by Billy Sweet | May 10, 2018 | North Shore Info
Home is where the hearth is.
Many would say the fireplace is the heart of the home. It’s definitely the focal point of most homes, and we strive to bring this magic into every home in and around North Shore–our home.
All About North Shore
It’s listed as one of the prettiest coastal areas in New England, and for good reason. Among the coastal villages and towns, you will find scenic beaches and vista points, moderate populations, and plenty to do! North Shore offers the perfect combination of big-city-availability, natural land, and living history.
Things to Do
Whether you’ve just moved to the area, or your vacationing on our North Shore, you can find a variety of fun and surprising things to do.
Explore
Sale aboard a schooner, fish in the open water, climb one of our functioning or historic lighthouses. You can learn more about and enjoy the schooner life by visiting Maritime Gloucester during business hours. Even residents who have long-called North Shore their home, have not seen all there is to see until they’ve seen microscopic sea creatures through a microscope, or held a sea star in their hands.
Dine Out
There are many fantastic restaurants in our community with great reviews, but you have to plan ahead for the one with the highest praise–high above the city, that is. Dine at the TOP of a lighthouse by reserving your space at the top of the Newburyport Lighthouse. The meals are catered by a chosen restaurant from nearby and planned ahead of time, and spaces fill up fast, so make sure you make your reservation now.
Sing on the Beach
You don’t have to do the singing when you walk the Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. This unique beach is covered in sand that squeaks when you walk on it. You will have the most fun on Singing Beach if you arrive early, or visit during the off-season! It may be the perfect outing on a cool day.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
If you’re in Essex, you probably drive past antique shops that you might have never known were there! Along Route 133 in Essex, there are THIRTY antique shops, and you can find various opportunities throughout downtown areas, boardwalks, and shopping centers.
If you’re in the area of North Shore, we’re probably neighbors! We know all about our community, right down to the local safety codes. We know and work with contractors in the area, and we do our best to offer the best services to our community year after year.
The Importance of Chimney Maintenance in New England
The harsh winters that can befall our community is one thing to consider. Another is the coastal air. The minerals (salt) that come from the ocean water, deposit onto homes and chimneys throughout our service area. This air is corrosive and can lead to chimney damage if they are not properly maintained.
Contact Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep today so that we can get started helping you.
by Billy Sweet | Apr 13, 2018 | Leaky Chimney
The problem with a chimney leak is as simple as 1, 2, 3.
1. It ruins your chimney.
2. It ruins your house.
3. It costs you money.
The good news is that chimney leaks are 100 percent preventable. With routine maintenance and annual inspections, your trusted chimney professional will spot a problem before it turns into a leak.
Signs You Have a Leak
Some signs are less noticeable than others. The average homeowner will overlook a chimney leak simply because the affected portion of the chimney is hidden from view. This is why it’s important to hire a certified chimney sweep to clean, inspect, and repair your chimney system.
- Sounds of dripping or visual evidence of dripping in the chimney
- Discoloration of interior or exterior masonry
- Smells of mildew or staleness
- A leak in any part of the house
Even if you don’t see signs on or in the chimney itself, a leak in another part of the house is an indication of a chimney leak. When water is allowed into the home by way of the chimney, it can run for several feet before it stops at the lowest point and forms a leak. This may be several rooms away from the chimney! If you have a leak in any part of your home, call your chimney sweep first. A contractor or handyman may repair the damage, but will not find the cause, because only a chimney professional knows where to look and diagnose the problem.
Let Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep Have a Look
At Billy Sweet, we offer chimney inspections, sweeps, and repairs year-round. You can call today, and we’ll send a technician out to diagnose your chimney problem. The first thing we’ll check is the flashing. Flashing is a collection of thin metal sheets placed along the intersection of chimney and roof to shed water away from this weak point. Oftentimes the flashing is installed incorrectly, has shifted due to weather or animal tampering, or is just worn out. The process of installing flashing is meticulous and must be done by an experienced professional. If your flashing is installed incorrectly, placed incorrectly according to the roof slant or roofing material, or if nails or seams are exposed, it will eventually leak. These types of issues could be identified during a chimney inspection, however, which is why it’s important to schedule one annually.
Other factors that may cause a chimney leak include a faulty, damaged, or missing cap or a cracked or spalling crown. At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep we install chimney caps, repair and replace chimney crowns, and offer waterproofing services to prevent leaks.
You can schedule waterproofing services now and ensure your chimney is protected from spring showers, summer storms, and a full winter ahead. Don’t let the weather affect your chimney any longer. Schedule services today to have your leak diagnosed and repaired.
Call 617-469-4528 today.
by Billy Sweet | Mar 12, 2018 | Chimney Service
If you’re looking for chimney services in the Boston, Northshore, and Portland areas, look no further than Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep. We’ve been servicing New England chimneys for over thirty years, and we’re proud to offer the highest quality of workmanship and customer service to all of our customers here in Massachusetts and Maine; offering service to Boston Massachusetts, Portland Maine, the North Shore, and surrounding areas.
If you live near us, and you aren’t certain we’ll cover you, call and talk with an associate today. It’s our goal that every family, home, and business is safe and warm winter after winter. That standard starts with chimney maintenance.
Our Portland Location
At Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep we don’t schedule teams to drive out and service Portland area. We actually have a location in Portland, Maine, and we continuously service Portland and surrounding areas and towns. Our Portland service area reaches as far north as New Gloucester, as far west as Limerick, as far east as Brunswick, and as far south as Biddeford.
Still not sure if we’ve got you covered? Check out our Portland service area page and find your city, town, or zip code. If you are close, but not listed, give us a call today.
Offering Expert Services in Portland, Maine
It’s no small thing to offer chimney services in Portland, Maine. Winters in this area can be harsh. We often see winter damage this time of year, and it’s important that inspections and repairs are completed before the next burn season. We don’t just do the bare minimum at Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep. When you call us for your chimney sweeps, inspections, and repairs, you get our full attention and comprehensive chimney care for the life of your chimney.
When you schedule with us, you will have CSIA certified chimney sweeps completing services according to CSIA standards, as well as state and local codes. Our sweeps live in the area, know the area, and understand the standards in the area. We’ll show up in uniform with company trucks, wear ID tags stating our name and company, and will show your home, family, or business courtesy and professionalism every step of the way.
Hiring Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep also means you’re part of the Billy Sweet family. This means you can expect 24-hour emergency services, speedy responses, and guaranteed work at the price and time you were quoted.
Let us help you stay safe this year. Schedule services now, and you can rest assured that your chimney is safe and efficient. Schedule services this spring, and you can be sure your chimney is ready for next burn season. Don’t stress! Let us handle the mess.
If you’re in Portland, Maine or surrounding areas, call our Portland location today at 207-773-7933 or request an appointment online.
by Billy Sweet | Feb 28, 2018 | Smoke Chamber
The smoke chamber is an important part of the fireplace and chimney system, because it helps the smoke find its way up the flue. The space where you see the fire burning is the firebox. The smoke rises up, and the next place you see it is the top of the flue. No one sees what goes on behind the scenes, but just above the firebox and below the flue is the smoke chamber, which is essential for an efficient chimney.
The Smoke Chamber’s Job
The smoke chamber consists of a slanted wall to direct the smoke up, and a shelf, called a smoke shelf, that keeps the smoke from falling back into the firebox. While the smoke is in the smoke chamber, the hot air, gases, and smoke mix together before rising up the chimney. Since heat rises, it assists the rest of the smoke in pushing up the chimney.
Maintaining the Smoke Chamber
Just like the rest of the chimney system, the smoke chamber should be maintained in order to be safe and efficient over time. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the smoke chamber should be parged smooth with a refractory insulated mortar mix, which directs the air across a smooth surface, while protecting the masonry from high heat. Even if your smoke chamber has never been parged, you can likely restore it to code compliance by scheduling a smoke chamber parge.
If you have an older fireplace, your smoke chamber may have tiered brick steps that form the smoke chamber. This may have worked for years, but it is far less efficient than a smoothly parged wall. The multiple joints and bricks of a non-parged smoke chamber can allow soot and creosote buildup. This slows air, making the rest of the chimney less efficient.
Hire a Professional
You don’t have to hire a master mason to parge your smoke chamber, but it’s definitely to your benefit to hire a certified chimney sweep. Billy Sweet Chimney Sweeps are CSIA-certified and experienced in restoring chimney systems to proper function. Whether your smoke chamber needs a simple repair, or if it’s never been parged before, we’ll take care of your chimney, and you’ll be surprised with how well it works. Parging the smoke chamber raises efficiency, generates less heat lost up the chimney, and requires fewer chimney sweeps than other systems. A more efficient system means less likelihood of a flue fire, less wood wasted to reach the desired temperature, and less necessary maintenance.
If you have not had your chimney inspected in the last 12 months, now is the time to do so. You may need to have your chimney cleaned, parts replaced, or your smoke chamber may need to be parged. Without scheduling an appointment with a chimney expert, you will never know.
Contact Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep today. Call 617-469-4528 or schedule an appointment online.
by Billy Sweet | Feb 12, 2018 | Fireplace Ashes
If you burn wood in a fireplace, insert, or stove, you probably have your fair share of ashes to deal with. If you don’t remove the ashes regularly, you probably have a mess on your hands. Ashes are a necessary product of wood heat. It accumulates fast, can be a pain, and can even affect the way your fireplace works. What can you do with all those ashes?
Remove Ashes Regularly
Ashes will build up in your fireplace, insert, or stove fairly quickly if you don’t remove them regularly—especially if you burn a fire every day. You should clean the firebox of ashes before it accumulates higher than your hot coals. Once the ashes get this high, it can interfere with lighting a fire, can fall out of the fireplace, can crowd your firebox, and prevent you from adding enough wood to reach the desired temperature.
Remove Ashes Safely
You should use appropriate tools to remove ashes because ashes may be hot for several hours even after the fire goes out. You can purchase fireplace accessories and tools at a local home improvement store that are manufactured for safety and strength. Use a long-handled shovel to scoop ashes from the firebox, and dispose of them in a metal bucket. Along with your tools for ash removal, you can also buy long, leather gloves to protect your hands and wrists from high temperatures. Some may also need to wear a face mask to protect from ash inhalation. Carry the bucket out of the house and allow to cool at least five feet from the house. Many homeowners choose to store ashes in a larger container such as a metal trash can with a lid, to use later.
Ways to Use Wood Ash
Make sure you leave some ash in your firebox (at least ¼ inch), because it insulates the bottom. The rest can be stored and used as you see fit.
- Add ashes to your garden to change the acidity of the soil. You can test your soil with the help of your local co-op or university extension office, then you will know how much ash to add.
- Mix ashes and water to polish silver, clean ovens, pans, and more.
- Pour ashes on sidewalks and driveways to prevent slips during icy weather.
- Use ashes to clean up oil spills in your garage, carport, or driveway.
- Sprinkle ashes around the outside of your garden and in between rows to deter bugs and slugs.
- Dust ashes into the coats of pets to neutralize odors (especially helpful after a skunk attack).
- Use the ashes to make lye which can be used to make homemade soap.
Know Your System
You may have a built-in ash disposal system in your fireplace. Many older model homes with a traditional, masonry fireplace have an ash dump—a hole in the fireplace where ashes can be dropped and disposed of safely. This ash dump should be cleaned by a professional chimney sweep regularly. The experts at the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommend cleaning your entire system of ash at the end of burn season. Keeping your chimney system clean by scheduling regular chimney sweeps will prevent damage and trouble during the summer like smells and drafts.
Call Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep at 617-469-4528 now, and schedule your chimney maintenance.
