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Chimney Cleaning Tips
With the cost of heating your home rising these days, many homeowners have
taken to burning firewood to help alleviate costs. This will mean that you are
going to need a clean chimney.
Chimney cleaning is essential to ensure your chimney is not a fire
hazard.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when finding a chimney cleaner:
-
If the chimney is getting heavy use then chimney cleaning
should be done once a year.
- Chimney cleaning should be done in the spring. This helps to reduce and even eliminate any
odors that might come from the chimney once the heat and humidity of summer
begin.
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In most states chimney sweeps are not licensed, in fact, overall the
chimney cleaning trade is largely unregulated. As such, literally anyone could start
up a chimney cleaning company.
-
When selecting a chimney cleaner, try to rely on referrals and other
satisfied costumers. Also, there is the Chimney Safety Institute of America
that offers certification for chimney sweeps. If there is a
certified chimney sweep around you, they might be your best bet for
quality work.
Chimney cleaning contractors may also provide the following services:
-
Firewood Delivery
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Tree Service
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Chimney Inspection
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Chimney Relining
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Chimney Repair
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Chimney Cap Installation
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About The Fireplace Chimney
By Daniel Roshard
Chimneys add a lot to a house, there is a great thing about having a fireplace in your living room and a nice picturesque smoking chimney outside your house, as you drive up to your place you can see the smoke slowly raising from it, indicating that your family is in the house and that it is nice and warm inside.
Fireplaces and chimneys need to maintained and need to be secure at all times, there is absolutely no way you can make any compromises about your fire place and chimney working state and safety.
Here are a few maintenance tips and ideas for you to consider applying to your own fir fire place and chimney.
As recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (in NFPA 211), your chimney should be checked at least once a year to ensure its efficiency; that is, if you are using your fireplace on a regular basis. However, if you are only using your fireplace for 2 to 3 months a year, you can have the option to have it checked every other year.
Stove installation should be checked at least once a year to ensure that the clearances from combustible surfaces are maintained to prevent any hazard. Stove pipes are subject to high temperature so it should be checked periodically for corrosion. Replace it if corrosion level exceeds the safe zone.
If there is a need to clean your chimney, take a professional chimney sweep to do the job. You can use the opportunity that you have a professional chimney cleaner at your property and ask for some regular cleaning advise and tips, these should be adapted to your fireplace and chimney and the area in which you live, a professional would know how humid it is in your area and what kind of animals try and get into your chimney in the summer and winter.
Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not used to prevent the heat or air conditioning from escaping.
Installing a chimney cap of high quality can extend the life of your chimney. It also prevents birds, insects, and animals to nest in your chimney, the most known and popular chimney caps are made out of copper, which is an excellent metal to use for this purpose, if you need a chimney cap you should look into what kinds there are on the market.
Installing a smoke detector inside your home will provide you with some peace of mind, knowing that if anything will go wrong you will have a clear indication of it, and that you will have a practiced routine for a case that the fire alarm goes off.
Winter is almost here, and a Fire Place is just what you need to add character and warmth to your home. Discover how to plan, buy and place your Fire Place in your home by following Daniel Roshard�s Fireplace Chimney articles and Fireplace related articles and tips at http://fireplace.advice-tips.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Roshard
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Fireplace Chimneys
By Kent Pinkerton
An essential part of both indoor and outdoor fireplaces, fireplace chimneys vent the hazardous and noxious gases, produced by the combustion of fuels, safely to the outside atmosphere. Fireplace chimneys regulate the flow of air and keep excessive heat from combustible materials that surround the fireplace.
Initially, fireplace chimneys were made of brick and mortar, bordered with fireproof tiles. But the newer models of metal are easy to install. Fireplace chimneys must be able to withstand the recurrent heating and cooling process of the fireplace and also the corrosive compounds produced after combustion.
Flue, containing the products of combustion, forms the inner and the most important layer of fireplace chimneys. In the case of wood burning fireplaces, a highly flammable substance called creosote is deposited on the flues, which blocks the passage of air through the system. A clean flue is crucial for the unhindered dispersal of combustion products.
Apart from flues, fireplace chimneys include chimney caps, chimney flashing, chimney dampers, chimney liners, and cleanout doors. Chimney caps usually made of copper, stainless steel or black steel act as the chimney cover that prevent downdrafts and protect the chimney against rain and animal invasions. Chimney Dampers close the fireplace chimneys when they are not in use, whereas Chimney flashings provide strength and waterproofing to the chimneys. Stainless steel, cast-in place (a thick layer of cement-like material), aluminum, and terracotta chimney liners create a smooth path for drafting and improve the performance of fireplace chimneys. The cleanout doors are metal doors, found at the base of the fireplace chimneys, which facilitate easy cleaning of ash pit.
The design and size of fireplace chimneys can affect the performance of fireplaces. A good diameter and height is needed for the proper combustion of fuels. Further, the fireplace chimneys must be tall enough to allow a smooth airflow.
In order to avoid the risk of chimney fires, the fireplace chimneys must be cleaned at least once in a year. This will also prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fireplaces provides detailed information on Fireplaces, Outdoor Fireplaces, Fireplace Chimneys, Gas Fireplaces and more. Fireplaces is affiliated with Wood Fireplace Mantels .
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton