We love our fireplaces. The warmth of the fireplace during the Fall, Winter and into part of Spring is nice and cozy. However, when the temperatures begin to rise, we’re ready to open the windows and enjoy the warmth of the outdoors. However, we get so excited that sometimes we forget to clean up the […]
The Best Of…
Did you even wonder which chimney articles were fan favorites? Okay, I was wondering what everyone thought. I reviewed articles from the past few years and here’s the most popular. Everyone loves a bit of humor. We had plenty of those. Take a look at the Top 7. The One that Got Away…with Encouragement Plenty […]
Aftermath of a Wind and Rain Storm on a Chimney
The wind and rain storm was a short burst, but it left quite a mess in its path. At first glance, tree branches were everywhere. The entire front and back yards, including the sidewalk and driveway were littered with tree branches and leaves of all sizes. The next day, I decided to go for a […]
Top 3 Reasons to Sweep Your Chimney & Fireplace in July
This week is going to be hot and dry. Two perfect reasons to not think about your fireplace and chimney. Since there is low humidity, the smells coming from the fireplace will be minimal…of course until later this week when humidity levels rise again. It’s been dry, and again a low chance for rain this […]
Gas & Woodburning Fireplace Smells
It’s that time of year again when humidity is high and so are the smells. Wood burning fireplaces as well as gas fireplaces can produce a musty smell, dusty smell or even a smokey smell. If you usually get a chimney sweep or a fireplace cleaning in the Fall, you may want to reconsider. Working […]
Look Up at the Chimney
Today’s going to be a pretty nice day. While you clean up the yard for a bit of spring cleaning, be sure to check out your chimney. It’ll be bright enough outside to get a good look. What are you looking for? Mortar that’s missing between the bricks or stone Any cracks in the mortar […]
If the Musty Smell Isn’t Socks…What Is It?
Fall is a great time to watch college football. We get together with friends, whom all went to different schools, taking turns hosting. Happily, it was not our turn. We all settled into our favorite watching spots. One person is a pacer, one sits VERY close to the flat screen, a couple on the floor, […]
Top 3 Chimney Problems to Watch for in Summer
Chimney problems can occur all year long. Just because it’s summer, and you’re not using the chimney doesn’t mean all is well. On Saturday, we went to some friend’s house for a barbeque. I must say it was wonderful, as everyone brought some great dishes. It’s a single-story home with a very well attended backyard. […]
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: […]
Summer Rain, High Humidity & the Smell of the Fireplace
This week was glorious! The kids are back in school and life can resemble normalcy again. To get school started, parents get to visit the teachers. As I do every year, I park my car in a friend’s driveway and we walk together across the street to parent’s night. Afterwards, we head back to her […]
