Chimney Accessories

A chimney can be intimidating. After all, it’s not something you have ever thought much about and it’s not exactly the easiest to-do on your home maintenance list. Should you just ignore it and assume it's fine? Definitely not! This "forget it" mindset could have dire consequences when it comes to your family’s safety. Though it’s not pleasant to think about, house fires do happen. It's best to learn what your chimney needs in order to be safe and clean. 

One of the most important things to consider is a chimney cap. A chimney cap plays an important role in your home’s chimney system. If your home doesn't already have one, here are just a few of the reasons why you should consider installing a chimney cap:

#1 It stops sparks and embers

You may have heard some people refer to a chimney cap as a "spark arrestors." This essentially means that the chimney cap helps to prevent lit embers or sparks that travel up the chimney from landing on the roof. The reason you want to avoid this is pretty obvious. Your home could catch on fire!

#2 It prevents debris build-up

Smoke goes out of your chimney, but what comes in? If you don't have a chimney cap in place, you can't really know. Leaves, branches, twigs and other debris can enter your chimney and build up, causing a big problem down the line.

#3 It reduces moisture

You don't always have a fire lit. A chimney cap will keep rain water from coming down your home’s chimney. Rain water can damage chimneys with stainless steel liners, chimney dampers, and chimney mortar joints. Beyond the damage from the rain itself, moisture fr

Recently, a fire occurred inside the wall of a chimney in a trailer where a chimney liner was not installed. Having proper chimney supplies like a chimney liner is critical because it prevents residue from the fire from building up within the chimney and starting a fire, which is dangerous.
There are a number of ways to prevent chimney fires from occurring inside a fireplace. Chimney liner kits can be purchased and installed by specialists, and they help ensure the longevity of a chimney that could be aging.

Ways to Prevent Chimney Fires

Install a Chimney Liner

Getting chimney liners installed is important for several reasons. First, a chimney liner could be necessary in helping a chimney pass inspection. Chimney inspections take place to ensure that the fireplaces burning in America are safe. The Chimney Safety Institute of America, or CSIA, is in charge of inspections and regulations for chimneys in homes. They provide the standard for which chimney sweeps base their services. Having a chimney liner installed can be helpful in getting a chimney to pass inspection.

Have the Chimney Cleaned

Having the chimney cleaned on a regular basis is another way to prevent resin and soot from building up within the chimney and eventually becoming a fire hazard. The buildup of creosote, a byproduct of burning wood, is a potential cause of fires in chimneys. The best way to prevent chimney fires is having them cleaned on a regular basis by a professional chimney sweep.

Don’t Leave the Fire Unattended

A general rule of thumb with a fireplace is that the fire should not be left unattended for too long. Fires are to be enjoyed, but also respected. This means treating them with caution by not leaving them going strong all night, or left going at home while the homeowners are away. Those who build outdoor fires are well aware of the rules about not leaving fires to burn for themselves, and the same principle applies to fires b

As the owner of a fireplace, you’ve probably spent more time than you would like trying to manage and maintain the perfect fire. Turn your back on a wood-burning fireplace for just a few minutes, and that flame may dwindle away before you know it.

There are plenty of ways to fix that problem, as well as any other issues that may arise with other fireplaces.

Many people have their own fool-proof methods for building a perfect fire, but everybody needs a little help sometimes. With the right supplies, you can make sure you keep the best possible fire going.

Types of Fireplace Supplies

A Chimney Brush

Before lighting a fire, it’s a good idea to first make sure your chimney is clean. Even if you’ve never used it before, a build-up of leaves or animal nests can cause harmful blockages. There are professionals that can clean out your chimney for you, but you can also opt to do it yourself.

Start by measuring the size of the chimney flue to determine the size of brush you’ll need. Using a brush and extender pipes, first clean downward from the roof. Then clean from the bottom of the chimney to get any spots you may have missed.

Once you’re finished, you can start building a fire.

Dry, Seasoned Wood

As the crucial element in any wood-burning fireplace, the wood you use is the most important.

If you purchase wood from a dealer, first make sure it’s not wet or rotted. If you cut or gather the wood yourself, storage is key. Keep the wood stacked on the ground and covered for six months until it’s ready for use.

Stacking the wood in a layered “log cabin” form makes for a more evenly-distributed burn. It also provides a better base for adding more logs to keep the fire going.

A Good Set Of Fireplace Tools

There are three common types of tools used in tending small fires: a fireplace poker, spade, and tongs.

The poker is a steel rod that is used to adjust coal or wood burning i

There are many accessories that are able to improve the efficiency or overall look of both a fireplace and chimney. The chimney inserts that are used to improve the inside of chimneys and lengthen their life span are a great way to improve the quality of a chimney. Another thing chimneys need from time to time is the chimney chase cover. Moisture and rain can cause them to rust, and sometimes if a hole appears there will even be water that leaks down to the fireplace area.

Fireside Chimney Supply carries chimney chase covers made of 24 gauge 304 stainless steel, and they are capable of solving the problems of rust appearing or a leaking chimney cover.

Chimney Chase Cover Summary

The chase cover is a metal cover that fits over the top of a chimney. In essence, it is what protects the fireplace from water dripping down from rainfall. The cover needs to be installed properly so that rainwater flows properly off and to the side. The chimney cap is placed on top

The Importance of Using Stainless Steel

It is critical that the chimney is capped off with a stainless steel chimney chase covers. There are some chimneys around that use galvanized covers, the problem with that is that the galvanized chimney covers, which are cheaper, are going to rust much quicker and not last as long as the stainless steel kind.

Not for Masonry Chimneys

Chimney Chase Covers are not for masonry chimneys, but are only for chimneys that are factory built. These chimneys have a rectangular top that the cover is made to fit on top of. Factory built chimneys are going to need a chimney chase cover.

All Factory-built Chimneys Need It

A rule of thumb with factory built chimneys is that they need a chimney chase cover. The cover is what protects the fireplace from the element, and even protects the home from unwanted creatures like squirrels and raccoons from entering the chimney and entering the home.

Via The Ledger Independent 

Chimney pots date back to the 13th century, and are typically associated with England.  However, there is research that shows they were used in the Roman Empire, India and Australia.

Chimney Pots

The purpose of a chimney pot was quite simple and ingenious:  they were used to extend the chimney in order to improve the draft and keep odors and smoke from coming into the building.

Life Before A Chimney Pot

Think back to how homes and businesses were constructed years ago:  the only source of heat was the fireplace.  The bigger the structure, the more fireplaces you had. For example, with a structure like the Lee House in Maysville, which was an Inn during its heyday, a three story building would have fireplaces on each floor, with numerous flues in one chimney.

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Fireside Chimney Supply is an American Company. We offer premium chimney liner stainless steel systems as well as a wide range of other hearth products. Our products are all produced and manufactured in the United States and our flue liners have been revolutionizing the industry since 1992.

There has always been speculation about the necessity of having a chimney cap for chimneys. In all reality, having a chimney cap will help protect your chimney and your home from all different types of damages, which can be prevented by utilizing the chimney cap as soon as possible. Here we have listed 2 of the main reasons why we focus on the importance of a chimney cap.

Reasons for A Chimney Cap

• Unwanted Guests

  First and foremost, unwanted guests - Chimneys are naturally built to be exposed at the top to allow all of the excess from the fireplace, up the flue, and outside of the home. Now, chimneys are open at the top for a very good reason on behalf of ourselves and our families. Unfortunately animals have also adopted the idea that it is a wonderful idea. With that being said, going without a chimney cap can lead to all sorts of critters going down into the flue and down into your chimney. Birds and the nest they create naturally, are a serious hazard for chimneys without a chimney cap. A birds nest can actually block a chimney flue, which can lead to carbon monoxide buildup inside of the home because it cannot escape up the flue. In many cases not having a chimney cap, and birds creating their homes in the flue can cause a chimney fire, which can be deadly. It isn't just animals, human beings have also been known to attempt to climb down a chimney without realizing the size limitations, they then get stuck and some have ended up with the most undesirable fate.

• Rain Damage Prevention

  The other main reason for a chimney cap is to prevent any rain damage - when rain gets into an uncapped chimney it causes the flue itself to deteriorate as well as the smoke shelf and the area down below it. Many many people are completely unaware of this but rainwater plus coal soot forms sulfuric acid, which can be detrimentally destructive. Rainwater can also rust a fireplace damper, as well as rusting the innards