We serve a 60 mile radius from our location in Jonesville, MI! Call us or stop in!
Chimney cleanings and inspections: what you should know
Don’t Let Maintenance and Service Needs Surprise You – Plan Ahead Before the Seasons Change!
All units require yearly maintenance to ensure they are working properly and the best time to tackle any maintenance is before the seasons change.
Many people turn off their units over the summer or allow it to sit dormant for an extended period of time and then, on the first chilly day, they turn it on only to find something isn’t working properly. The anticipated joy and warmth of your unit can turn to frustration when it’s not delivering the results you want or need.
When this happens, a call to a technician will come with a significant wait time for your appointment as our schedule has filled with recurring customers or others who are experiencing the same issue as you. Don't wait. Call in the summer for fall service.
Why should I have my chimney cleaned and inspected?
CLEAN CHIMNEYS DON'T CATCH FIRE!
1. TO PREVENT CHIMNEY FIRES – Creosote is a highly flammable substance that naturally forms during the combustion process while burning wood. The more creosote that accumulates in your chimney the higher the risk of a chimney’s fire. TO PREVENT 2. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING – Cracks or gaps in your firebox or flue are the points of entry for dangerous deadly gases like carbon monoxide to enter into your living area. Whether you heat your home with wood, coal, gas or oil, over time each of these fuels can create combinations of condensation, acidic build-up or creosote. These naturally forming by-products of combustion can and will, over time, deteriorate the clay flue tiles and mortar inside your chimneys and, if left unattended, can lead to the unthinkable – deadly carbon monoxide gases escaping into the home or chimney fires. Our technicians are trained to identify and remedy any issues that arise from the deterioration of the inner chimney flue and the exterior. We know that protecting your family and home is your # 1 priority so call us today to schedule your chimney sweep and inspection.
3. HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE WON'T COVER CLAIMS WITHOUT A YEARLY INSPECTION BY A PROFESSIONAL! - We all know that insurance companies deny any claim they can. Homeowners insurance companies will deny your claim if they can argue that you could or should have prevented the claim from arising by having a yearly chimney cleaning and inspection. They call it "lack of maintenance" by homeowner. Please see "Insurance Companies & Chimneys" to learn more.
spring showers bring leaky chimneys
…….and May flowers. Which the rain is great for along with our gardens and wells but not so much for masonry chimneys – especially ones that have suffered damage from the cold weather. Signs of leaky chimneys can be water in your firebox, a rusty fireplace damper, water in your basement, staining on your ceiling as well as damaged wallpaper surrounding the chimney area and much more. You need a good cleaning and inspection to find these issues early before they become extremely expensive.
smoke in your home?
Sometimes, it happens that the smoke that's supposed to go out through the chimney, comes into the room instead. You need a chimney cleaning. How do we know? We've been doing this a LONG time :)
Most people try to solve this by themselves. Instead of hiring professional help. They try to clean out the chimney, thinking that this will be a one stop solution. What this results in, besides getting soot all over your house is the fact that it worsens. You might get temporary relief, but the pattern reoccurs after a few days. Flue blockage might not be an uncommon phenomenon due to creosote build-up or debris, but the solution should be left to the professionals. No point in trying to save yourself a few bucks resulting in getting injured and spending five times more in the treatment. Simple things like ignoring the annual chimney inspection might seem harmless, but more often than not, these simple things accumulate to have far worse consequences than one could have imagined. Ask yourself this; “Is it really worth the cost to put your young and loved ones at risk?” If the answer is No, well, what are you waiting for? Don’t delay and give us a call at 517-688-5278.
I heat with gas. Should this chimney be checked too?
Without a doubt! Although gas is generally a clean burning fuel, the chimney can become non-functional from bird nests or other debris blocking the flue. Modern furnaces can also cause many problems with the average flues intended to vent the older generation of furnaces. We suggest you check this link for more information.
A heating company services my unit every year. Doesn’t this mean my chimney is safe?
Not necessarily. A heating inspection usually end at the beginning of the thimble (Chimney base). Problems inside the flue can remain undetected and subject you and your family to the risk of carbon monoxide poison. Any chimney that vents the exhaust of a natural gas burning appliance needs to be open at all times. This includes your Furnace, water heater, fire logs, etc. Never assume that your chimney is safe until you have an actual chimney professional tell you that in writing.
There are other times cleanings & Inspections should be performed
• Immediately after a chimney or furnace fire.
• When ever the service of the chimney is being changed. Adding a woodstove to a fireplace, or converting from an oil to a gas furnace, or installing gas logs.
• When ever you are considering the purchase of a home with a chimney. Make sure the chimney inspection is performed before closing
• When ever you suspect any type of storm damage. (Example: lighting struck chimney, or high winds blow the cap off)
appointment tips for safety & efficiency
Spring and summer are the best times for non-emergency chimney repair and preventative maintenance.
From October through March, our appointment calendar is usually booked up to one month out, sometimes longer. Making an “off-peak” appointment or booking ahead your best option but we still recommend calling to see what our booking schedule looks like.
24 hours before your appointment, remember to:
- Stop using your fireplace, wood stove or gas stove. For safety’s sake, we need to work with an appliance that is completely cool. As a courtesy, please remove all ash from the firebox.
The Day of Your Appointment - Remember to:
- Remove fragile or precious items from the area near the fireplace. We need about 5 to 6 ft around the fireplace to be clear to get our equipment in place.