Why Does My Fireplace Stink?
At the last rainfall, we had a ton of inquiries. The question everyone was asking, “why does my fireplace stink?” It is distracting when you’re sitting in your common area and you can’t enjoy what you are doing due to the smell. Sometimes it comes in whiffs and other times it is a constant bad […]
What are the Components of a Chimney?
As you may know, Superior Chimney writes a lot of articles to educate the Chicagoland area on chimneys and how to identify problems. Every once in a while, it is good to go back and review the basics. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to discuss what are the components of a chimney. […]
Has Cold Air in the Chimney Stayed After the Holiday Party Ended?
As the weather becomes more frightful, be aware of the cold air in the chimney. Have you watched Charlie Brown’s holiday specials? They are classics! In the recent Thanksgiving show, Charlie Brown says, “Thanksgiving is not just about the turkey, it’s about the moments shared.” A meaningful quote that’s true to everyone, even during non-holidays. […]
Cicada Crawling Up the Chimney
This past weekend, for most homeowners, was the time to cut your grass. We’ve had plenty of rain to have the grass grow quite long. After opening the garage door and pulling out the mower, I was greeted by cicadas sitting on both garbage cans. They are definitely a good size bug. Okay, no big […]
Cold Draft in Fireplace Signals
Cold draft in the fireplace is a signal that something is wrong with the flow of air through the chimney and fireplace. Traditional fireplaces have an open firebox intended to allow air to go up the chimney – This is the natural draft created by the design of a traditional fireplace. How does a cold […]
Cold Air Can Create a Chilly Fireplace Draft
A fireplace cold draft is a common problem for many homeowners. There are many reasons for a fireplace cold draft to occur, but what we know for certain is how the cold draft makes you feel. Uncomfortable. Let’s find out a bit more about some causes of fireplace cold drafts and what may be to […]
My Fireplace is Allowing Cold Air Into My Home
Cold drafts coming into the home through the chimney, down into the fireplace and into your living area has been the concern among many callers to Superior Chimney. We thought it would be a useful to share the cause of cold drafts or cold air entering your home from gas fireplace and wood burning fireplace. […]
A Chimney Clean and Check in August? Why? Here’s 6 of 14 Reasons.
August is a big vacation month for families. It doesn’t always mean taking an airplane to Florida, it may mean a long weekend to a waterpark or even a staycation with get togethers’ with family and friends. As the month goes on, we begin to get the kids ready for school and try to get […]
What’s the Smell? Is it Coming from the Fireplace and Chimney?
This summer has certainly been different. Even with the cool temperatures, one thing is for certain…we’ve received way too much rain. Now add a few high 80-degree days with humidity and it’s a recipe for a smelly house. As a result, we’ve received plenty of phone calls with questions pertaining to the musty smell coming […]
A Special Q & A on Gas Fireplaces in Hot or Warm Weather
Gas fireplaces are many times found in homes, condos and townhomes. There’s a common misunderstanding with gas fireplaces…maintenance. All gas fireplaces need to be maintained, even if you don’t use your gas fireplace. Q: The gas fireplace has only been used a couple of times in the past few years. Can I just use it? A: […]