Our Company Blog

We Offer A Wide Range of Chimney Services

At Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc, we specialize in all things chimney-related. This means that no matter what your chimney issue is, whether it’s a simple inspection and cleaning or a major repair job, there’s only one solution for who to call: Chim Cheroo Chimney Service. Our chimney sweeps are CSIA certified, which means that we have access to the best training and the best education in the industry. And that education is ongoing. We take advantage of the training opportunities that come available to make sure we stay on top of the industry standards and regulations. We are also members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, and take advantage of the educational opportunities they offer as well. Because of these certifications, our customers are assured of receiving the best service in the business! Read on for an explanation of some of the services we offer.

Chimney Cleaning

One of the most common things we do, and the most requested, is chimney inspection and cleaning. Because this is such a vital service, it is recommended that you have it done every year. There are three levels of chimney inspections, depending on the amount of work that needs to be done and how responsible you have been with having your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned on an annual basis. A Level One inspection is just a standard inspection, where we’ll make sure that things look like they are in good condition, make sure there are no blockages, and make sure that your creosote buildup is at less than the minimum requirement. If you have made changes to your heating system, if there may have been damage from a chimney fire or serious weather system, or if you are selling your home, we’ll do a Level Two inspection, which digs a little deeper by using video equipment to see into the interior of your chimney. If you suspect that you’ve had chimney damage, neglected the upkeep of your chimney, or believe that there may be structural damage, then you’ll need a Level Three inspection, which combines the first two levels and they may also require opening up parts of the chimney to get to that damage. We are experienced at every level of chimney inspection, and have the equipment to make the job easy!

Chimney Relining

One area of particular interest during your chimney inspection will be your chimney liner. The chimney liner plays a very important role in keeping your home safe while you’re using your fireplace. There are three important jobs that a chimney liner does. First, it protects the interior of your chimney from the corrosive effects that smoke can have on it. A correctly sized liner will make your fireplace a more efficient heating source. Lastly, a chimney liner will protect the combustibles that are next to your fireplace from the heat that might radiate through the bricks when you burn a fire. But if your chimney liner has cracks or holes, it can’t do these jobs properly. If we see that your chimney liner is in bad shape, we’ll recommend either relining it or using HeatShield, a sealant that can be used to repair specific areas of your chimney.

Leaks

We’ll also look for parts of your chimney that might be leaking. When you have water leaking down your chimney, it can weaken the bricks and mortar and cause your chimney structure to be unstable. It can also cause damage to the interior of your home, weakening your chimney tiles, causing sagging and brown spots. Your walls and floorboards can mold and weaken as well. That’s why we’ll make sure to check out the status of your chimney crown and chimney cap, making sure that the crown isn’t cracked and the cap isn’t rusted or worn. If either of these things are damaged, they may be allowing precipitation to run down your chimney. Also, we’ll make sure that your flashing isn’t torn or rusted. The flashing is the metal strips that are layered at the base of the chimney, redirecting the precipitation away from this junction and keeping water out of your home.

Tuckpointing

If we notice that the mortar between the bricks in your chimney is soft and crumbly, if there are white specks on the ground around your chimney, or if the bricks are loose in areas, we’ll recommend that we do tuckpointing. This entails picking the mortar out from between the bricks using tools specially designed for the task, then replacing that mortar with fresh, making sure that it matches the existing mortar so that your chimney looks great and is sturdy enough to last for many more years.

Any Necessary Repairs

No matter what types of chimney work your chimney needs, whether that be waterproofing, repairing your chimney crown, replacing your chimney cap, or any type of chimney rebuilds or restorations, there’s really only one question to ask yourself: when are you going to make the call to set up an appointment to have your chimney inspected and cleaned? The professionals at Chim Cheroo Chimney Service can’t wait to make sure that your chimney is in tip-top shape so that your family can enjoy nights of comfort snuggled up in front of a snapping, crackling fire.

Chimney Health Hazards You Should Know About

Building a fire in the fireplace on a cold, snowy night can be such a comfortable, cozy thing to do. Just snuggling down, watching the snow fall outside the window is a wonderful experience after a long day at work. It’s important that you’re aware of some things that could make this cozy pastime a nightmare situation.

Creosote Buildup

First of all, when you use your fireplace on a frequent basis, the inside of your chimney can become coated with the by-products. These are left when the water vapors and other chemicals in smoke condense on it: creosote. Creosote is extremely flammable, so the danger lies in a stray ember or spark floating up the chimney and setting it on fire. A chimney fire is a scary event, but sometimes a chimney fire occurs without the homeowners even being aware of it. Even if you aren’t aware of it, a chimney fire is a threatening situation because it can cause structural damage to your chimney.

If you do have structural damage, you may be in danger of dangerous gases sneaking back into your home instead of being guided out the chimney. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when you burn a fire in your fireplace, and if left undetected, can cause serious health problems such as nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, or, in extreme situations, death.

Children and Your Fireplace

If you have young children, it’s important to make sure that they are never left unattended while there is a fire burning. Don’t leave flammable items such as stuffed animals or pillows laying around too close to the fire, especially if there are young children around. If you have an upraised hearth, this often gets overlooked as a possible hazard. Young children can fall and cut their head on this; there are padded liners available which can make this a safer situation.

Another important thing to do is to make sure that your fire extinguishers are in working order. You should keep a fire extinguisher close by your fireplace, and give it a visual check every month. Look for visual signs that it has been damaged, like dents or corrosion, and make sure that the indicator on the pressure gauge is in the operating zone. Fire extinguishers should be inspected professionally yearly.

Don’t Forget the Annual Inspection!

The most important thing you can do to keep your fire-burning experience a  safe one is to have your fireplace and chimney system inspected and cleaned on an annual basis. This should be done by a CSIA certified chimney sweep company like Chim Cheroo Chimney Service. They take pride in providing quality service; your satisfaction is of the utmost importance to them. Give them a call today so that your fire-burning nights are worry-free.