by admin | Feb 22, 2023 | NJ Chimney Repair
Having a chimney on your home can add a lot to it’s value. It looks good from the outside and adds a lot of character to the inside. This can be severely affected if your chimney has some damage on it. If your chimney is damaged, you should seek out Mercer County chimney masonry repair immediately. The dangers of it extend past just the aesthetic if the damage is bad enough.
Mercer County Chimney Masonry Repair – Dangers of a Damaged Chimney
Aesthetics:
Whenever something so widely visible is damaged, you run the risk of aesthetic damage. Luckily, because a chimney sits on top of the roof, it is unlikely that this will be too visible. Even something major like a brick or two missing shouldn’t be too visible to someone who’s not specifically looking for it. However, the bigger dangers of masonry damage to your chimney are more for your safety.
Health Risk:
Essentially, gas and heat can escape through the small cracks and areas of damage in your chimney. This can further deteriorate your chimney from the inside out. Depending on where the cracks in your chimney are, they can allow toxic gases to escape into your home. This is an obvious risk to your family and one that should be fixed ASAP with Mercer County chimney masonry repair. If the cracks are bad enough, the flue will be unable to contain the fire as well. It’s not a good look (nor is it safe) to have fire spilling out of the side of your chimney.
Less Efficiency:
A damaged chimney will undoubtedly make it less efficient as well. In order for a chimney to effectively do what it needs to, the gas and heat needs to rise all the way through it and out the top. If there are cracks that allow this stuff to escape elsewhere, it is incapable of doing what it needs to do. Areas where there may be cracks let gas and heat out but also let outside air in. This will reduce the efficiency of your fireplace and make it harder to heat your home.
Are You in Need of Mercer County Chimney Masonry Repair?
There are several risks that make it imperative for you to get Mercer County chimney masonry repair work done immediately if it is needed. If you’re looking for a reputable name in the business, look no further than St. John! 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.
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Mercer County Fireplace Repair
by admin | May 27, 2018 | NJ Chimney Repair
If your fireplace is old, you may need to get Pennington chimney masonry repair. However, before you get it fixed, you should have it cleaned. Keeping it clean also helps your chimney last longer. We want you to have a strong and clean chimney for many years to come, so we have tips for keeping your chimney functional and spotless.
Step 1: Sweep it Out | Pennington Chimney Masonry Repair
Before you start cleaning out the chimney, it’s important to get rid of all the loose ash and soot. You know that the soot will be tracked around the house if you do not clear it away. This step is as easy as taking a dustpan and broom and sweeping. Make sure you dust the sides of your chimney to clear away any other loose ash hiding in the nooks and crannies. Clear away as much as possible before you move on to the next step. Make sure you wear protective equipment on your hands, face, and eyes as there will probably be disgusting ash flying everywhere that can really hurt your lungs. Also make sure you clean off your broom so you do not sweep ash into the rest of your house later.
Step 2: Wash the Bricks
Now you could purchase your own store bought brick cleaner, or you could create your own natural cleaner. You want to clean the bricks thoroughly with a well working cleaner. One method that you can use for some small scale cleaning is a little cream of tartar and water. Mix a little water with some cream of tartar to make a thin cleaning paste. If you have enough cream of tartar, apply this paste to the blackened areas of your bricks and let it do its work for five to 10 minutes. After this, just rinse the cream of tartar and repeat the process if necessary.
Another common cleaning mixture is vinegar and water. If your chimney is about 20 years or older, vinegar may be too harsh for your chimney. Otherwise, this is a great cleaning solution for getting rid of the ash stains. Do a half and half mixture and just put it into a spray bottle. Spray this on the darkened bricks and let it set for a few more minutes. Spray again and then start to scrub while it is wet. Work from the bottom up in small circles for a better cleaning job. You can follow with a baking soda and water solution to cancel out the acidity.
One more home cleaner you could make is made with a half cup of baking soda and a couple tablespoons of dish soap. Just apply a thin layer to the inside of your chimney by applying from the bottom up, and again scrubbing in small circles. Let this sit for a few minutes and then rinse with warm water. With any of these cleaning solutions, it may take a few rounds of cleaning, but the work is well worth it.
Step 3: Check for Problems | Pennington Chimney Masonry Repair
While you clean out your chimney, you should monitor to see what areas may need repairs. As you clean the bricks, look for broken or chipped pieces. You should also look for any leaks and holes in your chimney. It’s important to check for any repairs needed for a better chimney.
Do You Need Repairs?
Sometimes, simply cleaning out your chimney isnt enough to keep everything in working order. There will be times when your chimney becomes damaged and will require repairs. So, how can you tell if you need Pennington Chimney repair work done? Below, we will take a loot at some of the signs that you need chimney repair.
Check for a Chimney Cap | Pennington Chimney Repair
You don’t even need a ladder for this one, step outside and take a look. The chimney cap’s main purpose is keeping rain out of the chimney flue. Yes, it is not a masonry portion of your chimney, but its presence is vital to the survival of your chimney’s interior and exterior. In 95% of cases needing Mercer County chimney repair service, a chimney cap is not present. Why is this a problem? Water. Water is the top source of deterioration of all home components, rot, mold, mildew, moss, freeze-thaw, etc, etc. Water in your chimney, or in your masonry is always bad news. If your chimney does not have a chimney cap, its time for a chimney inspection, possibly some repair, and most definitely time to install a chimney cap.
Pennington Chimney Repair | Is your Chimney Crown in Good Condition?
The chimney crown is the chimney’s second line of defense against water. The crown is the 2″-3″ concrete or mortar slab that has been poured on the very top of the chimney. This covers the top course of bricks of your chimney and surrounds the top flue tiles of each appliance. Why is this needed? Besides for the aesthetic appeal, chimneys are constructed with a hollow interior surrounding the flue tiles. This hollow space around your fireplace, and flue liners is very important. Other than covering the hollow opening of the chimney the brick also much be covered. Most bricks have a somewhat water resistant facing on their front and sides, however, on the top and bottom they are extremely porous. This is vital during brick construction so the mortar can have the best bond to the brick top and bottom as possible. However, when left exposed to the weather the brick becomes saturated with moisture and is exposed to freeze-thaw, moss and mildew. Wet bricks and mortar joints will lead to deterioration. Check your chimney crown for proper construction, proper thickness, cracks or receding edges or corners. Just like chimney caps, when a chimney has an improper or damaged crown, 95% of the time there is deterioration to the chimney structure. This will call for the need to get Mercer County chimney repair.
Pennington Chimney Repair | Do you need Chimney Tuckpointing?
Chimney tuckpointing is commonly misused to describe “mortar joints”. “Tuckpointing” is actually a verb and describes the process of repairing mortar joints, this is a common Mercer County chimney repair service and usually needs to be done on all chimney masonry every 30-50 years. So how do we know when we need our mortar repaired? Since chimneys are half above the roof and half below the roof, they always deteriorate at different rates. Above the roof the chimney is exposed to harsher weather conditions, colder temperatures, wind, rain, ice, snow. Below the roof the chimney is much more protected. Not to mention if the chimney is missing a cap or has a damaged crown, the damage will start at the top and slowly progress downward. Check your mortar joints above the roofline first. Check for cracks, separations between the mortar and the brick, and finally take a screwdriver and scrape the mortar to see if it is soft or begins to flake a fall away. Good mortar will barely leave a mark when running your screwdriver across it. Bad mortar will fall away and leave a gouge. Make your way down the chimney below the roofline and check the mortar there as well. Any areas where the mortar is soft should be repaired. Chimney tuckpointing can only be done to partially damaged mortar however. If the mortar joint is left unchecked for long enough it will fail completely through the joint and the bricks will be loose. Once your bricks are loose, they have to be rebuilt. Take a hammer or the palm of your hand and tap on some bricks near the top, moving down. If any of the bricks are loose, those will need to be torn down and re-mortared.
Pennington Chimney Repair | Do you have Efflorescence or White Staining?
White discoloration on a chimney is a sure sign of a moisture problem and a good indicator of some possible Mercer County chimney repair service. This is called efflorescence, it is the natural salts in the brick and mortar that are brought to the surface by moisture and then left behind when the moisture evaporates. This can be removed easily with warm soapy water, however, this w0n’t solve the problem. The most common causes of this is a missing chimney cap, a damaged or missing crown, and/or damaged mortar joints. Let your Mercer County chimney repair service technician know where you are noticing the white staining on your chimney for a more accurate diagnosis.
St John Chimney Sweeps | Best NJ Chimney Repair
If you are looking for a Pennington chimney masonry repair, St. John Chimney Sweeps treats its customers like family. We want you to have the cleanest and safest fireplace for your home. For more information about our services, visit our website or give us a call today.
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by admin | Apr 4, 2017 | NJ Chimney Sweep
In order for your NJ chimney to remain performing its best, it’s key to clean it regularly. The frequency of your chimney cleaning will depend on how often you use your fireplace, but the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that most chimneys be cleaned at least once a year. While you could choose to do this on your own, there are some advantages of hiring a professional Pennington chimney sweep to complete your cleaning for you. Here are the top reasons to hire a Pennington chimney sweep.
Reasons to Hire a Pennington Chimney Sweep
Reasons to Hire a Pennington Chimney Sweep | Get A Professional Inspection With Your Cleaning
A Pennington chimney sweep does more than just clean your flue. They are there to assess the state of your chimney and alert you if any repair work is needed. An annual chimney inspection will ensure that your chimney is repaired at the first sign of trouble, which you can save you a significant amount of money on repairs and energy bills later on. The chimney sweeping will practically pay for itself.
Reasons to Hire a Pennington Chimney Sweep | Identify Problems In Your Chimney Installation And Construction
During the inspection your Pennington chimney sweep performs, he will review how your chimney was installed and constructed. Your flue may not be the right size for the best output levels, or your liner may not be sufficient for your fireplace, stove, or furnace. Whatever the case may be, you can get the professional advice you need to correct current and future problems with your chimney when you get it cleaned.
Reasons to Hire a Pennington Chimney Sweep | Have Your Chimney Cleaned With The Right Equipment
A Pennington chimney sweep has the tools, equipment, knowledge, and expertise necessary to ensure your chimney is properly cleaned and maintained. They know what it takes to clear out a chimney safely without causing damage to your brickwork, furnace, fireplace, etc.
Reasons to Hire a Pennington Chimney Sweep | Avoid Safety Hazards Associated With Chimney Sweeping
Chimney sweeping often involves getting up on roofs, ladders, and high-rise equipment that could put you in danger. A professional Pennington chimney sweep knows how to use this equipment to complete their work safely and effectively. They will make sure your chimney is thoroughly cleaned while you remain safe on the ground. There is no reason to put yourself or your family at risk.
Local Pennington Chimney Sweep | Valuable service for your home and family
Homeowners are careful to protect their property. Home maintenance is an important part of your budget. You do not want to take unnecessary risks that put your home in danger. Being careful means being proactive. Your home is one of the largest investments you will ever make. Protecting your home from potential hazards is not an option. Homeowners have plenty of unforeseen circumstances threatening them. Avoiding the threat you can see is the sensible thing to do.
Your home is designed to provide comfort and protection for your family. Keeping your home in good shape improves the odds of keeping your family safe. Chimney cleaning is a valuable service for your home and family. Servicing your heating system at regular intervals is a recommended safety standard.
Local Pennington Chimney Sweep | Considering an emergency cleaning or inspection?
Are you considering an emergency cleaning or inspection? Professional chimney sweeps agree it is a better idea to err on the side of caution. Are there obvious signs that something is wrong? Your local chimney sweep can quickly identify and correct most common issues related to improper chimney function. Getting a second opinion from a professional is never a bad idea.
Your home heating system is one of the most important aspects of home maintenance. Heating systems that fail create emergency situations. Homeowners are cautious to avoid that possibility. Your home’s heating system is more likely to fail when it is needed the most. Do you have an emergency plan in place for losing heat in your home? The same professionals that take care of your yearly maintenance should be on call to save the day. Having a comprehensive emergency strategy is one good idea you hope never to actually need.
Local Pennington Chimney Sweep | Keeping your home safe and warm year round
Homeowners need service professionals they can trust. Do you trust your family’s safety to just anyone? You look for caring professionals when the job comes this close to home. Are you confident in the chimney sweep you rely upon for this important service? Homeowners share information regularly about the service they receive. Keeping a good reputation depends largely upon recommendations and endorsements. Your neighbor is typically the first person you ask when searching for professional contractors.
Looking for an Experienced & Reliable Pennington Chimney Sweep?
In business for more than 15 years, St. John Chimney Sweeps is the only name you need to know for full-service chimney and fireplace sweeping and installation in the Princeton, New Jersey, area. We offer 100% customer satisfaction and a no-mess guarantee. Most products also come with a lifetime warranty. Feel free to contact us to inquire about free estimates. Our employees have undergone extensive training and earned certificates, which enable them to do your job with full expertise. 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). Service towns in the Mercer County NJ area include: Princeton, Pennington, Lambertville, Hopewell, Hightstown, East Windsor, West Windsor, Lawrence, Robbinsville, and many more. For more information, you can call today at (609) 737-0133 or visit the website.
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Health Risk:
