by Billy Sweet | Aug 25, 2014 | Chimney Maintenance, chimney sweep
Now that summertime is coming to a close and the kids have returned to school, we can enjoy shift into fall. The time of year filled with changing colors, crunchy leaves and pumpkin carving has begun, in addition to the promise of cooler weather. While the first few days of fall might warm up in remembrance of a sizzling summer, the weather will eventually cool off. Before you know it, snow will cover the ground in the midst of a furious New England winter.
Usually, now is when everyone shuts off the central air conditioning and opens the windows to keep everyone comfortable in the house. For many, starting up the fireplace is a passing thought in the back of their mind, but sooner or later the time will come to build that first fire. These same people who fail to remember their fireplaces until high time must battle the busiest season to find a service person who is free to inspect and clean their chimney.
Instead of rushing right before your holiday get-together to have your chimney cleaned, schedule a date for regular maintenance now. Starting in fall, the chimney cleaning services are swamped, and it lasts through the holidays. Many companies book up several weeks in advance at this time, and as the weeks go by and the temperature drops, any snow and ice may make it impossible to get on the roof anyway.
Call Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep today to make an appointment to have your chimney swept and inspected. Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep works out of Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and the Portland, Maine area.
This business provides reasonably priced chimney sweeping services in addition to inspections that meet the most up to date codes set by the National Fire Protection Association. Along with each inspection, Billy Sweet offers a courtesy video scanning of the inside of your chimney with Chim-scan products. You receive a comprehensive overview of the condition of your chimney with this closed circuit video inspection, and it aids you in making the right decision on repairs and updates.
You should have your fireplace and chimney inspected once every year, but especially if you recently moved into a new house, your fireplace has been inactive for an extended time or if you have run into any problems with the fireplace. The freeze-thaw cycle of a New England winter and any water leaks into the masonry may result in structural harm to the chimney, which needs to be inspected annually. If a fireplace has lay dormant for some time, such as since it was used last winter, pests like birds may have made a home of the chimney and created an obstructed vent. Lighting a fire in a fireplace with a clogged vent poses serious risks to your house and family.
With summer wrapping up and fireplace time quickly approaching, right now is the best time to make your chimney sweep and inspection appointment with Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep.
by Billy Sweet | May 28, 2014 | Chimney Maintenance
Stop the growth of molds in your chimney by simply preventing water from intruding inside of it. Have your chimney waterproofed.
What is fuzzy and always found in places where it doesn’t need to be? No, not your family pet, but mold. Mold is extremely dangerous and can grow anywhere. Too often homeowners learn that mold is a problem in their home, and could have been prevented with proper maintenance. However, if it is found in time, it can be removed. To learn more about keeping your chimney mold free, call the experts at Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep. These guys can help with sweeps, inspections, and many other fireplace needs!
What is chimney mold?
The mold found inside of your chimney grows the same as any other type of mold you know of. Mold can grow in less than two days from a spot of standing water. If chimney mold is left long enough, it can spread into the foundation of your home. Because mold comes in a variety of textures and colors, you may not notice it when you see it. This is why it is important to have a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified professional come do your annual sweep and inspection.
How do you get rid of chimney mold?
Once you find out where the mold has begun to grow, you can begin to remove it. Chimney technicians will start by checking for cracks in the chimney’s structure and where flue precipitation collects. They will also do a controlled water test where they spray water on the chimney in increments so they can see where it absorbs. If your flashing has become damaged, there can also be water leaks. Flashing is the group of metal strips that form layers where the chimney and roof meet. Overtime, this can become loose, but can be repaired by your technician.
Even though you can technically remove a spot of mold less than three square feet by yourself, it is still recommended that you call a technician for safety. If it is not removed properly, it can continue to spread. Also, it can cause severe rashes if it comes into contact with your skin.
How can you prevent mold from growing in my chimney in the future?
You cannot prevent mold from growing completely, but you can reduce the chances by having your unit waterproofed. Your technician can have this done in a day if you only need one coat. However, if you live in a wet area, it is often recommended that you have two. This should be done on a dry day for the sealant to have top performance.
by Billy Sweet | May 10, 2014 | Chimney Maintenance, Fire Safety
Your chimney liner protects the exterior of your chimney wall from excessive heat. Over the life of your chimney, your liner may need repair or to be replaced.
by Billy Sweet | Mar 5, 2014 | Chimney Maintenance
When the weather warms up, we tend to put our fireplaces and chimney systems out of mind. But before you shut your flue for the season, figuratively and literally, it’s beneficial to consider some spring chimney services that’ll help your chimney come back around to the cold months in the best shape possible.
It’s Springtime! Time to enjoy warm sunny days and let your chimney rest after enduring those cold grueling months of hard labor. Give it some spring chimney care.
So here’s something of a Spring Chimney Care Checklist to go over as your thoughts turn to T-shirts and garden blooms:
Spring Chimney Care Checklist From Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep
Ensure A Clean Chimney And A Non-stinky Spring
If you used your wood-burning fireplace all fall and winter, you doubtlessly have creosote built up in your flue. That’s just part of the equation with burning wood: You get heat, light and creosote. Some folks figure it’s best to just wait until next winter to get the chimney swept, since they’re less concerned about safety and fire hazards when not using the fireplace. But we can make some pretty strong arguments for the benefits of making a chimney sweeping appointment part of your spring chimney care checklist.
First, you’re getting that work done before the busy season, so you’ll have more options in terms of scheduling an appointment with Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep technicians, and most likely a faster turnaround time, too.
More than that, though, you’ll be improving the air in your home all spring and summer. Creosote build-up is one of the most common contributors to a stinky chimney. Creosote has a strong musty smell, and as the temperature and humidity rises, that smell can get stronger. So a spring-cleaned chimney, beyond being ready for winter ahead of time, makes your spring and summer that much more pleasant.
Check For Roof-related Damage
We all know that winter weather can take a toll on our roof, as well as the flashing where the chimney meets the roofline. Before we get into spring rains, it’s good to be aware of any flashing damage, since even something as small as caulking coming off can lead to a chimney leak.
Make Sure Animals Haven’t Moved In, And That They Won’t Be Able To
Some animals — including federally protected chimney swifts — are known for nesting in chimneys during the off-season. And when animals nest in your chimney, they bring along sounds, smells and debris that you certainly don’t want there. Inspecting your flue for nesting animals or signs of nesting animals is a smart thing to do. Preventing nesting animals, by having a quality chimney cap installed, is an even smarter thing to do.
Prep Your Masonry For Moisture
Moisture is, was and always will be the worst friend your chimney has. And during the wetter months, moisture gets a chance to give besting your chimney system’s defenses its all. There’s a lot you can do, though, to protect your system against moisture intrusion, including having Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep inspect your chimney crown and your flashing and having us apply a strong waterproofing sealant to protect your masonry.
You Can Get Through This Spring Chimney Checklist With Billy Sweet’s Help
You can get all of this spring chimney care accomplished — and more — by scheduling a chimney inspection and chimney sweeping appointment with Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep. During an inspection, we’ll check the system bottom to top and let you know if any problems are preventing your chimney from being protected and prepared for the next heating season. Just give us a call to schedule an appointment!
by Billy Sweet | Jul 31, 2013 | Chimney Maintenance, Wood Stove
There is nothing like waiting until the last minute to get your wood-burning stove ready for winter. The scrambling around to find the card of last guy that came out and inspected and swept it; trying to remember if that was a year ago or two years ago?
Don’t stress, plan – Boston MA – Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep
Seeing if the wood left over from last year is still okay to burn and discovering it has gotten wet and mildewed — so it has to be sorted and gone through and then re-stacked. When you’re done and get a good look at the usable wood you realize you need to purchase some additional stock to get you through the winter. You call “your guy” only to find out that he only has green wood left but he will sell it to you for a good price. You tell him thanks but no thanks and call your family and friends for wood references.
After a weekend trying to find good seasoned wood for your stove you settle for the green stuff your guys has left over. Every chimney guy is booked out two to three weeks in advance and the family is wondering why the stove is not burning, but you really don’t want to start a fire yet because you just remembered you were have some kind of problem last year and probably need an inspection.
A month later, you are just now able to get a certified sweep to your house and you have had to spend money and time — neither of which you have — just to get the heat going. At this point you ask yourself; what could I have done differently? The answer is to get your wood stove ready for winter in the summer and here’s why;
- Chimney companies are traditionally slow in the summer and you will have cart blanch service.
- If your unit needs repairs, this is the time you are not counting on it for heat so it’s the best time for an inspection and needed maintenance and repairs.
- Check on your left over firewood and make sure it is stacked off the ground in a covered area or with a tarp covering the top, but not the sides.
- Purchase your firewood in the early summer so you have plenty of time to season for at least six months.
Summer REALLY IS the perfect time to be thinking about maintaining your wood stove.
