Our Company Blog

It’s Time to Invest in Your Firebox

January is the time of new beginnings and new resolutions. Many times these resolutions deal with health issues, such as eating more nutritious food or exercising more. Others might have to do with your work, such as putting in a few extra hours a week to catch the boss’s eye and earn that promotion. Or maybe you’re finally going to tackle that redecorating project that you’ve been putting off for the past several years. One thing is certain, there’s no time like the present to get those projects going. Another thing you should be seriously considering is making sure that your fireplace and chimney system has been properly cleaned and maintained. That’s where Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc comes in. We can make sure that your chimney is clean and polished and running efficiently.

What We’ll Do

There are many different things that we’ll be looking for when we come over to clean your chimney. First, we’ll check the exterior and make sure that the brick and mortar structure of your chimney is in good shape and that the chimney crown and chimney cap aren’t cracked or damaged. This is important because if these areas aren’t in great shape, it could be causing leaking which could cause the interior of your chimney and your home to be damaged. We’ll also check the interior of the chimney for blockages and creosote buildup, which could be fire hazards. We’ll make sure that the chimney flue liner isn’t showing signs of wear and tear and that your dampers aren’t rusted and still maintain a tight seal.

Firebox Repair and Replacement

Another thing we’ll be checking out is your firebox. The firebox is the part of your fireplace where you actually build the fire, which makes it a vital piece of your fireplace system. Because it is the area that gets the full impact of the heat, it needs to be able to withstand the temperature without breaking down. Over time, however, because the joints are undergoing continual expansion and contraction, the joints will begin to break down. In order to make sure that the fire is properly contained, you need to make sure that the joints are in a good state of repair . In time, however, you will need to look at replacing your firebox. If your firebox breaks down, you risk having the fire drop through into the ash dump, and then you’ll be looking at major, expensive repairs.

Call Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc

When it’s time to look into replacing or repairing your firebox, the company to call is definitely Chim Cheroo Chimney Service We know how important it is to keep your chimney and fireplace system in a good state of repair so that you can enjoy many safe, cozy nights in front of your beautiful fireplace. Let us show you how great our service and repairs are. Give us a call today!

Firebox Deterioration

There are so many parts to your fireplace. There’s the ash dump, which lies under the hearth. Then the damper, which is usually located at the base of the smoke chamber. There’s the flue, which helps direct the smoke up and out of your house. Not to mention the crown, which helps keep rain, birds, raccoons, and leaves out of your chimney. However, the part of your chimney that takes most of the abuse is the firebox. This is where the fire actually burns, so it takes a lot of heat!

Firebox Deterioration

The firebox is where the fire directly sits. So, it’s relatively obvious that deterioration will take place more rapidly here than in the rest of your fireplace. Since it’s being heated up and cooled down frequently, expansion and contraction are occurring on a regular basis. This expansion and contraction can cause special stress to the joints, causing them to fail. Also, there is a special type of mortar that should be used in the firebox, refractory mortar. Refractory mortar is specially designed to take extra heat, but contractors haven’t always used this. Why? Simply because building codes haven’t, until recently, been changed to require it’s use in fireboxes. If this isn’t used, your firebox is even more susceptible to rapid deterioration!

Another thing that can cause real problems for your firebox is your chimney crown, or lack thereof. The chimney crown keeps rain and snow out of your chimney. So, when it’s cracked or non-existent, the rain can come in and sit on the smoke shelf. It will then mix with soot to form an acid slurry – and that is trouble for your mortar joints. If your joints break down, there’s no guarantee that the fire will stay contained!

If the refractory panels of your firebox are cracked, it’s important to have them replaced as well. There really is no way to repair these, and they play an important role in keeping toxic gases from entering your home. Unfortunately carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. This means you may not even notice the leakage, until you or your family members are suffering from the effects of breathing it in. Left unchecked, carbon monoxide can cause serious health effects, or even death!

Annual Inspection

Call Chim Cheroo Chimney Service to schedule your annual inspection. In doing so, you are ensuring that your chimney and fireplace system will be receiving a top-level inspection – right down to the firebox! They are highly trained professionals who know what to look for when it comes to firebox deterioration. They’ll check out the joints and the base of the firebox, as well as the refractory panels. Additionally, checking all the other parts to make sure that it is safe for your fire building needs. Plus, they will give you advice on any necessary rebuilds or repairs. They can take care of all of your chimney and fireplace cleaning and repairs; leaving you confident that your family will be safe and sound through another autumn and winter of burning fires in your fireplace.