by Billy Sweet | Sep 26, 2017 | Fire Safety
House fires are deadly! Out of around 500,000 structure fires reported in 2015, there were 2,685 civilian deaths, 13,000 injuries, and $10.3 billion in property loss. House fires account for only half of total fire reports for that year. However, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), they account for 82 percent of civilian fire deaths. House fires cause the most deaths. This is because people are comfortable in their homes, they aren’t prepared for fire, and they don’t expect it.
Billy Sweet and National Fire Prevention Week
It has been our goal for over 30 years to educate our community about fire safety. This helps to prevent the loss of property and life that continues to happen each year. At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we strive to provide the best and most comprehensive chimney maintenance! During National Fire Prevention Week, we would like to stress again, how important fire prevention should be in our community!
You cannot prevent a fire 100 percent, so it’s important to BE PREPARED. You can make fire preparations many ways, and educate your family many ways. This week, there are many resources to choose from.
Be Prepared for Fire
According to the 2015 fire stats, there was a structure fire reported every 86 seconds in the US. These fires can be caused from electrical malfunction, cooking mishaps, heat appliances, and just about anything that uses energy in your home (in the modern home, that’s nearly everything). Since you cannot prevent a fire 100 percent, it’s best to prepare for the worst, because during a fire, every second counts. A few seconds of prepared escape can save you a devastating loss.
You can prepare for a fire by:
- Checking all of your smoke detectors regularly.
- Planning an escape route that includes 2 WAYS OUT.
- Teaching your family how to check a doorknob for heat.
- Teaching your family to close each door as they evacuate.
- Placing a visual of your escape route on walls inside your home.
- Plan activities with your children (visit the fire station, print out activities from the NFPA website, ask their teachers about school activities.)
Complete these things before National Fire Prevention Week, and make it a regular review at this time of year. House fires occur most during the winter months (January is the highest concentration of house fires), and they usually happen at night.
Prevent Fires at Night
Prevent overnight fires by making sure that your fire is completely out before bed. Do not leave a fire unattended. Shut off your clothes dryer. It should not be running while you are sleeping or out of the house. You cannot prevent a fire while you aren’t home. Check that the stove top and oven are switched off as well as space heaters. These types of heat appliances are not made to be left unattended, and it’s not safe to do so.
You can lower fire risk by maintaining your home properly. Keeping your dryer vent clean and safe, having electrical issues and fuel connections checked by professionals, scheduling routine chimney and fireplace maintenance = these are just a few ways to have a safer home and family!
Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep is here to answer your questions about fire prevention and safety. Call 800-248-4900 today, and ask us how we’re preventing fires in our homes and offices each day.
by Billy Sweet | Sep 12, 2017 | firewood
Winter is coming. The leaves and temperatures fall, and hopefully you have already been thinking about your fire this winter. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, insert, or stove, you need to have firewood readily available for burn season. It should be properly seasoned for safety and best results.
Why Your Wood Matters
Firewood is not created equal. The species of wood you choose to burn will determine how hot your fire is, how efficient your chimney system is, and how much wood you have to burn this winter. Check out this cool list that breaks it down by energy content per air dried cord, in BTUs. Drying your wood will mean a better fire.
Like every living plant, trees use water to grow and thrive, and this water is stored in their massive trunks, in microscopic tubes, like the arteries of a human. When a living tree is cut, it can contain up to 50 percent moisture by weight. This moisture should be dried before the wood is burned, otherwise it burns slowly, incompletely, and results in a less efficient fire. Firewood burns best when it has less than 20 percent moisture by volume.
How to Season Firewood
When firewood is cut from a tree, it should be cut and split, then stored in a loose stack so that air can circulate around the wood, and help the wood dry. This process can take as little as three months for soft woods, and up to six months for hard woods. You can tell when your wood is properly seasoned by it’s appearance.
- Your split wood should dull in color as it dries, it’s yellow meat turning a grayish hue.
- The wood should begin to crack around the sides where it was split, and around the outside where it meets the bark, called checks.
- The bark will pull away from the wood as it dries.
- Two pieces should sound hollow when hit together.
- If the wood is dry and gray or dull in color when split, it is dry throughout.
For best results when you store your wood, stack it loosely, in the sun, in a single row. Additionally, stacking the wood on a bed of gravel will allow for water runoff. Some like to store their wood in a wood shed, but a fully enclosed shed is not the best option, since it doesn’t allow for air circulation.
Purchasing Firewood
If you aren’t able to cut your own firewood, you can probably find a local source. If you buy locally, make sure your supplier is selling seasoned wood, or buy in the spring and store it for the coming winter. You should never pay for your wood before you see it, and be sure you are getting correct amount. Make sure that you get what you pay for when spending your hard-earned money for firewood.
For more information about firewood, and what you can and cannot burn in your fireplace, you can talk to a fire expert at Billy Sweep Chimney Sweep by calling 800-248-4900.
Not sure if your fireplace is ready for burn season? Maybe you have been burning green wood and need to check for creosote and soot in your chimney system. Schedule your chimney sweep online today.
by Billy Sweet | Aug 18, 2017 | HeatShield
Your chimney is designed to last, but many factors can cause it to become worn and damaged. In some cases, your chimney can require drastic repairs and even a rebuild. When damage is caught in time, it can be repaired simply, with industrial solutions that have been tested and designed for just that.
HeatShield® Cerfractory® Technology
HeatShield® combines the strength of a high fired ceramic with the heat resistance of high temperature refractory cement. This technology is long-lasting, heat resistant, and versatile. Thus, it can repair in a few ways. The material is a powder that is mixed with tap water before the job is done. Therefore, HeatShield® Cerfractory® sealant is not wasted, and costs remain low. Since it’s creation, chimney experts have been using HeatShield® to restore chimneys, using one of three systems of repair:
- Joint Repair System
This system repairs joints correctly, strengthening your chimney and restoring it to full function. When there are gaps between flue tiles, a foam applicator blade is fit for your chimney and positioned below each gap. The HeatShield® mixture is placed into the gaps by the tool and the flue is smoothed as the tool moves upward.
- Resurfacing System
What if the chimney is sound, but has cracks, spalling, and gaps in the flue? The resurfacing system restores the flue from top to bottom. The custom foam applicator is used, as it is in the joint repair. However, this time it is placed at the bottom of the flue, and hoisted upward with a wench. This tool applies a “tie coat” material to the flue walls, which cleans and primes the flue walls. After this coat dries, HeatShield® is applied, with a thickness of 1/4″ again using the foam applicator/wench system. This process is completed with a video scan to ensure the flue is restored, smoke-tight, and smooth.
- CeCure® Sleeve Relining System
Much like the resurfacing system, this system requires a custom foam applicator/wench that applies HeatShield® Cerfractory® Flue Sealant. Next a CeCure® Sleeve is lowered into the chimney and attached to the top. This sleeve is a high-density, low profile, ceramic insulation sleeve, reinforced with stainless steel fabric. It is pressed firmly into place when the foam applicator tool is pulled back down the flue. Afterwards, the job is completed when a coat of HeatShield® Cerfractory® Flue Sealant is applied on top of the sleeve. This job is checked with a video scan, and a complete relining system. This restores a damaged liner, or lines an un-lined flue. This system is appropriate for all fuel types and is long lasting.
Why HeatShield?
This technology was developed in Europe over 20 years ago. In addition, it is the top choice for chimney professionals across the United States and Europe. It is an eco-friendly choice. Also, it is as dependable and long-lasting as a stainless steel liner. It’s affordable and comes with a 20 year limited warranty.
We stand by HeatShield® products because they are the best. Here at Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we put customer safety and satisfaction first. For information about our chimney lining services ask a technician about HeatShield® today. To find out more about liners and their importance, click here. Remember that Billy Sweet is certified to get the job done right, and we can repair your flue before fall!
by Billy Sweet | Aug 4, 2017 | Chimney Maintenance
As summer winds down, the evenings become cooler and cooler until the A/C is off for good. The fall, leading into the holidays, may be the most popular for fireplaces. So start now, and you’ll be ready.
Routine Maintenance
Follow the advisement of industry professionals and have your chimney routinely swept. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also recommend annual inspections for the safest and most efficient chimney system. These appointments may be the only time throughout the year that a certified chimney sweep has access to your chimney, and can identify weaknesses, concerns, and hazards. Not sure you need an inspection? Familiarize yourself with the CSIA inspection and when to schedule yours.
Schedule Repairs NOW
You have a few more weeks to get repairs and upgrades completed before burn season starts. Scheduling necessary repairs and services now means you can avoid the fall rush. If you wait until fall, you may not get an appointment when you need one. Don’t get left in the cold. Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep offers all of our chimney services year-round because we know summer is a great time for chimney work!
Waterproofing
Your chimney is subject to weather year-round, but is especially vulnerable during the winter, when snow sits on the chimney and flashing and melts slowly. During these months, water is also subject to a freeze/thaw cycle that can damage your masonry from the inside out. Once water penetrates the masonry, it freezes, expands, melts, and repeats this process, breaking through the masonry each time. This freeze/thaw cycle causes spalling and serious water damage to the chimney interior. If left unchecked, rain will have direct access to the chimney system this spring. The best way to prevent water penetration this winter is to make sure your chimney has an effective cap, crown, and flashing – all checked during your inspection.
Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep also applies a vapor-permeable sealant for added water protection. In fact, we apply this sealant for FREE on all of our masonry repairs because we know it works, and our first priority is your safety. This waterproofing sealant protects your masonry all winter long, decreasing winter damage and preventing chimney leaks. By protecting your chimney this winter, you will have a more efficient fire and safe chimney.
Is your fireplace and chimney ready for winter? Then the only thing left to do is to prepare your fuel. Do you have a wood fireplace, insert, or stove? Then you should have already started gathering properly seasoned wood. If you are unsure about fuel, appliances, tools, or fire safety, you can contact a Billy Sweet professional now. Call 617-469-4528 or use our convenient online form.
by Billy Sweet | Jul 21, 2017 | Chimney Maintenance
Your chimney system should be in good shape to be both safe and efficient through the winter. However, if your chimney is damaged during the off-season, it can result in higher electricity bills, cause warm drafts, and even leaks and other damage in your house! The best way to protect your home and chimney from damage year-round? Schedule annual inspections. It’s at these vital appointments that a chimney expert assesses your chimney system, taking note of weaknesses and damage – often diagnosing problems before damage occurs.
Avoid The Fall Rush
If you schedule your inspection now, you will have time to make necessary repairs, preventative measures, and cosmetic changes before the fall rush. The “fall rush” refers to the months between October and January when chimney companies are busy, so it can be difficult to get an appointment. During this time chimney sweeps are busy with emergency calls and repairs. Due to the tight schedule during the fall rush, waiting to schedule your inspection can mean you don’t get the appointment time, technician, or even chimney sweep company you’d like. Don’t settle for second-best. Choose the best company and schedule today!
Allow Time For Repairs
By scheduling your chimney inspection now, you still have over two months to complete necessary repairs before cold weather returns. It’s a nuisance to make repairs during burn season. This is because you can’t light a fire safely until repairs are made. Efficiency will be down, and fire and health risk will be up.
Get your inspection, chimney sweep, and repairs completed during the off season! Then you can rest assure knowing your fireplace and chimney is ready for fall. In addition, you don’t have to worry about an unexpected issue. This is because our technician will diagnose and assess any potential hazards in the system and deal with them, before burn season. Making necessary repairs before the fall means you don’t have to dip into holiday shopping funds for chimney repairs. When you schedule your inspection during the summer, you also have more time to come up with the money for any necessary repairs.
Preventative Measures
The sooner you have your chimney system cleaned and inspected, the sooner you can close it out for summer. If you haven’t done this already, you need to! First schedule a chimney sweep and inspection with your trusted and certified chimney expert. Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep offers both services, paying attention to the likely problem areas. When our technician is finished with your chimney, it won’t be accessible to critters, won’t stink, and will be ready for fall in a few short months.
For more information about preventative measures that can prolong your chimney’s life, click here. We are always looking to help our customers stay safe in Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Portland, Maine. Find out how we can help you by calling now. Speak to an expert by dialing 617-469-4528 or schedule an appointment using our online scheduling tool.
