Every once in a while I get a customer who has a fireplace in an older home, often time a beautiful unit, but they are struggling to get it working. Try as they might, they just can not get it to work properly. Often the reason is clear, and there is in fact nothing wrong with the fireplace, the fuel or even the way they are attemptign to light it. THe problem is often the huse, yes the huse! Owners won't understand, as it is the original huse. Foregetting that the house as it was built has been changed. Original fireplaces were built into older homes which generally were poorly sealed and had air leaks everywhere, allowing the fire to get a good draft easily. Due to conservation efforts and the desire to save money, often prompted by grants, the homes were sealed and insulated making them tighter and tighter. While these tighter homes may be easier to heat, they often exhibit other problems such as poor indoor air quality and the inability to easily light a wood burning system. You see the contractors generally do not understand the chimney physics, nor even think about them and therefore make no provisions for that aspect of the home. These problems can be exaggerated by bathroom and kitchen fans, which again were not part of the original home design. Other problems may be changes to the actual chimney over the years, although this is not as common a problem. Of course it is also possible that there is a problem inside the chimney, which a WETT Certified Chimney Sweep can help find. Call a Certified Chimney Sweep today, but remember the problem may be in your home!
Do you shop locally? That mean buying in Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay. That means avoiding the trips to Barrie and Orillia. That means avoiding the temptation to shop online! Oh it is hard.. but look at the local multiplier shown on the ShopMidland site.. and it is accurate. Shop at local Canadian owned stores!! Yes, YOU can help!
The sun is still shining and the days are nice and warm. But autumn and cooler weather is on the way. Remember to get your chimney cleaned by a Certified Chimney Sweep! Chimneys need to be clean to work properly and to perform safely. A blocked or defective chimney can cause both chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings. Ensure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Protect yourself and family!! The sun is still shining and the days are nice and warm. But autumn and cooler weather is on the way. Remember to get your chimney cleaned by a Certified Chimney Sweep!
Your local fire department will thank you for having the due diligence and common sense to have your chimney cleaned. Chimneys need to be clean to work properly and to perform safely. A regular cleaning removes soot and creosote and will help prevent dangerous chimney fires. All chimneys and flues need to be regularly cleaned and checked to ensure they’re free from debris and in full working order. A blocked or defective chimney can cause both chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings. In fact the Ontario Fire Code mandates an annual inspection and cleaning if necessary. Also ensure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to protect yourself and family in the event of a worst case situation! At least one smoke alarm on each level and test monthly!
Cleaning or sweeping frequency will depend on a number of factors, including type of fuel, appliance used, duration of use, moisture content of wood fuel and type of chimney. Wood generally should be cleaned at least once a year but experts say this can be up to four times a year depending again on several factors. The fire service say if you are in doubt, ask and don’t use any chimney related appliance until you are sure it is safe.
Chimney Cleaning: More than just a simple sweep! The venting system in all wood burning systems must be cleaned as often as necessary, the Ontario Fire Code states 2mm of deposits requires cleaning. While some are more frequent than others, generally a wood-heating appliance must be cleaned out at least once a year. The chimney connected a stove or fireplace that only has fires lit for the Holidays or on Valentine’s Day is no exception, since it is still an inviting spot for birds and other critters looking for a somewhere to build a nest. If you burn more than five or six cords of wood per year, you need to plan for an extra sweep at mid-season. But chimney cleaning is more than simply pushing a brush down the chimney, much more. The wood stove insides must be disassembled and removed to properly clean the system and ensure safety into the next burning season. The older style brushes are satisfactory to do the job, but just that.. satisfactory. The newer and more scientifically designed power sweeping tools do a much better job and any professional sweep should be using them! The so-called chimney cleaning logs and similar products available on the market are in no way a substitute for proper sweeping with a brush. At best, these products will make the job easier by drying out and loosening the soot and creosote on the chimney walls by releasing chemicals which helps to remove the hard glazed creosote deposits. It is now getting down to the deadline.. if you have not yet cleaned your chimney this year it is now time to call and book the cleaning! https://rawchimney.com
