Fireplace heat shields in Illinois can help the home stay warmer than without a fireplace heat shield. But why install a fireplace heat shield in the first place? Many fireplaces over time develop gaps, cracks and deteriorate over time. If you use the fireplace often and have decided that getting the chimney and fireplace cleaned […]
Chimney Efficiency Top 4 Tips for the Cooler Season
Chimney efficiency, in Illinois, is critical to keeping the house warm…after the fire has gone away. Many have asked why the room gets so cold after a warm cozy fire. Sure, part may be that you enjoy sitting close to the fireplace and you have the warmth of the fire surrounding you, and when it’s […]
Chimney Brick Repair: Before Another Storm Hits
This has been a bit of a rough summer with the rain storms and high winds. It has resulted in numerous homes needing brick chimney repair. Now, that’s not to say those with stone chimneys or chimney’s made of siding don’t need repair, because they certainly do. Let’s talk about what goes into a brick […]
Are You Moving or Buying a New Home? Then You Better Check the Chimney Liner.
The chimney liner is a vital part of the infrastructure of the home. In many municipalities in Illinois, it is required that a chimney liner be installed and in good working order to sell your home. So, before you go anywhere, let’s first talk about the chimney liner, what it does and why it’s important […]
Chimney Stories of a Christmas Past
In a meeting last week with our Certified Chimney Technicians, they began to share some of their past experiences as the Christmas holiday approaches. Some were reluctant to tell their story. Who would believe them? Will you? We’ll need to keep their names anonymous. Chimney Technician #1: It was the last chimney service appointment of […]
What is Chimney Flashing? How Do I Know When to Repair It?
The configuration of metal parts are cut, shaped and installed in the mortar joints of the chimney and sit between the roofing material and the chimney. Then caulk is used to seal the edge of the flashing to the chimney material. This provides a tight seal so water can’t get behind the flashing. However, with […]
Giving Your Old Chimney New Life
As you drive around any of the suburbs or within the City of Chicago, you will quickly find many homes that were built prior to 1960. Although older homes are beautiful and exhibit characteristics of the time, it also lacks the safety codes that are standard in newer homes built after 1960. Sadly, these codes […]
Climbing to Reach the Chimney in Spring
Although a jacket is still needed, it’s nice to be able to go for a walk and enjoy some sun and fresh air. As I take advantage of the ‘no rain’ days, I always like to look at the homes I pass to check out what types of upkeep homeowners are choosing to perform this […]
Should I Schedule a Chimney Inspection Now?
It is true that the most popular times to schedule a chimney cleaning and inspection is either in the Fall or in the Spring, after a long cold winter. However, this winter has been extra special. According the NBC Chicago, from October through January 26, we only received 8.6” of snow. As we all enjoyed […]
Thank you for a great 2020 and Happy Times Around the Fireplace
As 2020 comes to a close, we wanted to thank all the fans of the fireplace for keeping your chimney and fireplace clean, safe and fun with Superior Chimney. We appreciate your comments and responses to our numerous articles including: Looking for Options to Stay Warm? Is It Getting Hotter in the House with the […]
