Chimney Anatomy

Chimney Anatomy

For hundreds, even thousands of years, many families have found comfort and community sitting with one another around their family fireplace. It keeps us warm and brings us together, but as we all know, fire can be dangerous if not properly taken care of. If you are in need and looking for a Lawrence Chimney Sweep, be sure to read these great informational tips for your next fire this winter with your family and friends.

Lawrence Chimney Sweep

Lawrence Chimney Sweep | Two Types of Fireplaces

There are two most common types of Fireplaces. Masonry fireplaces and factory built fireplaces. It’s very simple to check on your own which kind you have. When you have a brick fireplace and the chimney outside your home is brick, and when you look up the inside of the chimney, it is most likely a masonry fireplace. If it is primarily metal, both on the inside and the outer chimney above your home, then you are most likely dealing with a factory built fireplace.

Lawrence Chimney Sweep | The Way It Works

Nobody realizes but your house itself helps your chimney. Your house is like an air flow system. Air comes into your house through the foundation, and is released through the top of house. Your fireplace needs this airflow. There are many different things that affect the airflow of your home. Wind loading, stack effect, interior mechanical systems, and your fuel burning systems, such as furnaces, water heaters, or fireplaces themselves. We all know that heat rises, as does the warm air in your home. Houses that have been built within the past twenty five years or so have been built more sealed then they used to be, creating a more difficult airflow in homes, but this process is call the stack effect.

Neutral Pressure Plane

With all of this airflow, somewhere in the middle is what they call the NPP, Nuetral Pressure Plane. This is where the negative and positive pressures meet. Below this plane is the negative air pressure, which is why at the foundation your home is trying to pull air in. Above this plane is the positive pressure, which is why air is being forced out through the top of your home.

Wind Loading

Now, wind loading is the change in the air pressure within your home due to the wind hitting the side of your house. We have talked a lot about airflow within the home, now with pressure changes if you open windows on the windy side of the house it will cause a draft up the chimney to help airflow. If you open a window on the opposite side of the house it could create suction and actually pull air and odors down through the chimney into the house. These are some helpful little tips to be aware of when confronting your chimney needs.

Mechanical Devices in Your Home

I am sure you did not realize that the devices in your home such as your dryer and the fans, can also depressurize the area especially around your fireplace. This makes it more difficult for a natural draft airflow to take place. So unless these devices are taking airflow directly from outside via a vent, it could also be throwing off the pressure in your home. If your chimney is ever not getting good airflow it could mean a number of things, such as creosote build up, damage in your chimney, clogged dampers and more. The best thing to do is have regular maintenance by a professional Lawrence Chimney Sweep. Make sure they are knowledgeable and certified chimney sweepers.

NJ Chimney Sweep

Mercer County Chimney Sweep

Related NJ Chimney Sweep Posts:

Mercer County Chimney Sweep

Princeton Chimney Sweep

Pennington Chimney Sweep

Mercer County Chimney Repair Service

Pennington Chimney Masonry Repair

Princeton Chimney Repair

 

 

Lawrence Chimney Sweep

Lawrence Chimney Sweep

Having your chimney regularly inspected is a very important part of maintaining your home. Not only does a clean chimney keep your fires burning clean, but it can also keep pests out of your home and prevent dangerous house fires. Homeowners tent to neglect maintaining their chimneys because they are not usually on the forefront of the mind. This can lead to many problems for your home and the health of you and your family. If you haven’t had your chimney swept in a long time, we highly recommend that you schedule a Lawrence chimney sweep company to come and inspect your chimney. Today we will be looking at some signs that your chimney is in need servicing.

Signs You Need Lawrence Chimney Sweep Services

  • A large buildup of soot in the fireplace. Soot buildup in the fireplace translates into soot buildup inside the flu of your chimney. It is alright for a small amount of soot to be in your fireplace, but accumulation over a quarter inch can be very risky. Each year, countless house fires result from excess soot buildup in your chimney. The substance that builds up inside your chimney is highly flammable and can wreak havoc on your house and family if it ignites.
  • Foul smelling odors coming from your fireplace. If strong odors begin to come from your fireplace, this may be an indication of a clog. Blockage in your chimney causes smoke and other substances to come back into your house.  This causes poor air quality inside your home and can lead to respiratory issues as well as more dangerous effects such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • It’s almost winter and you haven’t have your chimney inspected yet. As the months become colder, people tend to use their chimneys more frequently. This is because people use their furnaces and fireplaces to heat their homes. This increased use leads to a faster buildup of soot inside the chimney. If you haven’t had your chimney swept yet this year, call a trusted Lawrence Chimney Sweep for a thorough inspection.
  • You rarely use your fireplace. Many people figure that because they rarely use their fireplace they don’t need to maintain it or have it inspected.  However, your chimney still needs to be inspected because it is subject to the outdoor elements. Additionally, if your chimney gets damaged, small animals can come inside and make nests inside your home. You should always schedule maintenance once a year to keep your home safe, cleaner and fire-free.

Looking for a Qualified Lawrence Chimney Sweep?

Look no further than St. John Chimney Sweeps if your looking for a reliable and professional Lawrence Chimney Sweep. At St John, we take great pride in providing our valued customers with our 100% satisfaction no-mess guarantee. 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). Call now for a free estimate at: (609) 737-0133 or visit our website.

NJ Chimney Sweep

Mercer County Chimney Sweep

Related NJ Chimney Sweep Posts:

Mercer County Chimney Sweep

Princeton Chimney Sweep

Pennington Chimney Sweep

Mercer County Chimney Repair Service

Pennington Chimney Masonry Repair

Princeton Chimney Repair

NJ SEO Company|NJ SEO | NJ web designers |NJ Wordpress Web design |nj web design