote is a black grimy substance formed by carbons and oils in smoke. When oils in wood and fossil fuels are burned in your chimney, it releases them into the smoke. While the smoke is hot, the carbons and volatiles remain as gasses. But as the smoke travels higher up your chimney,
it starts to cool. When the smoke gets cooler, the volatiles start to take physical form as that of the black oily residue known as creosote.
Creosote is not only gross looking but it is an extreme fire hazard. This black slime is highly flammable and can build up inch upon inch in an unkempt chimney flue. On e the creosote has formed a good sized bulk inside your chimney, it becomes very dangerous. The hot oxygen of a current fire can reach the residue left behind from previous fires and ignite your chimney in a dangerous and out of control blaze.
- July 28, 2011
As children, the only thing we thought about coming down the chimney was a jolly old Santa with presents. As adults, we’re more concerned about other things that may come down our chimney, most notably rain and certain animals.
The chimney can be irritating in that it is the one part of the home that is always “open”. Doors and windows close but the chimney is always an open gap leading into your house. Granted, most animals can’t travel down the chimney and live, but a squirrel falling down the chimney and dying in your fireplace is hardly a pleasant thought.
Heavy rain can also be worrisome for those who own a chimney. When there is heavy wind coupled with the rain, you don’t have to worry so much. The rain falls at an angle and will have a hard time falling directly down the chimney. But, where there is a lot of rain and not much
- July 28, 2011
Getting a stainless steel chimney liner can be a great investment for your home. Its looks much nicer than the worn out bricks and prevents the potential for a fire hazard. But you want to be sure you hire a company that knows what they’re doing. You don’t want to buy supplies from a second rate business much less hire one for installation.
Finding a great company can be even more important if you have a unique or odd shaped chimney. You’ll need to find a company dedicated enough to customer service that they’re willing to work with you and track down any hard to find parts, tools, or materials you may need. This could be anything from oval chimney liners to unique shaped chimney liners.
When browsing for suppliers online, check for experience and customer satisfaction. See if they offer free shipping and sell only the very best
- July 28, 2011
Installing a chimney with a stainless steel liner can be the best way to save it. Old brick and mortar chimneys are prone to become a fire hazard as they start to wear down. Stainless steel liners are a great way to make your chimney safe again and also one of the cheapest options. Still, you may be eager to save even more money so you might be thinking of doing the job yourself. The good news is, you can.
Installing chimney liners are quite possible for anyone who is good with basic work around the house skills. There are just a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
You need to be sure and know all the exact measurements of your flue. The tools you’ll need are fairly basic aside from the liner itself.
A good idea would be to still work closely with a professional company even
- July 28, 2011
A chimney is going to wear down over time. Classic brick and mortar can’t handle the intense heat forever and will eventually start to wear out. Once a fireplace is weakening, it becomes a fire hazard. You need to carefully consider what you plan to do about it when the time comes.
Replacing the chimney entirely will cost a fortune. It’s a huge project that will take multiple professionals and many materials. A better idea will be to simply have it repaired.
The safest and most cost effective way to make a worn out fireplace useable again is to have it installed with stainless steel chimney liners. Having stainless steel liners installed in your chimney's interior will fix it effectively. Stainless steel is resistant to many of the issues that can cause brick and mortar to wear down or become covered in flammable grimes.
- July 28, 2011
Fires can be extremely devastating for home owners. The amount of damage can be enormous. Possessions can be destroyed as well as the house itself. Even then, these are all material items. In the worst cases, fires can take even more from us. We need to do all in our power to prevent such a thing from happening.
Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen or in other areas where a fire is likely to occur. When escaping from a fire, always touch door knobs to see how hot they are, this is to check if there is a fire on the other side. Also keep your head low to avoid smoke, even crawl if possible.
A potential fire hazard a lot of people don’t think of is the chimney. It was specifically designed to house fire, so it’s not a fire hazard, right? Wrong… After consistent use, black grime made of carbon and oils starts to cover
- July 28, 2011
With today’s economy, selling a house is tough because it’s a buyer's market. If you want to sell your home, anything you can do to increase its value is worth considering. Especially if part of the house is damaged or out of date; this could cost you deeply if you have to reduce your sale price.
You’ll want to look over your house carefully and make sure everything is in good shape. Broken windows or leaking sinks could give buyers bargaining power to insist you lower the price significantly or the damages may even keep you from selling the house at all.
Most importantly, you want to look for issues that could be an actual danger such as faulty electronics or a worn down fireplace. The latter is something some people may not even think of but a worn out chimney can be a very dangerous fire hazard.
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- July 28, 2011
The chimney is tied so heavily to the image of Christmas for a number of reasons. The first that comes to mind is of course old Santa sliding down the chimney with a sack full of presents. The chimney also houses certain decorations for the season, such as stockings and other décor placed on the mantel.
The heat a fireplace gives also connects it to the Christmas image. Burning a log in the fireplace is associated with the spirit of winter in general and not just one specific holiday.
So, if you’re planning to upgrade your chimney, why not do it in time for the holidays?
Many people are switching to stainless steel interiors for their fireplaces. Stainless steel doesn’t wear down and break like brick and mortar, and its surface is far more resistant to the build of harmful substances like combustible grimes and oils.
You can also get your chimney and fireplace looking nicer for the holidays while you’re at it. Many companies that sell and install stainless steel chimney liner
- June 21, 2011
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Oval Chimney Liners and Shaped Chimney Liners
When it comes to chimney liners there are many different options to choose from and depending on the shape of your chimney you may have to choose some that are specifically designed for it. Fireside Chimney Supply has a ton of options and can pretty much guarantee that