by Billy Sweet | Oct 9, 2019 | National Chimney Safety Week
Fall is the best time to educate homeowners and the general public about chimney safety because winter is when most fires happen. It’s when you’re using your fireplace or furnace to heat your home that disaster can happen, especially when the chimney isn’t maintained properly. In order for our friends and neighbors in the Boston, North Shore, and Portland area to have safe and efficient fires this burn season, we offer services to keep the chimney working properly and lasting year after year. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is doing its part to make the public aware of chimney risk and safety by planning and promoting National Chimney Safety Week each year.
Safe Chimneys Mean Safe Communities
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and CSIA agree that the safest and most efficient chimneys are those that are cleaned regularly and inspected annually. When a chimney is clean, the air flows more easily, allowing smoke to vent properly. When this process works efficiently, there is less fire risk and less damage to the property and less frequent injuries and deaths due to fire. We believe that even one chimney fire is too many, and we offer comprehensive chimney services year-round to insure that chimneys in our communities are safer. When chimneys and fire appliances are safer, that means our communities are safer. Homeowners in New England count on Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep and have for over 30 years. With a company that puts safety first, makes education and certification a priority, and who offer the highest level of professionalism in the industry, it’s easy to choose Billy Sweet for safer chimneys.
Safer Chimneys Mean Fire Prevention
CSIA has scheduled National Chimney Safety Week for September 29th through October 5th—one week before NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week and National Chimney Safety Week go hand-in-hand. Fire Prevention Week, running October 6th through 12th is a time for communities to raise awareness about fire prevention and fire preparedness. Not all fires can be prevented, but a little bit of preparation can save lives in the event of a fire. Chimney Safety Week is all about preventing fires, and Fire Prevention Week is all about living through fires!
Fires can occur in more than just chimneys. You can experience an accidental fire in a dorm, hotel or motel, apartment, high-rise condo, manufactured homes, and more. The best way to protect your family and home is to use NFPA’s public education tip safety tip sheets available online. In addition to keeping the chimney, fireplace, furnace, and other heating systems like the dryer maintained properly, it’s important to take other important measures. Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Plan an escape and practice it monthly. Pay attention to problems with your heat systems and alarms. If you’re not sure that your chimney system is working properly, call in the professionals!
Call Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep at 617-469-4528 or request an appointment online to service your chimney and make sure it’s as safe as possible.
by Billy Sweet | Sep 25, 2019 | HeatShield
When it comes to chimneys, it is our personal and professional goal to make sure all of our customers are safe and comfortable this winter. We strive to further this goal by providing expert services to maintain and restore chimney systems to safety and efficiency. One of the most common services that older chimneys require at least once in their lifetime is a flue liner repair or replacement. At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we trust HeatShield for liner repairs—big and small.
HeatShield Meets Industry and Environmental Standards
In over 20 years, HeatShield has revolutionized the chimney industry with products that protect and last. HeatShield Cerfractory technology is a specially formulated hybrid that combines ceramic and refractory materials to safeguard against heat, moisture, and corrosion in the chimney system. HeatShield Cerfractory Flue Sealant has stood up to lab testing, is rated “super-Duty” by the American Society for Testing and Materials, and surpasses all fire safety codes set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Residential Code (IRC). This product is approved for all fuel types, which means you won’t need to convert the liner if you convert fuel types in the future. On top of every other great benefit of using HeatShield products to fix your chimney, HeatShield is also considered eco-friendly, made from recycled and natural products at a lower cost than alternatives that are less “green”.
HeatShield Installers are Expert Installers
Independent HeatShield Installers are selected, trained, and certified as HeatShield installers. It is not a program you can pay your way into, but one you earn. Our technicians have factory training and tools designed specifically for HeatShield products. Armed with the right knowledge, experience, and tools to get the job done, we can repair your liner whether you have small joint damage or need a major relining.
HeatShield Repairs
Using HeatShield Cerfractory Flue Sealant, we are able to repair joints, missing mortar tiles, and more. We simply cut and place a custom foam applicator blade beneath the damaged portion of the flue, then attach the blade to a winch at the top of the flue opening. HeatShield product is then mixed from powder, placed into the blade, and deposited into the gaps and cracks as the blade is pulled upward. This process can be repeated for however much damage is present, however, if the damage is extensive, the flue may need to be completely resurfaced.
A resurfacing application uses the same process, but the applicator blade starts at the bottom of the flue and is pulled up to the top, surfacing the whole flue with HeatShield Cerfractory Flue Sealant. Once the entire flue is coated, we use cameras to verify the repairs are made properly.
CeCure Sleeve Relining
In serious cases of flue liner damage, or when no liner is present at all, we can reline the flue with a CeCure Sleeve: thin, ceramic insulation, reinforced with stainless steel fabric. The sleeve is sandwiched between two coats of HeatShield Cerfractory Sealant, creating a long-lasting liner, safe for all fuel types.
HeatShield is the easiest and most cost-effective solution for flue restoration. Professionals are so sure about HeatShield that it comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Really! Ask your chimney professional today.
You can have your liner repaired or relined today by calling Billy Sweet at 617-469-4528.
by Billy Sweet | Sep 11, 2019 | Certified chimney sweep
Homeowners often spend the spring season completing maintenance and cleaning. However, if you didn’t include your chimney in your spring cleaning, it needs to be done before fall. Your chimney has been working for you, now you can return the favor by hiring a certified professional for the job. Don’t settle for an amateur. Schedule chimney services with a certified chimney sweep now, and your system will be ready for fires again this fall.
Hiring the Best
The chimney industry has been largely under-regulated for many years, but that doesn’t mean you have to hire just anyone for the job. When you’re looking to hire an expert who will come into your home and complete a service, it’s best to look only for professionals who have undergone training and testing that identifies them as exceptional. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has an extensive process that involves classroom or online education, in-person testing over federal standards and fire safety, recertification every three years, a stringent Code of ethics, and an impressive network of professionals. When you’re looking for the best, look no further than CSIA certified chimney sweeps.
Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep
At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep our sweeps are CSIA certified. That means we pledge to put safety first. We strive to offer honest services at a fair price. We comply with all applicable building codes and are familiar with all the municipal codes in the communities we serve. We educate consumers about safe chimney and venting practices. Our sweeps continue education in order to stay on top of the ever-changing industry and technologies. These things and more are included in the CSIA code of ethics, which if found in violation, can lead to revocation of membership.
30 Years of Experience Serving New England
For over 30 years, Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep has been servicing chimneys in New England. We provide the highest level of customer service and care to our customers in Boston, North Shore, and Scarborough. If you reside in the area and are looking to schedule chimney services, don’t settle for less than the best. Our record speaks for itself, but our customers speak up as well with online reviews and continued service. We are proud to serve our communities year after year, and we feel our community involvement helps make us the best providers in the area.
Scheduling Now Before Fall
If you schedule now, you can have your chimney sweep completed before fall. When you’re looking for a chimney professional, look no further than a Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep. We offer chimney sweeps and inspections year-round, but especially necessary in the fall. If you schedule your inspection or sweep now, there is still time to make necessary repairs before fall. If you wait, you may find yourself in the cold, unable to light a fire when temperatures drop.
Call Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep to schedule your chimney services now. Dial 617-469-4528 or schedule online.
by Billy Sweet | Aug 28, 2019 | Waterproofing
Of all the things that can shorten the life of a perfectly good chimney, water is the worst. Not only does water wreak havoc on masonry—the very substance your chimney is made of—but it is everywhere. Water comes in different forms all year round. When temperatures fall, water in the chimney is even worse. Fortunately for our customers with masonry chimneys, there is something we can do to prevent water damage during all seasons, and year after year.
Water and Your Chimney
Because of the materials that make up masonry, water is best avoided. The porous nature of masonry is perfect for venting your fires, allowing smoke, gas, and heat to release through the brick and mortar. This also allows water in through the masonry—unless it’s prevented. At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we recommend preventing chimney leaks before damage occurs.
Your chimney leak can lead to:
- Rusted parts and assemblies
- Tilted/collapsed/settled chimney
- Cracked/damaged flue liner
- Deteriorated central heat
- Clogged clean-out system
- Rotting adjacent wood/wall coverings
- Water stained bricks/walls
In addition to physical damage, your leaky chimney may also result in a drop in efficiency. A drop in efficiency means a rise in fire risk, putting your home and your family at risk.
Prevent Leaks From the Top Down
In order for your chimney to be truly waterproof, it must have all the necessary parts installed and in proper working order. The first thing we check when we get a call about a leaky chimney is the flashing. It is often improperly installed and a common point of water entry. The chimney must also have a chimney cap and crown to shed water from the top of the chimney.
Once all these components are in place, we can take it one step further by waterproofing the masonry itself. Our waterproofing agent is vapor-permeable which means the heat and gas produced by your fire will still be able to escape but water molecules will not be allowed in. This barrier penetrates deeply into the masonry so even cracks and gaps are protected from water penetration—and this protection lasts ten years!
When to Schedule Waterproofing
If you have never had your chimney masonry waterproofed or it has been more than a decade, it’s time to schedule this important appointment. Other water repellants and sealants from your local hardware store are not enough. In fact, most of them do more harm than good. Most sealants and repellants may keep water out, but also seal gases and moisture IN. This leads to a host of other problems. Let our team at Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep do the job, and get it right the first time.
We also install chimney caps, repair and install flashing, replace throat dampers with new, top-sealing dampers with an airtight seal, and repair and seal damaged crowns.
Don’t wait. Have your chimney waterproofed now, and you won’t have to worry about the water freezing in your masonry this winter. Worry about the rest of your summer, and leave the chimney up to us!
Call our Boston, North Shore, or Portland location today.
by Billy Sweet | Aug 14, 2019 | Chimney Repair
There are many things that can go wrong with your masonry chimney over the years, and water is your chimney’s number one enemy. No matter how well-your chimney is constructed, time and weather can lead to damage called spalling. Many homes experience spalling, though not all homeowners know what it’s called, how to identify it, or what to do about it. At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we can help!
Spalling Masonry
When mortars crack, flake, and fall away, the bricks can become unstable and even loosen completely. This is called spalling, and it can eventually result in crumbling brick and mortar, which can become a serious hazard if you don’t address it timely. If you notice cracking mortar, gapped masonry, or brick pieces on the roof or yard below, you need to call a certified professional right away to address the proper repairs.
Repairing Spalling Masonry
The only way to properly repair spalling masonry is by carefully removing the affected bricks and mortar. A certified chimney sweep will mix new mortar to match the old mortar in strength, consistency, and color. This step is extremely important because failing to match the mortar exactly will result in a weak chimney. Once the mortar is mixed, the bricks are replaced and the result is a fully restored chimney that shows no evidence of a repair.
When the job is done improperly, it can detract from the look of the chimney and decrease your home’s value. This entire process is called tuckpointing or repointing. Only certified professionals should do it, and most amateurs don’t have the proper skills to do it. When you’re scheduling these important services, it’s important to choose chimney experts who have plenty of experience and knowledge of all types of masonry.
Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep Fixes Masonry
No matter the size of your chimney or the type of stone, we can help repair it. At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we have the experience and the technique to get even the toughest jobs done. We know which materials to use and how so that your chimney will expand and contract as necessary. Do you think your chimney masonry needs some attention? Schedule a chimney inspection with our team so that your system is safe and ready for fall.
In addition to tuckpointing, we also repair crowns, flue liners, and leaks. Our team of expert technicians doesn’t just repair damage; we correct the problem that caused the damage in the first place. In order to prevent such damage before it starts, we also offer waterproofing services for all masonry structures.
Our vapor-permeable water repellent allows the chimney to breathe while keeping water molecules from getting through. This product penetrates deeply into the masonry, protecting it and preventing water leaks year after year. Don’t just repair masonry damage, let us help you prevent it. Call Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep at 617-469-4528 or request an appointment online.
