The Story of a Man in a Top Hat
Did you know that in Europe, the person who does a chimney cleaning and inspection wears a full suit with a top hat? Yes, in this very year, chimney sweeps still dress like this! Over one hundred years ago, chimney sweeps were revered for their work. The legend has it that in 1066, King William […]
Prepare Your Home for the Cold and Snow: Why Chimney Maintenance Matters
There’s nothing quite like curling up by the fireplace on a frosty evening, watching snowflakes drift past the window. As the crisp fall air turns icy and the ground becomes blanketed in snow, it’s the perfect time to prepare your home for the winter months ahead. One essential task? Ensuring your chimney is swept and […]
Time to Dust Off the Fireplace with a Chimney Sweep
Whether you have a gas or wood burning fireplace, cobwebs, dust, and debris gather in the chimney and the fireplace. A customer had shared a story of their gas fireplace. There was a chill in the air, and the couple decided it would be nice to turn on the gas fireplace, relax and watch some […]
Checking for Chimney Leaks
“Why are we talking about chimney leaks when it has been so dry?” “No need to worry about water leaks from the chimney, all looks good in the house so far.” These are two statements that have been going through everyone’s minds. No rain, no problems, so therefore there must be no issues! Is it […]
Can You Pass the Chimney Inspection This Year?
It’s summertime in the Chicagoland area! The birds are out, making nests in chimneys, rain soaking into the bricks, heat and humidity wearing away slowly on the outside of your chimney. As the sun beats down on the chimney cap, you might notice some small bits of rust tucked away underneath the cap’s edges and […]
A Smelly House… After Spring Cleaning?
Worried about removing the fireplace smell this year? Once you’ve finished with scrubbing your home from top to bottom, you might have noticed a strange smell still coming from around your fireplace. It can be a strong or subtle odor that seems impossible to get rid of! Maybe you’ve tried to put some baking powder […]
Beat The New Year’s Freeze
Now that the new year has begun, the freezing cold months loom ahead, and your chimney is in need of a fireplace sweep. Maybe Santa Claus made a mess of soot when he came down the chimney, or there’s a few unnoticed cookie crumbs in the hearth! Humor aside, the daunting days of below 0 […]
What Does 3 Levels of Fireplace Inspection Mean
Fireplace inspection? Who wants to think about a fireplace inspection in the summer? Well, without a fireplace inspection, your home is at risk for serious damage regardless if you have a wood burning or gas fireplace. This damage can be as minor as replacing mortar or as big as rebuilding the chimney. An annual inspection […]
Do I Need to Clean a Gas Fireplace?
Is it necessary to clean gas fireplace in Illinois? It’s intuitive that the dark black buildup of combustion needs to be cleaned from a typical wood burning fireplace, but is it needed to clean a gas fireplace? It’s gas…right? Gas fireplaces do not have a visible buildup of combustion, but should be cleaned at least […]
Top 5 Reasons for a Spring Chimney Cleaning
It is now spring in Chicagoland, which means it’s the perfect time to call Superior Chimney for your spring chimney cleaning! Spring is the perfect time to clean your home from top to bottom. Many choose to do it in correlation with the changing weather. After staying home all winter, it feels refreshing to go […]