by Billy Sweet | Mar 27, 2019 | chimney sweep
It takes a lot of effort, training, and experience to get to be the best in any industry. While we put in our fair share of work at Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we have to put credit where it’s due. A lot of our success is because of the great communities we have served for over 30 years. The communities of Boston, North Shore, and Portland are unique in their own right, are saturated with American history, and have the best of both worlds–big city necessities and small-town values. Once you visit, you’ll want to stay!
Boston
To talk about your Boston chimney and hearth supplies, you may want to call our Boston office at 617-469-4528. For everything else Boston, you have to see it to believe it! This beautiful community has the finest museums, the oldest architecture, and the best of New England food, festivities, and features for all.
Local Eats – You can dine in jeans or black-tie and still get the best Boston has to offer. Stop in at Neptune Oyster for clam chowder, fresh fish, and more. Visit Fenway Park and walk in the same halls as Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. Relive the iconic Revolutionary act with a tour of Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. If you newly reside in the area, scope out your favorite parks to picnic and play. Boston is a great family city, whether visiting or relocating. We even have dog parks for Rover!
North Shore
With all the big-city feel of Boston, but all the small town wonder of ivy, our North Shore communities boast history and culture as well as shore life. Explore the haunting true stories of those lost with a visit to the Witch Trials Memorial and Salem Witch Museum. Take the family on a learning experience at various area farms and finish with some fun at a trampoline park or recreation area. Danvers and North Shore area boast a variety of global cuisine, as well as American style soups and sandwiches, and fine Italian as well. You’ll never get stuck in a rut with all the options you’ll find here.
Portland
The unique location of Portland makes it wholly unique to the rest of Maine. In terms of weather, Portland is a few weeks behind Boston, and a few weeks ahead of Northern Maine. You can find small businesses throughout the area, even downtown Portland, and as much seafood as you can possibly eat. The area has a variety of neighborhoods and communities, great for families, singles, students, and professionals. We love to work with all types of home and business owners, and Portland is full of life!
If you reside in any of our service areas and haven’t ventured out of the house all winter, now is a great time! The weather is getting more mild by the day, and depending on where you live, spring may be visiting before you know it.
While you are planning your spring outings, don’t forget to also plan your chimney and vent maintenance. Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep specializes in historical chimneys and winter damage — both commonly seen in our area of New England. We can help you this spring.
Call one of our offices to schedule with us today.
Boston: 617-469-4528
North Shore: 781-593-2333
Portland: 207-773-7933
by Billy Sweet | Mar 19, 2019
Warm Your Home With a Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert or Stove It’s no secret that having a wood-burning fireplace insert or stove in your home can up its value, increase your enjoyment and comfort, and reduce your home heating bills. But what makes wood such a popular...
by Billy Sweet | Feb 5, 2019 | CSIA Certification
Your chimney may be the most important system in your house. It’s built to outlast your home and to continue working for a lifetime. However, it will not last without routine services and minor repairs. Your warmth, safety, and home depends upon it. You don’t only need professional services to keep your chimney in the best shape possible, but you also need to choose the right professionals. Anyone with a brush can call themselves a chimney sweep, but it takes certifications, insurance and ethics to have the standards to safely care for your chimney system.
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps
Since the 1980s the Chimney Safety Institute of America has been the national standard for chimney professionals and service in the US. CSIA certified chimney sweeps (CCS) have been trained in the field and the classroom to provide the best services possible. They are educated and tested over national fire safety codes, industry standards, chimney and fire science. Once certification is reached, CSIA certified chimney sweeps must continue education through re-certification or continuing education credits every three years.
Why A CSIA Certification Matters to Homeowners
The CSIA is a non-profit organization governed by volunteer who are experts in the industry. Their mission includes public and professional education with a commitment to the elimination of residential fires, carbon monoxide intrusion, and other chimney-related hazards to protect homeowners. By hiring a CSIA certified sweep, you are relying on a technician who has proven their technical expertise and dedication to safety as well as the promise to follow a code of ethics.
Code of Ethics
We understand it can be difficult to entrust your home and your safety with strangers. That is why all CSIA certified chimney sweeps abide by a stringent Code of Ethics which protects homeowners from scams. A CSIA member found in violation of this code may have their certification revoked. Without a code of ethics to follow, unqualified chimney sweeps scam homeowners with low estimate repair costs that will not fix the problem or they charge high prices for incorrect work just to make extra money.
At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, we want to only offer the best to our customers, friends, family, and neighbors. Residential fires and industry scams are a disappointment to us and other certified professionals across the US. Scams are possible only due to the lack of regulations. One woman paid over $4,000 for repairs that were done incorrectly. This is no isolated incident. Hiring amateurs, handymen, and other unlicensed contractors to work on your chimney can mean wasted money and a dangerous chimney. The result can cause damage to the house, or worse–loss of life.
The best use of your money and our time is to schedule routine maintenance so that major repairs are avoiding. Schedule an annual chimney inspection to catch problems before minor problems turn into major work. Hiring professionals for all of your diagnostics, repairs, annual services, and installations means the best for your home.
If you reside in the Boston, Portland, or North Shore area, call Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep for your comprehensive chimney care.
by Billy Sweet | Feb 4, 2019
What Should You Look for When Hiring a Chimney Sweep? Chimney sweeping isn’t a federally regulated industry, so unfortunately, anyone can buy a couple of tools and brushes and say that they’re qualified. But hiring the wrong team for the job can be a costly mistake. A...
by Billy Sweet | Jan 16, 2019 | wood burning fireplace
January is the coldest month of the year for our customers and for much of the US. Many homeowners buy a home with a fireplace or have a fire unit installed for the ambiance. Others buy them specifically for supplemental heat, depending on fires throughout winter for zone heating and to lower the cost of utilities. You can too, but it’s important to use your fire properly for best results.
Burn Proper Fuel
Your wood-burning fireplace or unit should only burn properly-seasoned firewood. That means the wood has been cut to length and stored for 3-6 months before being burned. This time allows for the water in the living tree to dry and burn more completely. Burning wet, fresh, or “green” wood will make it difficult to light a fire. The wood will burn incompletely and produce more creosote and soot which will drop efficiency, cause dangerous buildup, and cause odors. When you burn green firewood you will burn more than twice the amount of wood to reach a desired temperature, and you will spend more time and money on chimney maintenance to boot!
Signs Your Wood is Ready
Your wood is not ready to burn when cut, but you can store it until it’s seasoned. Many homeowners don’t have their own accessible wood supply to cut from, but you can still buy seasoned firewood. All you have to do is find a local supplier who sells seasoned firewood at a reasonable price. Check the wood before you burn it, and make sure you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for.
Signs your firewood is seasoned:
- The wood flesh is dull in color.
- The bark pulls away from the wood.
- Cracks form along the edges of the wood.
- Wood is light in weight compared to freshly cut.
- Two pieces produce a hollow sound when hit together.
Correct Use and Maintenance
Part of keeping your chimney and fireplace working properly and lasting a lifetime is using it correctly and maintaining it properly. You should schedule regular chimney sweeps and annual inspections to help determine needs and repairs for your system. Your professional can also notify you of too much residue in the system which may be caused by what type of wood you’re burning, how you’re using your damper, and your burning practices.
- Never let your fire smolder.
- Never light a fire in a cold chimney without priming first
- Never close your damper while a fire is burning.
- Never burn clothing, trash, or leaves in your fireplace.
- Follow all the instructions of your trusted chimney professionals, and schedule all necessary appointments and services.
Schedule with us.
Our technicians are certified, our business is licensed, and our craft is exceptional. It’s our priority to bring safety and warmth to our neighbors and customers, starting with you. Call 617-469-4528 or schedule online.
