Our Company Blog

Common Fireplace Issues

If you own a fireplace, you probably have heard how important it is to have this fireplace inspected and cleaned on an annual basis. Do you know why this is such a big deal? For some people, it’s not really important to know the whats and whys, but for others, it may be very important to know what it is that a chimney inspector or sweep is looking for when he comes in to look over the chimney and fireplace. If you’ve ever wondered exactly what it is that they’ll be looking for, read on!

Creosote Buildup

If you have a wood-burning or pellet-burning heating appliance, your chimney will have a buildup of creosote lining the interior of your chimney. When you burn wood, there will be some moisture released, no matter how dry the wood is. This moisture, along with various chemicals, is released through the combustion process in the form of smoke. As the warm smoke rises it hits the cold interior of your chimney, especially near the top, where it condenses and forms a layer of black or brown, gummy or flaky, dull or shiny gunk called creosote. Creosote smells pretty bad, and the odor can actually permeate the furniture, the drapes, or the carpet of your home. Even worse, it’s very flammable, and a buildup of even as little as an eighth of an inch is enough to catch a spark and cause a chimney fire. When you call the highly qualified, CSIA certified chimney sweeps from Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc, one thing that we’ll be on the lookout for is creosote buildup.

Blockages

Another thing we’ll be on the lookout for is blockages in your chimney. There are several ways that your chimney can get a blockage. For example, your chimney makes the perfect place for animals to hide out. When birds, squirrels, even raccoons are looking for a place to raise a family, they’ll be looking for a warm, dry place that’s out of the way of winds and precipitation and predators. Your chimney is the perfect place. Trouble is, when these animals leave, they leave behind their nests and those nests can cause blockages. Also, the wind can blow-dried twigs and leaves or loose paper into your chimney and that can also cause a blockage to occur. These blockages can also catch a spark, causing a damaging chimney fire.

Although fire damage would be the major worry when it comes to both creosote buildup and blockages, both of these could also cause a restriction of the airflow into and out of your chimney. This can cause your fire to burn less efficiently, smoke to not escape out of the chimney as it should, and chemicals such as carbon monoxide to seep back into your home.

Cracked Chimney Liner

We’ll also be looking at the condition of your chimney liner. A chimney liner does exactly what the name says: it lines chimneys. It actually serves three functions. First, a properly fitted liner can help your fireplace system run more efficiently. Second, a chimney liner will protect any combustible items that are close to your fireplace from igniting from the heat of the fire you have burning. Third, it plays an important role of protecting your brick and mortar chimney from the corrosive effects of the smoke and chemicals that are released during the combustion process. If there are any cracks or dings in your chimney liner, it could mean that your fireplace is being damaged and also that the smoke that should be directed out of your chimney may be sneaking into your home. Chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and even carbon monoxide may be carried in on that smoke, and that means that your family’s health might be affected.

Pilot Light Issues

If you have a gas fireplace, it means that you have some kind of a pilot light. If your fireplace won’t ignite, it could easily be that your pilot light isn’t lit. All you need to do is open the vent and see if there is a tiny flame. If there’s no flame, that means that your pilot light has gone out and that it needs to be relit. Just follow your manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Anytime that you work with gas, special caution is recommended. You might also have an old or improperly installed thermocoupler.

There are many issues that could be going on with your burning appliance, whether it’s gas, wood-burning, or pellet-burning. No matter what the issue that you might be having, you can count on Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc to be able to offer solutions. We are Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified, which gives us access to the best training and education in the industry. For any of your heating appliance needs, give us a call soon. We’ll help you make 2020 a safe, healthy year for you and for your family.

We Carry Reputable Brands Such as Osburn and Regency

There are times when it’s fine to buy off-brand products. Store brand cereals can be just fine. If you need a watch for everyday wear, it’s probably okay to buy a discount store brand. Some people lose their sunglasses a lot, and buying several pairs of cheap sunglasses just makes sense. But there are products that it’s better to just go ahead and get the best quality available. If you want a car that’s going to last, buy quality. The same can be true for furniture or carpeting for your home. Quality lasts. At Chim Cheroo Chimney Service, we believe in carrying the top quality brands with a reputation for long-lasting durability.

Looking To Make An Upgrade?

If you’ve been thinking about making an upgrade to your fireplace, whether because your old system is looking outdated or because you’ve had problems with your current system, give us a call. Our employees have the knowledge and the experience to help you choose the right product for your home. The same is true if you’re looking to replace your old wood stove. Perhaps you don’t currently own a wood stove, but you like the idea of the supplemental heat source through a long Ohio winter. Sometimes just that little extra is needed to heat the family room while keeping the heat turned low in the rest of the house. Again, at Chim Cheroo Chimney Service, our professional staff are the people to turn to to help guide you in the decision making process.

Did you know that if your wood stove or fireplace isn’t working efficiently, creosote will build up more quickly? Creosote, that nasty substance that builds up as smoke is released from your wood fire, builds upon the interior of your chimney the more you use your fireplace or wood stove. This is an extremely flammable substance that at even as little as an eighth of an inch of buildup can catch stray embers from your fire and cause a dangerous chimney fire. If you believe that your fireplace system needs an update, give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc a call today at 419-752-2231.

Top Name Brands

At Chim Cheroo Chimney Service, we believe that only the best is good enough for our customers. We work hard to provide the best service available, and we demand the same high quality of the products we sell. That’s why we sell only the top brands, such as Osburn and Regency. Modern wood-burning appliances are so much more streamlined and efficient than old stoves were that it will pay to invest in a new system. When you combine the top-of-the-line service offered by the employees at Chim Cheroo Chimney Service with the quality of the products we sell, you can be sure that you’ll be 100% satisfied with the final look and performance of your new wood-burning appliance. Give us a call soon and you’ll enjoy warmth and comfort all winter long.