How Do I Know if I Need a Chimney Liner?
Chimney liners are an investment. No doubt. And most homeowners are willing to forego using their fireplace so they don’t need to pay for a new chimney liner. It’s a bit more complicated than that. Let’s talk about what a chimney liner is, how to know if you need one and what are some of […]
A Flammable Chimney
A chimney without a chimney liner (firewall) or a damaged chimney liner is in need of a chimney liner replacement. Take a brief walk around your neighborhood and look to the very top of each home’s chimney. Do you notice any black smears covering the bricks? It looks like someone spilled a can of black […]
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 […]
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 […]
5 Ways Chimney Leaks Can Happen Even If You Never Use the Fireplace
Chimney leak? “What do you mean? I don’t use my fireplace.” There are many homeowners that simply don’t use their fireplace. However, they do a great job of decorating all around it. Just because you don’t use the fireplace doesn’t mean that chimney leaks can’t form. Here are 5 ways chimney leaks form even if […]
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 […]
The Chimney Vents More than the Used, or Unused, Fireplace
As a homeowner, you’ve come to realize that if you have a fireplace, the smoke needs to go somewhere, and preferably not in your home. Smoke or gases from your gas fireplace or woodburning fireplace goes up the chimney and out of the home. Have you thought about where or how the exhaust from your […]
Do I Really Need to Clean the Chimney…Again?
The air conditioner cover is on, the furnace filter has been changed…now what am I forgetting? Ah, that’s right. Get the chimney sweep done. Do I really need to sweep the chimney this year? I use a gas fireplace. I don’t need to get it swept…right? Gas fireplaces are a great convenience as they can […]
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 […]
What Does a Chimney Liner do? And Do I Need a Chimney Liner.
Since our last article, “Top 3 Reasons to Sweep Your Chimney & Fireplace in July”, we’ve had several questions regarding chimney liners. What are chimney liners? What is the function of a chimney liner? How to identify if the chimney liner needs replacing? If you have a gas fireplace, a wood burning fireplace or just […]
