On average, there are roughly 25,000 chimney fires every year, causing more than $125 million in damage. Still, many homeowners don’t realize that they need to have chimney inspections performed regularly. It’s very likely that you’ve had a chimney fire and haven’t even noticed. That’s where the team at Chimney Champions comes in. We can inspect the entire structure of your chimney and tell you whether or not you’ve experienced a fire in your chimney.
Spalling is the industry term chimney inspectors use to describe chimney bricks that have begun to decay, loosen, or chip. A chimney with spalling bricks is not only an eyesore, but it’s also a safety hazard. Spalling bricks mean that your chimney is in poor health, and should be inspected and repaired right away. If you still have questions about what spalling is and why it matters, we’ve explained it here. When you’re ready, give the team at Chimney Champions a call for repairs.
At Chimney Champions, we get a lot of questions about fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney sweeps. While safety is our number one priority, so is providing additional education and resources. If you have a fireplace in your home, educating yourself on features and safety precautions is essential. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive as trusted chimney sweeps.
Nothing says home and comfort like a cozy fire burning to keep your family warm after the sun goes down. There’s something quite relaxing about watching flames dance across the logs. Still, every responsible homeowner knows that proper fireplace and chimney care are essential. That’s why it’s necessary to have your chimney regularly inspected by the team at Chimney Champions. These three levels of inspections are outlined by the National Fire Protection Association and are the standards our chimney sweeps use to inspect a fireplace.
Your chimney is an essential part of your roof and the structure of your home. Different components of the chimney work together to keep smoke out of your home and prevent rain and wild animals from getting in. At Chimney Champions, we understand how important regular maintenance and repairs are for your chimney. While choosing a chimney professional to inspect your home may seem rather straightforward, several key factors need to be taken into consideration.
April flowers bring May showers! But that’s not all that comes along with the Spring. All those lovely fairy tale critters are now coming out of the woodwork (literally!) and looking for a new place to call home.Don’t leave your home vulnerable to water and animal intrusion, which can lead to a multitude of health & safety issues – not to mention taking a big chunk out of your wallet!A seasonal Specialty Inspection with Chimney Champions® is a great way to make sure your chimney system in optimal shape, and to address any issues BEFORE they get out of control! The Specialty Inspection is a full inspection of the chimney system and fireplace, with use of Infrared Technology and aerial drones. Specialty Inspection does not include Sweep.SPECIAL OFFER…*For a limited time, when you schedule your Specialty Inspection with Chimney Champions®, you can add a Sweep onto your service for only $50!Contact Chimney Champions® … Continued
People contact Chimney Champions® every day looking for a service to their fireplace/chimney. But not everybody realizes that there are different levels of service that we offer! To help provide a better understanding of what takes place during some of our services, we’re going to provide you with an inside look at a Level II Inspection and Sweep.During our inspections, our CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweeps® perform a visual assessment of every safely accessible area of your chimney system (in your attic, crawlspace, roof, etc). In the first picture (below), you can see lead technician Michael Wood assessing the chimney flue for ‘clearance to combustibles’ – very important for fire-prevention! When accessible, we also look for proper installation and clearances around the firestop in the attic – an area that is often overlooked, but can be a serious hazard. The flue liner often comes with a label that can be found on the outer flue … Continued
Here are questions we are asked frequently: Are you licensed? How long have you been in business? Will you get on the roof to inspect my chimney? Do I have to attend the service appointment? What kind of report will I get? Do you do repair work? Do you do full home inspections? Do you give free estimates? Can you come out just to measure my chimney cap/chase cover? Can you replace my chimney cap/chase cover without an inspection first? Can you give me a ballpark idea of how much a new chimney cap/chase cover might cost? Can you remove birds/bees from my chimney? Do you have any coupons or military discounts? Can you find my chimney leak? Why should I use your company? Q. Are you licensed?» There is no contractor license for chimney sweeps in the state of Florida; however, our technicians are required to complete rigorous training … Continued
You may already know what a chimney cap is and why it’s so important to have one that is functioning properly…But what what about the chase cover? The chase cover — or “chase pan,” as some people call it — is the square or rectangular piece of metal that is fitted to sit securely on top of your chimney chase, helping to keep water and other environmental elements out. These parts are exposed to the sun, wind, and all kinds of weather year-round, and it is extremely important that they be checked regularly to make sure they are still doing their job.Be careful who you hire! You should only allow your chimney to be worked on by a knowledgeable CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep who can provide you with the proper service and suitable parts for your system.Not all chase covers are created equal! For instance, “cross-breaks” create a dome effect, allowing rain, debris, etc. to … Continued
Thinking of Removing Birds from Your Chimney? …Not So Fast!!Every year, the appropriately-named Chimney Swifts migrate to North America from Peru during springtime, and commonly build their nests inside of chimneys. Their glue-like saliva allows them to attach their nests onto the inside wall of your chimney. This species of birds (Chaetura pelagica) is federally-protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, therefore it is against federal law to remove or disturb them – or their active nests – during their breeding season without a Federal Migratory Bird Depredation Permit. Breeding season typically lasts until around the end of the summer, but you can check out this interactive migration map to learn more about their migration habits!Though their chirping can be loud and bothersome, Chimney Swift hatchlings typically leave their nests around 30 days after hatching. To help prevent the youngsters from falling down your chimney shaft, you should make sure your … Continued
