Chimney sweeping is needed for furnaces

Chimney sweeping is needed for furnaces

The National Fire Prevention Association 211 codes state the “Chimneys must be inspected and cleaned annually as necessary by a certified chimney sweep”.  Most homeowners assume that their furnace company includes chimney cleaning as part of their maintenance process, but that is not true.

Problem

Chimney neglect will cause significant damage and endangers your family from carbon monoxide poisoning.  Oil and gas furnaces and hot water heaters rely on the chimney for proper venting of exhaust.  Although gas and oil appliances do not create creosote that wood-burning appliances do, they still produce soot.  Soot is a highly corrosive substance that can damage chimneys and increase carbon monoxide levels in your home.

Furnace Flues can become blocked which allows a blowback of soot into your home and poisonous carbon monoxide to seep into your living space.  If the furnace is in the basement, the levels can build up to dangerous high levels undetected.  Scheduling an annual chimney sweep inspection and placing a carbon monoxide detector in the basement will save lives.

Monitoring

During the winter months, the furnace can not be cleaned without turning off the heat.  During the winter, long running cycles produce soot and harmful substances that cling to the inside of the chimney.  The accumulation of these substances restricts the escape of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water vapor.

The furnace produces acidic condensate that will literally eat away at the flue lining in the chimney.  If a clay liner begins to deteriorate, the broken bits can fall into the furnace damaging the operating mechanism.  Chimney blockages will send the carbon monoxide straight into the basement, then the home living area.

The fumes are invisible, odorless, and tasteless.  Carbon Monoxide can only be monitored by a detector designed for that purpose.  A carbon monoxide detector is built into some brands of smoke detectors, and the battery should be changed twice a year when the clocks fall back and spring forward.

Cleaning 

Fireplace flue cleaning and chimney sweeping refer to the same process. During the service, the technician generally uses a stiff-bristled brush or other chimney cleaning system to brush the inside of the flue to remove buildup from its walls.

Chimneys are havens for creatures and cause dangerous obstructions.  Even if your chimney has a hood, creatures can access the funnel and flue. Smoky brown cockroaches are good flyers and can work their way down into the home where they like to live. They like flat roof areas and chimneys – this is how they enter structures. A chimney screen’s holes allow safe smoke ventilation, but nothing else can squeeze through it like fleas or cockroaches.  One problem with screens is that pests can bite through them over time. To account for this issue, you could install both a chimney cap and a chimney screen with an annual chimney sweep inspection to ensure both layers of protection are intact.

If you have a chimney in New Jersey, chances are you’ll have Stink Bugs. The heat from buildings will escape from chimneys and vents and they will find their way in as they are attracted to warm areas in cold nights. Beetles and ants can crawl through the cracks of older fireplaces, especially if they’re built with brick. Wasps will nest in your chimney.  Exterminating insects in the chimney by spraying will deter infestation.  A more permanent solution is installing fine mesh screens, top sealing dampers, and by sealing cracks in your chimney’s exterior with mortar.

Raccoons, squirrels, birds, bats, and other larger pests can use the chimney itself as nesting spots. The chimney cap needs to be steel or copper lid with a mesh wire opening on its underside and installed at the mouth of your chimney.  A professional Chimney sweep will remove the hood, replace it with a mesh wire cap, and remove the obstructions from the funnel and the flue.

Bees should not be exterminated; they should be preserved.  Unlike wasps, bees are purely vegetarian in both the adult and larval stages. Bees gather nectar from flowers as a source of carbohydrates, as do many wasps. They fulfill their protein needs by collecting pollen. Most species of bees are valuable pollinators, and honeybees are an essential partner in the production of food crops for people.

More than 80% of U.S. food crops are pollinated by honeybees. In New Jersey, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkins, squash, strawberries, soybeans, cucumbers, peaches, and apples are among the many crops that benefit from honeybee pollination. Although wild insect pollinators such as wasps and other bee species help in native plant reproduction, only honeybees live in managed colonies of sufficient numbers for effective pollination of commercial crops.  Only honeybees can be transported to large areas of blooming crops for pollination services. The past two decades have seen dramatic declines in the number of honeybees, due to the introduction of parasitic mites, diseases, and habitat loss. Visit NJBeekeepers.org to find out about bee-friendly plants you can cultivate. If a beehive sets up home in the top of your chimney you need a professional chimney sweep and a bee wrangler to remove the entire hive.  The New Jersey Bee Association lists bee wranglers who can help.

Venting

A crucial component to the safe operation of your furnace is the proper configurations and size of the entire venting system.  Homeowners often forget that when they purchase a new HVAC or furnace system, they need chimney sweep professionals to assess their new system.  Manufacturers requirements specifically indicate the proper flue size for the safe operation of their system.  If the flue size is incorrect excessive moisture and combustion gases will build up.   Moisture is a huge enemy to your ventilation system.

If the system is being converted from oil to gas, building codes require a chimney sweep assessment, cleaning, and inspection prior to installing and operating the new system.

Timing

Spring, summer, autumn are great times to have your chimney sweep service.  An annual inspection and cleaning by a CSIA- certified company will ensure the ventilation system is adequate and chimney is safe.  Their assessment will also check gaskets and joints are intact.

In winter, the heat will have to be stopped for the chimney sweep to complete his inspection and service.  Snow does not stop chimney sweeps.  Before any sweeping is done, a visual inspection is performed to determine if the flue needs to be swept. Roof access is not needed to make this determination. Additionally, sweepings are generally performed from the base, making outside weather conditions irrelevant when it comes to running our brushes.

References

https://njbeekeepers.org/swarmremoval/swarmremoval.html

The Importance Of Chimney Inspection

The Importance Of Chimney Inspection

Are you looking for a Mercer County chimney inspection specialist to come take a look at your chimney? The health of your chimney directly impacts the overall health of your home. For this reason, it is vital to ensure that you take good care of your chimney by having it inspected on a regular basis. Unfortunately, many home owners neglect their chimneys by letting them go years and years without a proper inspection. This can be dangerous whether or not you use your fireplace. Homeowners that do not use their fireplace run the risk of serious damage to their roof and pest invasion. Those who do use their fireplaces regularly run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and house fire. Bottom line: if you have a chimney, it needs regular inspection. Today, we will be looking at some other important reasons to contact a local Mercer County chimney inspection specialist.

The Importance Of Mercer County Chimney Inspection

Mercer County Chimney Inspection | Protect Your House and Loved Ones

There is nothing more important than keeping your home and family safe while enjoying your fireplace or wood stove during the winter. Your chimney acts as an important ventilation system that allows smoke, toxins and dangerous fumes to escape the home. A clean chimney means a safer, more efficient fireplace and home heating appliance.

As with all fossil burning appliances, a certain amount of residue from creosote and soot stick to the flue and masonry inside the chimney with each burning fire. When the creosote gets too thick, the heat and burning embers from the fire is often all that it takes to spark a fire in the chimney. There are many cases where Mercer County chimney inspection would have prevented many of the reported house fires.

Mercer County Chimney Inspection | Efficient House Heating

Your fireplace efficiency decreases when additional creosote is deposited in the chimney. The additional circulation of cooler air reduces energy efficiency requiring you to burn more wood more often to stay warm.

Additionally, small birds, rodents and insects can clog the flue preventing the escape of toxic fumes. And since the toxic fumes have difficulty escaping a clogged chimney, the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (the silent killer) increases. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) reports that there are more than 200 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths each year. A professional Mercer County Chimney Inspection by a certified chimney sweep will significantly increase the efficiency of your fireplace and other home heating appliances so that warm air stays inside and the dangerous fumes stay outside.

Mercer County Chimney Inspection | Save Money On Masonry Repairs

A wood-burning fireplace can reach temperatures of 1100°F or more. This creates ash, bits of wood, soot and other particles that are by-products of the combustion process that can cover the flue liner, smoke shelf, damper and masonry with dirt, grime and contaminants. Professional chimney cleaning helps to reduce wear and tear on these components so you can prevent costly chimney repairs from having to replace them prematurely. In addition, a thorough top to bottom chimney cleaning can help uncover minor masonry problems before they develop into larger and more expensive chimney repairs.

Mercer County Chimney Inspection | St John Chimney Sweeps

If you are looking for the best Mercer County chimney inspection services, look no further than St. John Chimney Sweeps. For more than 2 decades, St John has been providing countless homeowners with the best Mercer County chimney inspection services available. St John’s 100% satisfaction no-mess guarantee leaves customers with peace of mind knowing that their chimney is always safe and ready for use. Many of our quality products have a lifetime warranty. We are honest family owned company that always gives thorough explanations before we do any work. Our licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG). For more info, or for a free estimate, contact now at (609) 737-0133 or visit the website.

Mercer County Chimney Sweeps

 

The Importance Of Chimney Inspection

Mercer County Chimney Inspection

Mercer County Chimney InspectionYour Mercer County chimney may look like it’s in great condition on the outside, the inside could be in need of crucial repairs. So how does one know when these repairs are needed? Get a professional Mercer County chimney inspection to give you peace of mind. A Mercer County chimney inspection includes a camera scan of the flue, where possible. Professionals will also check to see if your chimney is functioning properly or if it needs repairs before you can burn safely. Here are a few reasons why it’s important to schedule a Mercer County chimney inspection.

Importance of a Mercer County Chimney Inspection

  • Cracks in the Flue Can Cause a House Fire. Your flue is the liner inside your chimney that carries heat, toxic fumes and smoke out of your house. Over time, cracks and deterioration may develop from excessive heat or from having contact with water. Drops of water can cause your flue to deteriorate faster when your chimney is not properly covered with an approved spark arrestor, commonly known as a flue cap. A cracked flue leaves your home exposed to heat and embers reaching combustible materials, or toxic fumes entering your home. A professional can give you a Mercer County chimney inspection to check your flue for damage.
  • Masonry Cracks Let the Outside In. If your chimney is made of brick, masonry repairs may be needed to keep it strong and stable. After years of heating and varying weather temperatures, masonry can deteriorate and cracks begin to develop. The damper should be tested to make sure it can be opened and closed. A Mercer County chimney inspection can offer a detailed analysis of your masonry and recommend repairs to keep your chimney strong and structurally sound.
  • Creosote and Animal Nests Cause House Fires. Creosote accumulates from burning wood or solid fuels and can lead to a chimney fire if not removed. Animals may use your chimney as a nest and should be removed before use. A Mercer County chimney inspection or cleaning will make sure your chimney is clear and safe for burning.
  • Water Damage Leads to Expensive Repairs. If your chimney or flue is not properly covered with a flue cap, water will enter your chimney and can cause faster deterioration of your flue and can mean you’ll need to pay for a replacement flue sooner. During a Mercer County chimney inspection, your chimney sweep will check the condition of your chimney including the masonry, crown wash, the flue cap and recommend appropriate repairs.  This may range from minor masonry repairs, installation of your flue cap, replacement of the top cement known as the crown wash.
  • You Don’t Know When the Last Inspection Was Done. When you buy a new home, you may not know when the last owner got a Mercer County chimney inspection or cleaning. In this case, it’s important to schedule a sweep and scan before you burn. This gives you a current benchmark on the health of your chimney, and you’ll be informed if there is need for current or future repairs for safety and optimal performance of your system.

Looking for Expert Mercer County Chimney Inspection Service?

St. John Chimney Sweeps has been providing satisfied home owners with chimney liners & chimney services for well over 15 years. We pride ourselves in our 100% customer satisfaction no-mess guarantee. Many of our quality products have a lifetime warranty. We are honest and efficient, providing thorough explanations for all our work. Our licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG). Call now for a free estimate at: (609) 737-0133 or visit our website.

Mercer County Chimney Sweeps

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