by admin | Apr 27, 2022 | Mercer County Chimney Sweep, NJ Chimney Repair
Do you know if you are in need of East Windsor chimney repairs? Sometimes, spotting chimney damage isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. There are some signs of damage that you need to know how to check for. Leaving your chimney in bad shape can lead to some big problems down the road. Below are some of the most common signs that you need East Windsor Chimney repairs.
East Windsor Chimney Repairs | Rust:
There shouldn’t be rust on your firebox or damper; but if there is, it’s a clear sign that there is excess moisture in your chimney. You may not notice rust on the damper readily; but if it doesn’t seal well or operate properly, it could be because it’s rusting.
If there’s enough moisture in your chimney to cause visible signs of rusting, there could also possibly be serious damage, such as cracked flue tiles. It’s important to get the help of a professional chimney sweep, who can use a special camera to inspect the flue lining and ensure there isn’t a breach in the chimney system which could ultimately cause a house fire.
Chimney Repairs in East Windsor | White Staining:
White discoloration on a chimney is called efflorescence. While it’s fairly simple to remove the staining, cleaning it doesn’t solve the moisture problem which causes the white residue. Efflorescence is a clear indication of excess moisture in the masonry. If it isn’t dealt with, premature deterioration of the chimney will likely occur, in addition to other potential problems related to moisture.
East Windsor Chimney Services | Deteriorating Mortar Joints:
Damaged mortar joints between chimney masonry should be repaired quickly. When the mortar deteriorates, the masonry is exposed to more moisture, which accelerates the deterioration of the entire chimney. In freezing weather, the added moisture can freeze inside cracks in the masonry. When moisture thaws and freezes in bricks, rocks, and cement, larger cracks can develop. The entire chimney could collapse, if the damaged mortar isn’t repaired.
Chimney Sweep in East Windsor | Shaling:
If you start to see thin slices of chimney tile collecting in the fireplace, it’s a good indication that the flue is damaged. The flue lining is essential to the safe operation of a fireplace and chimney. Because of this fact, an annual chimney inspection is important. Professional East Windsor chimney sweeps can closely analyze your flue lining and spot problems that would otherwise go undetected. For example, if the tiles are cracked but not crumbling, you probably won’t see visible signs of a breach in the chimney system.
Mercer County Chimney Repairs | Spalling:
Spalling is an issue which occurs to the outside of the chimney and can be detected because you see bits of masonry around the bottom of the structure. When moisture enters masonry, it can force the surface of the brick, concrete, or stone to peel off, pop out, or flake off. It’s essential to replace damaged masonry to prevent continued crumbling and eventual destruction of the chimney.
Chimney Sweep in Mercer County | Chimney Crown Damage:
As with damaged mortar joints, it will be necessary to go on your roof to spot damage to the chimney crown. The crown is an important part of the chimney structure, providing a first line of defense against harsh weather conditions. If the crown is cracked, moisture could seep in and create larger cracks. A damaged crown means that water can seep between the chimney and the flue lining, which could cause spalling and shaling. The best defense against this type of damage is to weatherproof the chimney crown.
Chimney Repairs in Central NJ | Damaged Wallpaper:
Wallpaper on the walls near your chimney can provide another visible sign of chimney damage. If the wallpaper is damaged, it is usually a result of moisture in the chimney. Repairs to the chimney or flue should be made as needed, before continuing the use of the fireplace.
Looking for the Best Company for East Windsor Chimney Repairs?
If you’re looking for the best company for East Windsor chimney repairs, contact St John Chimney Sweeps today! At St John Chimney Sweeps we offer 100% customer satisfaction. We have been in business for over 15 years, and St John Chimney Sweeps is the only name you need to know for a full-service chimney sweeping and installation in the New Jersey area. Our employees have had extensive training and have earned many certificates that help them do their job with full expertise. We are efficient and provide a full explanation of the work we need to complete. Our licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. We have been supplying expert sweeps, repairs and installation services to homeowners all across the state of New Jersey. Call us at (609)737-0133 to find out more about our free estimates. Let us take care of all your chimney needs!
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by admin | Apr 26, 2022 | NJ Chimney Repair
Do you know whether or not you’re in need of Hamilton chimney repair services? It’s never a good idea to leave a damaged chimney unaddressed. Doing so can lead to further, more costly damage that will spread to different structures in your home. That said, not everyone knows the signs of chimney damage. Below are some of the most common signs that it’s time to get chimney repair services in Hamilton, NJ.
Hamilton Chimney Repair | Signs You Need Repairs Done
1) A Crack in the Chimney
A chimney is only as strong as its components. If cracks appear in the chimney, it’s likely that other damage has occurred. This can be both dangerous and costly to repair, so get chimney inspection services right away.
2) Damaged or Missing Flashing:
When water makes contact with brick chimneys, this causes minor damage over time called weathering. The flashing around the chimney prevents this from occurring by allowing water to flow along the roof instead of contacting the chimney itself. Even if there are no visible signs of damage yet, missing or damaged flashing should be addressed immediately before further damages occur. Another common sign of chimney problems is water leakage into one’s chimney.
3) Evidence of Animals Living in the Chimney:
Animals are notorious for getting into chimneys, which is why chimneys should always have chimney caps installed to prevent this from happening. If you notice fur or droppings built up inside your chimney, it’s likely that animal(s) made their way inside, causing damage. If you see evidence of animals living in your chimney, don’t hesitate to get chimney inspection services right away! If you don’t know how they got there, call pest control services immediately before further damage occurs.
4) Smoke is Difficult to See:
In a chimney that’s in good condition, smoke rises up through the chimney in a smooth and steady manner. If you notice that the smoke only goes a small distance up your chimney before dissipating, this means something isn’t right. It can mean there was recent damage or it could be a sign of further problems. Either way, get chimney inspection services right away to get rid of chimney issues at their source so you don’t have to deal with the damages they cause!
5) Uneven Chimney Crowns:
Chimneys should always be intact and stable. If crowns are missing or unevenly spaced, chimneys need to be repaired. A professional will be able to tell you whether or not you need chimney repair in Hamilton, NJ.
7) Damaged Stucco:
Stucco is cement-based material typically used for exterior insulation. It’s important that damaged stucco around chimneys is repaired to prevent water seepage into chimneys. If there are any openings in the chimney, similar problems may arise if this isn’t addressed immediately. If you’d like Hamilton chimney repair services performed, call a chimney specialist today!
Looking for the Best Company for Chimney Repair Near Hamilton, NJ?
Looking for the best company for Hamilton chimney repair? Contact St John Chimney Sweeps right away. At St John Chimney Sweeps we offer 100% customer satisfaction. We have been in business for over 15 years, and St John Chimney Sweeps is the only name you need to know for a full-service chimney sweeping and installation in the New Jersey area. Our employees have had extensive training and have earned many certificates that help them do their job with full expertise. We are efficient and provide a full explanation of the work we need to complete. Our licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. We have been supplying expert sweeps, repairs and installation services to homeowners all across the state of New Jersey. Call us at (609)737-0133 to find out more about our free estimates. Let us take care of all your chimney needs!
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Chimney Sweeps in Mercer County, NJ
by admin | Apr 15, 2022 | NJ Chimney Repair
Have you ever heard of chimney caps in Mercer County? Your chimney provides warmth and adds an ambiance that is unmatched in your home. However, your chimney also presents an open-door opportunity for animals to enter your home. Closing off the chimney with a chimney caps closes the door to unwanted animal visitors and prevents costly problems caused by animal access into your home. Below are some top reasons people invest in chimney caps for their homes.
Chimney Caps in Mercer County | Unwanted Animals in the Home
Sometimes an animal that enters the chimney will eventually make its way into your home. Our office manager recalls a squirrel that terrorized the entire downstairs of her home after the poor fellow fell through the damper and into the firebox and could not re-exit. The anxiety that results from encountering a squirrel in your kitchen or seeing a bat or bird flying around your home leads to panic, as you try desperately to dodge the animal or coerce the bat out of your home! While animals are in your home, they can leave droppings and cause damage to your carpet and hardwood flooring.
Chimney Cap in Mercer County | Odors from Droppings
As small mammals such as bats, squirrels, raccoons and other animals go in and out of the chimney, they leave droppings. You may notice a foul odor on humid or warm days, as higher moisture levels and heat intensify the smell. If you light a fire in your fireplace, the fire can aggravate the unpleasant burning odor as the fire burns and activates odors from the droppings.
Mercer County Chimney Caps | Odors from Dead Creatures
When an animal enters your chimney and cannot escape back out the top, it may die. Typically, only raccoons and birds can escape from a chimney once they gain access into it. Other animals can’t get back up the chimney, and they’ll eventually die, leaving a very unpleasant odor for you to endure. The decaying body of an animal may also lead to other unpleasant problems, such as maggots feasting on the dead body.
Chimney Caps in Central NJ | Rain
Believe it or not, almost all rain in North America is acid rain. This light acidity degrades the cement in the mortar joints in between the flue tiles. Once the cement is degraded it is basically just sand. The next rain storm comes and washes out the sand. Now you have a code violation and potentially unsafe masonry chimney.
Looking to Add Chimney Caps to Your Home?
There are various types of Mercer County chimney caps to choose from. Whenever considering installing a new chimney cap, you should always contact an experienced professional. St. John Chimney Sweeps has been providing satisfied home owners with Mercer County Chimney Caps services for well over a decade and a half. We pride ourselves in our 100% customer satisfaction no-mess guarantee. Many of our quality products have a lifetime warranty. St John is a fully licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG). For more information or for a free estimate, contact us today at: (609) 737-0133 or visit our website.
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by admin | Sep 13, 2021 | NJ Chimney Repair
Are you in need of Princeton Chimney Repair services? Our fireplaces and chimneys are supposed to burn safely and efficiently year after year. However, many homeowners find it difficult to know when their chimneys are damaged or need repairs. Below are some of the top signs that you should contact a professional for Princeton chimney repair.
Princeton Chimney Repair Services | Cracks in the Masonry:
Small areas of chips, cracks, or missing masonry on the chimney are caused by long-term water damage that needs repairs. Oftentimes, the tuckpointing process can be used to remove old and damaged mortar by water. The chimney sweep carefully removes the old mortar before mixing and replacing new masonry. The result is a seamless repair that is indistinguishable from the original masonry.
Large cracks in the chimney can also be caused by the settling of your house or chimney. If the chimney is not built on proper pads or footing, the chimney can crack as it shifts and settles over time. A chimney inspection is often needed to determine if damage from settling is a structural issue or merely a cosmetic issue.
Chimney Repair Services in Princeton | Water in Your Fireplace:
The exterior masonry of chimneys is designed to withstand the exposure to wind, rain, sun, and more. The interior fireplace components, however, are much more delicate. Because of this, even small amounts of water in the fireplace can cause serious damage.
When water gets inside your fireplace, this results in a leaky chimney. When a leak occurs, it is important to have a chimney inspection and repairs from a certified Princeton chimney sweep. This ensures damage caused by water is properly repaired – and keep water from coming back.
Central NJ Chimney Repair Services | Chimney Has a Foul Odor:
There are a number of causes for chimney odor. The type of smell your chimney has can be a clue to what the underlying cause is. Smoky odors, particularly on hot or humid days, are often the result of creosote buildup in the flue. A chimney sweeping can remove creosote, eliminating the smell and reducing the risk of an accidental chimney fire. Dank or damp odors are usually the result of a leaky chimney. The combination of water and cold, dark flues can result in mold or mildew growth when there is water present in the chimney.
Mercer County Chimney Repair Services | Fireplace Smokes When Used:
A fireplace that blows smoke back into the room when in use is the result of drafting issues. Drafting problems are caused by chimney height, the addition of new landscaping or nearby buildings, the installation of a new insert, or switching fuel sources. Having the flue relined or adding or subtracting height to the chimney are two ways to help improve fireplace drafting issues.
Chimney Repair in Princeton | Stained Chimney Exterior:
Exterior masonry stains affects more than just your curb appeal. The color of the stain can reveal the root of the problem. Dark brown or black stains are often the result of drafting issues or an excess of creosote in the flue. Red or orange stains are usually caused by metal chimney components that are rusted, which is common on the sides of manufactured or factory-built chimneys.
Looking for Princeton Chimney Repair Services?
Looking for the best company for Princeton chimney repair? Contact St John Chimney Sweeps right away. At St John Chimney Sweeps we offer 100% customer satisfaction. We have been in business for over 15 years, and St John Chimney Sweeps is the only name you need to know for a full-service chimney sweeping and installation in the New Jersey area. Our employees have had extensive training and have earned many certificates that help them do their job with full expertise. We are efficient and provide a full explanation of the work we need to complete. Our licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. We have been supplying expert sweeps, repairs and installation services to homeowners all across the state of New Jersey. Call us at (609)737-0133 to find out more about our free estimates. Let us take care of all your chimney needs!
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by admin | Aug 11, 2021 | NJ Chimney Inspection, NJ Chimney Sweep
A considerable amount of house fires in Mercer County are caused when creosote cakes up up on the interior of a chimney. Despite that fact, many homeowners continue to disregard this significant risk, and don’t take preventative measures when it comes to Mercer County chimney cleaning. When houses were heated by fireplaces only, prior to the Industrial Revolution, chimney sweeps were in demand as 19th century homeowners realized how important a clean chimney was for avoiding house fires.
Mercer County Chimney Cleaning
In the 21st century, avoiding a house fire is just as important. Even though most contemporary homeowners use their fireplaces for coziness or have remote controlled natural gas flames to fuel their fires, the majority still use wood to burn and are susceptible to creosote buildup in their dampers and flues. Homeowners are urged to have their chimneys inspected for creosote buildup and a chimney cleaning if necessary in the spring of each year.
Chimney fires are characterized by loud cracking or popping noises and a lot of dense smoke from the flue, but often times go undetected by the homeowner. Chimney fires are often explosive, and it is common for neighbors to hear the explosions and alert the homeowner. Chimney fires can burn at extremely high temperatures (up to 2,000 degrees F).
These super-hot fires will weaken masonry chimney structure after creosote residue builds up in sufficient quantities. The conditions that tend to attract creosote buildup include the natural lack of air supply in chimneys, burning wood that lacks enough seasoning, and cool chimney temperatures that occur in four-season environments. Overloading your firebox to get longer fires can also contribute to creosote residue buildup in your chimney.
So, how often do chimney fires happen? Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) statistics indicate there are more than 25,000 chimney fires annually in the US. These cause over $125 million in property damage, but, if they spread to occupied homes the measurement of human deaths and injuries is impossible to compute.
How Often Should You Get Mercer County Chimney Cleaning Service?
You should have an annual chimney inspection by a reputable Mercer County chimney sweep organization. Depending on how often you use your fireplace to burn wood, creosote residue will build up in your chimney. There are many factors that influence the amount of creosote stuck to the walls of your chimney, such as the volume of airflow into your chimney and burning improperly seasoned wood, which encourage such a buildup. Creosote will also buildup in the flue if you have unburned wood in the firebox.
There is not a “hard and firm” rule of thumb on how often to clean your chimney. An examination by an experienced chimney sweep is the only way to learn if your chimney, whether masonry or metal, needs a cleaning.
Modern prefabricated metal chimneys are specially treated to withstand the high temperatures of a chimney fire without suffering severe damage. Should they suffer damage from a chimney fire, the professional recommendation is to no longer use the chimney until you replace the unit.
Forms of Preventative Maintenance:
A common homeowner question: “How can I maintain the safety of my chimney between professional cleanings to avoid chimney fires?” There are things homeowners can do to better avoid often dangerous chimney fires. Here are a few steps Mercer County homeowners can take:
- Do not let ashes gather in the firebox. Clean them out if they are accumulating.
- Be sure to only use seasoned firewood in your fireplace. If you gather it yourself, season it for a year or more before you burn it. If you buy it from a vendor, ensure that the firewood company only offers seasoned wood.
- Ensure the damper is entirely open BEFORE lighting a fire in the firebox.
- Do not burn pressure-treated or painted wood in the fireplace. This will hasten creosote buildup (pressure-treated wood) or potentially create toxic fumes (painted wood) that are dangerous to your family members.
- Put the largest logs on the bottom of the firebox, followed by smaller logs on top. Why? The fire will burn hotter and produce less smoke. Top that pile with kindling (around one inch) and crushed newspaper to get the fire started properly. This method will retard residue buildup in your chimney.
- Have an annual inspection of your chimney by a professional. Hire an experienced, reliable chimney sweep to mechanically clean your chimney, removing tar and creosote.
Can Just Use “Chimney Sweeping Logs?”
It is not really the logs that do much, but the chemicals within them. Some “chimney sweeping log” products claim to assist retarding creosote buildup, and some of them do so. Those that are somewhat effective in maintaining your chimney between cleanings contain chemicals similar to the chemicals used by chimney sweeps for professional cleanings.
The chemicals are carried up the flue by the rising exhaust from the safe fire in your fireplace. These logs break down the residue coating the inside of your chimney, but many experts have a problem with the marketing strategy for these products.
If you read the “fine print” disclosures for these logs, you will see that the chemicals imbedded in them are labelled “might reduce creosote by as much as 60 percent.” However, experts refute this by saying, “The use of chimney sweeping logs alone is not an adequate substitute for mechanical chimney cleaning and inspection because it does not provide for the same level of protection to the chimney system. Every time you burn wood in your fireplace or wood stove, tar and creosote are formed and over time build up on the inside of your chimney.”
The bottom line is to not rely solely on chimney sweeping logs rather than hiring a professional Mercer County chimney sweep to clean your chimney. While they can help you maintain your chimney between professional chimney sweep cleanings, they do not replace the need for regular chimney inspections and cleanings.
Looking for the Best Mercer County Chimney Sweep?
If you’re looking for the best Mercer County chimney sweep, contact St John Chimney Sweeps right away. At St John Chimney Sweeps we offer 100% customer satisfaction. We have been in business for over 15 years, and St John Chimney Sweeps is the only name you need to know for a full-service chimney sweeping and installation in the New Jersey area. Our employees have had extensive training and have earned many certificates that help them do their job with full expertise. We are efficient and provide a full explanation of the work we need to complete. Our licensed and insured company is also a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. We have been supplying expert sweeps, repairs and installation services to homeowners all across the state of New Jersey. Call us at (609)737-0133 to find out more about our free estimates. Let us take care of all your chimney needs!
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Princeton Chimney Repair Services | Cracks in the Masonry:
In the 21st century, avoiding a house fire is just as important. Even though most contemporary homeowners use their fireplaces for coziness or have remote controlled natural gas flames to fuel their fires, the majority still use wood to burn and are susceptible to creosote buildup in their dampers and flues. Homeowners are urged to have their chimneys inspected for creosote buildup and a chimney cleaning if necessary in the spring of each year.
It is not really the logs that do much, but the chemicals within them. Some “chimney sweeping log” products claim to assist retarding creosote buildup, and some of them do so. Those that are somewhat effective in maintaining your chimney between cleanings contain chemicals similar to the chemicals used by chimney sweeps for professional cleanings.