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

Mercer County Chimney Liners

Mercer County Chimney Liners

Mercer County Chimney Liners is something that many homeowners don’t quite understand, and many times it may not seem too important!  Contrary to popular understanding, a chimney liner is a vital part of every chimney.  It guides smoke and other combustable materials away from the actual chimney and out into the air above. All chimneys must have an adequate working liner to maintain safety and functionality. If you are unsure whether or not you need a new chimney liner, contact your local Mercer County chimney sweep service company today!

Mercer County Chimney Liners

Today, we will be taking a closer look at the three main types of chimney liners: Clay, cast-in-place and metal liners. All three types of liner provide your chimney with adequate protection, however, depending on your individual circumstance, a certain type may be more beneficial to you.

Clay Chimney Liners – This type of liner is usually installed during the construction of a home. This is an older method of chimney lining and has been used in homes since the early 20th century.  Clay tile is a tried and true type of chimney liner that is able to withstand extremely high temperatures without compromise. The clay lining is capable of resisting the harmful materials that travel up through the flue into the air above. Best of all, the clay material is very affordable and the liner can last up to 5 decades without needing to be replaced.

There are also some downsides to clay chimney liners.  For starters, The clay is arranged in rectangular tiles and therefore does not create a smooth interior. Air can get stuck in the spaces and can effect the natural draft inside your chimney. If the tiles get too old, they can begin to crack which puts you at risk for a house fire. Contact your local Mercer County Chimney company to come and assess the condition of your chimney and decide whether or not you need to replace it.

Other Types of Mercer County Chimney Liners

Cast-in- liners –  These liners are usually used to strengthen an existing liner inside your chimney. If your chimney. It works to reinforce the existing chimney and provides a sturdy and effective liner. Similar to the clay flue becomes misshapen, a cast in liner can create a new shape inside the flue. This type of liner is not affected by the heat or corrosive chemical that are released from combustion making them very durable. Similarly to clay liners, cast in liners can last up to 5 decades.

The installation process of cast-in liners involves a mortar mix being pumped into the chimney. This mixture is pumped around an inflated rubber balloon to create a very smooth surface inside the flue. This is an affordable and durable method and it is highly recommended.

Metal liners – Metal liners can be installed in virtually every chimney. These can be made into any size or shape. Most often, these liners are made of stainless steel. There are two major types of metal chimney liners: rigid and flexible. The shape of your chimney will dictate which type of chimney liner your chimney company will use. Rigid liners are ideal for chimneys that go straight up without any twists or bends while flexible liners can be used in chimneys with curves or bends. Insulation can also be implemented with metal liners to help to keep higher heat in the chimney and remove moisture that can cause rust and damage. It also prevents heat from moving into the pipes within the home structure. These stainless steel liners are best used for existing chimneys that either have no liner or require liner replacement.

Although there are a number of different types of chimney liners, the most importing thing is that every chimney has one. If you are unsure about the status of your chimney liner, contact your Mercer County Chimney liner company today.

Looking for Mercer County Chimney Liners?

If you are looking for a reliable company to install or repair Mercer County chimney liners, call St. John Chimney Sweeps today!  St John Chimney Sweeps has been providing the Mercer County are with reliable chimney liner services for well over 15 years. Customer satisfaction is always guaranteed and most of our products come with a lifetime warranty We are a hard-working and efficient company and we always provide detailed explanations for everything we do to your chimney. Our licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Call now for a free estimate at: (609) 737-0133 or visit our website.

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Princeton Chimney Liners

Princeton Chimney LinersPrinceton chimney liners can make a great addition to your fireplace, but many homeowners have no clue why they would even need one. Many wonder whether Princeton chimney liners are totally necessary for safety and function or simply added for decoration. To educate you a bit, here are a few reasons for you to consider purchasing Princeton chimney liners.

Reasons to Buy Princeton Chimney Liners

  1. Your chimney is unlined. Most masonry chimneys were built without a liner. The absence of a liner can cause wood exhaust to leak through the mortar joints into your home which is safety concern. On top of that, your chimney could actually catch fire. This is because in some cases, liquid creosote can eventually dissolve the binder in the mortar and soak into the joints. Without a liner to create a buffer, a fire could occur.
  2. Your chimney is lined, but the liner is in poor condition. There are a lot of different types of durable Princeton chimney liners, such as ones made of rigid and flexible materials. In the case of some masonry chimneys, the liners are made from terracotta clay or pumice, which can crack over time from normal wear and tear. A crack in that type of liner can allow smoke and liquid creosote through, which can ultimately lead to safety risks.
  3. Your chimney is lined, but the liner is not the correct size . Ill-fitting liners can cause a handful of issues. In fact, an oversized liner can lead to everything from smoke spillage to excessive creosote formation potential causing chimney fires. Due to updated safety codes, it is important to have your chimney inspected to be certain that all liners are sized accordingly, which will help prevent harmful gases from seeping into your home.

Interested in Princeton Chimney Liners & Professional Installation Services?

St. John Chimney Sweeps has been providing satisfied home owners with Princeton 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.

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