Why Should I have a Mid-Winter Fireplace & Chimney Inspection?
Seriously? Now? There are 2 groups of people a mid-winter fireplace and chimney inspection is recommended for: The procrastinators who never did their fall chimney inspection and; Those households that regularly use the fireplace. The Procrastinators: You meant to get the chimney cleaned, you meant to get it inspected, but you forgot….then remembered…then forgot again. […]
What’s the Difference Between a Chimney Cap and a Fireplace Damper?
Let’s add to that question…Is it necessary to have a chimney cap or a fireplace damper for a gas fireplace? Or is it just for wood burning fireplaces? A popular question worth investigating. Chimney Cap Chimney caps are mounted over the top of the flue. The purpose of a chimney cap is to keep rain, […]
4 Point Check on an Exterior Chimney for Leaks
“Rain, rain, go away…” Remember we sang that as kids and thought it was fun? I’ve found myself singing this song way too often with an ‘oh by the way…take the humidity and bugs along with you.’ Clean-up has become your everyday task…from outside debris to water in the basement. It’s been an agitating time […]
Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July! It’s been a fun weekend with family and friends with good food, good drink and plenty of laughter. Fireworks always complete the night with a colorful night of red, white and blue. Everyone at Superior Chimney wishes you and your family & friends a memorable, relaxing time. If you stayed […]
Chimney Liner. A Short Order.
Wow, doesn’t this look nice…light color brick, a smooth finish to the masonry, concrete top in a bright white color. Wait… What’s that coming out of the top? Coming out of the chimney crown or that bright white color in the picture, is a standard single flue gas appliance liner cap. The intention was to […]
Roller Coaster of Spring Temperatures
You know summer is coming when Six Flags opens its doors…which starts on the 14th…FYI. The roller coasters are the favorite with the twist and turns, gaining speed until you feel out of breath. I know this past week was like a preview to a roller coaster ride with temperatures ranging from summer to mid-winter, […]
Spring Storms – Chimney
The storm that passed through this week made a mess. I went outside to begin working on the clean-up. I walked around the house picking up numerous branches, twigs and debris to find a piece of steel and some steel netting. Right away, I thought that it had come from my neighbor’s house. Fortunately, many […]
Crates as a Chimney Cap? Doesn’t really help.
Got your attention? Thought so. It’s not fake, it’s not stock photography. There are homes in Chicago and the surrounding areas with crates, and even shopping carts placed over the top of the chimney. The main reason for the extreme creativity is to keep the animals out especially with the unseasonably warm weather. Do you […]
Rain, Freeze, Thaw…Repeat
The absence of snow these past 3 weeks was a well needed break. Certainly, didn’t think rain would be taking its place, especially in January. But it did. Not only did it rain, but the rain turned to sleet, froze, thawed and the water found its way into my friend’s house. They described it as, […]
Put a Damper On It!
A little chimney humor. Many of you probably figured it out. I’m talking about chimney dampers. If you’re like me, I love the fireplace, but not the cold breeze. Sitting in the family room watching TV with the family, as I’m sure most are, the last thing you want to feel is a chill in the […]