A roofing disaster

January 10, 2019 | A Day in the Life

On one of my inspections yesterday, I encountered an absolute mess of a job performed by a roofer I will not mention. A new roof was installed a few months ago without replacing the chimney step and counter flashing and now the deteriorated flashing has started to allow water intrusion into the home. The roofer was called out again and this was the initial fix: 🤦‍♂️ Not only did they not replace the flashing (again), they covered the cracks on the crown with sealant that I now have to remove before correctly repairing the crown. All of this could have been prevented if the job was done correctly in the first place and it would have also prevented the water damage that is now inside of the home.

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Radiant heat and the impact on combustibles

January 6, 2019 | Chimney Basics

So you may have heard me talk about clearances to combustibles once or twice before but here is a quick example of what the heat does to combustibles and how it can start a fire. As heat is absorbed by a combustible, in the form of radiant heat, it slowly breaks down the ignition temperature that is needed to ignite the combustible. the process is called pyrolysis which is the thermal decomposition of a material through elevated heat. Ignition temperature of wood can drop to as low as 300 degrees after long-term exposure to heat! One very key thing to also remember with ignition of the combustible is that it will ignite without any direct contact with flame. Here is a example in fast forward: 1. Initial break down of wood from heat As you can see, the Wood is not touching any flame throughout the timeframe. 2. Ignition temperature … Continued

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The importance of clean drop cloths

January 4, 2019 | A Day in the Life

As a professional chimney sweep, I do everything in my power to make sure that my client’s home stays spotless throughout the service. One key thing that all chimney sweeps should consider is how often they are washing their drop cloths. Over the years I have seen both ends of the spectrum from fellow sweeps but I personally only use them once before washing them. It only takes one dirty drop cloth to ruin a expensive rug or permanently put a stain on carpet, especially if you have been working with a LP gas system prior. I would recommend looking at a long-term approach and investing in a industrial washer and dryer. This investment will pay off with a steady supply of clean drop cloths for you and your clients.

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Don’t let your chimney turn into a garden

January 3, 2019 | Common Questions

If masonry fireplaces have one weakness in the South, or any wet climate, it is moisture. Bricks are naturally porous and are constantly battling the elements, especially alone above the roofline. To preserve the life of your chimney it is very important to not just use a water repellent, but the right water repellent meant for application on a chimney. I personally recommend ChimneySaver products. ChimneySaver provides great products for industry professionals that are backed up with with a strong warranty (they didn’t pay me to mention them btw). Here are a few examples of what can happen as moisture builds up in your chimney: It may look kinda neat but it is not good for the lifespan of your chimney!

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Fireplace grates in factory built systems.

December 31, 2018 | Common Questions

One interesting aspect of factory built (pre-fabricated) fireplaces is that they are a UL listed and sometimes have very specific requirements for what can and can’t be used. Today we will talk specifically about fireplace grates for factory built systems. Most fireplace manufacturers design the fireplace grate uniquely for the system, factoring in things such as size, height, and placement to help the system function as intended. The data plate and/or instruction manual should have the required information of what replacement grate will be needed. Here is one example of a data plate with the grate information below: I have seen several occasions where a grate has been improperly replaced causing smoke to enter the home or even over firing of the fireplace system! If you ever have any questions, reach out to your local CSIA certified chimney professional or the manufacturer to ensure proper replacement.

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Rusted chase covers = Water leak

December 29, 2018 | Chimney Basics

Here is a good example of how water enters your chimney from a rusted chase cover. Here is the first picture showing what it looks like from the top: Now lets take a look around the center flue termination from the bottom side: Not looking good! Now a even closer look. Notice the light shining through the small pin holes: When you see a rusted chase cover on your roof or signs of rust staining the side of the chimney, it may be time to replace your chase cover to prevent water intrusion.

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Fire Extinguishers

December 29, 2018 | Chimney Basics

Let me start off by saying everyone should have multiple ABC rated fire extinguishers throughout their home for safety. A fire extinguisher is something that you hopefully never have to use, but can save your home or life in the event of a fire. What does the A B C stand for? A – Trash, Wood, and Paper Monoammonium phosphate is the main ingredient in the fire extinguisher that will help smother this type of fire. B – Flammable Liquids Monoammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate work together to help extinguish a fire involving flammable liquids. C – Electrical Equipment Again, both Monoammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate work together to help extinguish a fire involving electrical components. – How to use a fire extinguisher – The recommended method is the P.A.S.S. technique. Below is the step by step technique directly from OSHA: PULL… Pull the pin. This will also break the tamper seal. … Continued

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One option for a fireplace that has seen better days

December 21, 2018 | A Day in the Life

Sometimes the elements win the battle against a fireplace, especially ones that have gone several years without maintenance. The fireplace above was no longer operational but the client still wanted something cost effective and would look better than this! It is a painful day for a chimney professional but sometimes the best option is to convert a system to electric. Step One – Cap off the chimney chase Step Two – Concert to electric As you can see the before and after is a pretty dramatic difference. This is also a popular option for clients with rental properties where they do not want the liability of the renter using a wood or gas fireplace. Disclaimer – When converting over to an electric system the client must be fully aware that eletric is the only option after the conversion and that using the fireplace for any other means could result in … Continued

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The importance of hiring a experienced chimney sweep

December 20, 2018 | A Day in the Life

Recently I inspected a home that was owned by a home inspector (I will not give the name) and while nothing out of the norm was observed or detected, I was called in to do a comprehensive inspection of the fireplace. I have known the home inspector for a while and he always recommends a level II inspection to get a full scope of the health of the system. I am very glad that he took his own advice and had me come inspect his fireplace! Below is what I found: [wpvideo 4jxBslrg ] When the home was remodeled the contractors did not install 68″ of flue liner and all of the flue gases were terminating into a wooden chimney chase! The entire missing section was hidden inside of the chimney chase and nothing out of the norm was visible from the attic as well. Luckily the issue was found … Continued

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