Sorry Water, You’re Not Welcome Down My Chimney
This Spring and soon to be Summer season have been all about the rain. Now again, we’re getting remnants of tropical storm Cristobal (not the college football coach) merging with yet another storm. How much more of a beating can the chimney handle? We’ve talked about tuckpointing or repairing the masonry between the bricks, stone […]
Growing Green on the Chimney
Yup, we’re talking about weeds and other growing plants and undesirable plants growing directly out of and on the chimney. What are they? And is it a good idea to have decorative plants on the chimney? Here are a couple of questions we’ve received over the past couple of years. With spring coming soon, (especially […]
Winter Chimney & Fireplace Leaks
There are 2 key reasons why chimney’s leak in the winter:
Chimney Liner – Do you know if you have a chimney lining? If not, or if you are not sure, get your chimney inspected right away. If you do have a chimney liner, it may be the wrong size or it’s just seen better days. It’s best to have that inspected and taken care of.
Chimney Flashing – Water can sit in the flashing…then freeze…then thaw…then freeze again with the melted water making its way under the roof shingles and right into your home.
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, […]
Strong Storms and Chimney Leaks. Time to Get Rid of the Plastic Container.
As the rain storm came through last night, we all sat in the family room watching Harry Potter for the 50th time…and before Game 1 of the Finals. The volume was turned up a couple of times as the rain crashed against the windows. I didn’t think much of it, until I heard that dripping […]
Fireplace is Off, Summer is On & Repairs are….
As many of us begin to enjoy time off, spending time outside playing with kids, talking with neighbors and walking around the house and yard are many of our pleasures. We begin to make checklists of projects that need to be done, sometimes small and some a bit bigger than expected. Even thought this isn’t […]
Rain Storms Reminder: Need to Get the Chimney Leak Fixed
Aren’t you glad it’s spring? Wonderful flowers, green grass and lots of severe rain storms that reminds us that we didn’t get the chimney water leaks fixed from last year. What you didn’t know is that the longer you wait, the more damage to the masonry on the chimney it creates. Most homeowners don’t realize […]
A Fireplace Bedtime Routine
I absolutely love the fireplace. It’s warm, relaxing and provides a soft glowing light. I even tend to believe that it calms the kids down before going to bed. As part of their bedtime routine, they think it’s a privilege to sit on the couch and watch the fire in the fireplace. After approximately 10 minutes, […]
Have You Ever Experienced Rain in 4D?
Saturday’s rain was never ending. We pushed through and went to a friend’s house to watch an evening of college football. As the football game played on the vast flat screen right over the mantel of the fireplace, we can see and hear the rain coming down…both outside and on the TV. The severity of […]
Use It or Not… Gas Log Burning Fireplaces Still Need Swept and Inspected Annually – Same as Wood
It’s no doubt that gas log burning fireplaces have increased in popularity as there is less mess, no firewood storing and chopping, it’s just seems easier. Most homeowners think the fireplace and chimney doesn’t need maintenance or cleaning just because it is gas burning. Per the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), gas fireplaces require […]