How to Prevent and Repair Water Damage on the Chimney
Homeowners don’t think regularly about chimneys, and why would you. It’s high up on the house, it never complains and its always there when you need it. As we know everything ages with time, and so does the chimney… especially when water is around. Let’s take a look at what water damage on the structure […]
5 Reasons for Chimney Leaks this Spring
March is the time of year when we go for a rollercoaster ride with the temperatures. Some days it’s 60 degrees, and the next it drops by twenty degrees. There are two things we fight when this happens, one is the common cold and the other is the chimney leak. Both are runny and make […]
Your Fireplace Smells Like Fireworks!
Have you noticed that odor in the fireplace sometimes smells similar to the residue of fireworks? Every New Years Eve across the world, and Fourth of July in the US, fireworks explode into a concoction of bright, beautiful colors of various shapes and movements. After the celebrations, the smoke from the sky sinks into the […]
Get Your Fireplace Swept and Inspected for the Gobble Gobble
It’s that time of year, and many of you will be hosting Thanksgiving. If your house is like mine, everyone will gravitate to the room where the fireplace is located. Why? Who doesn’t want to sit by the fireplace and enjoy good conversation and a glass of your favorite beverage. Be sure to get your […]
Effects of Fall Rain and the Chimney
Do you know what ends our time of enjoying the wonderful Fall colors? Rain. The other day when it rained, it took most of those bright yellow leaves and brought them to the ground. It saddened me not only because the colors were gone, but now the leaves have to be cleaned up. And with […]
Leaves in the Chimney, Can It Be Dangerous?
I just came inside from blowing leaves off of the lawn. It was crazy how I had to pick leaves out of the bushes, stuck inside the fence, sitting on the window sill and out of the filled gutters. Even if you have gutter guards, the leaves are still stuck on top of the guards […]
A Beginning Season Fireplace Guide for Your Fireplace and Chimney
We’re heading in that time of year where homeowners are opting for hot chocolate over an iced tea. The sound of a crackling fireplace becomes more and more desirable as the cool nights settle in. Nothing is better than the sound of a warm, cozy fireplace. As you want to get the fireplace started, you’ll […]
Chimney Crown and Chimney Cap Need to be Ready for What Comes Next
As bad rains continue throughout the Chicagoland area, we are always wondering what is going to flood next. We think about our basement (if you have one) and what may be affected by the seeping water. We constantly check that and other points in our home that we can readily see. But what about the […]
Can You Keep Your Fireplace Closed This Summer?
You may have heard from friends or family about keeping your fireplace open during the summer, so long as you have a chimney cap to keep the debris and animals out. Keeping the fireplace open all summer is known as “airing out” the fireplace. It makes sense, keep the stale air out and let fresh […]
What’s “Bugging” You This Summer?
Let’s face it, chimney tuckpointing isn’t at the top of your mind this summer. Spring cleaning is over, it’s time for a vacation. Maybe spending time at Lake Michigan or the pool took over your to-do list! But, have you noticed some familiar critters falling from the trees (and into your pool…) all over the […]
