How often does a chimney need to be cleaned?
The National Fire Protection Agency recommends a yearly inspection and cleaning and repairs done as necessary.
The general rule of thumb would be after burning approximately 1 cord of wood or every 2-3 years if you do not burn that much wood.
Before you light a fire after the long summer it is always a good idea to have your chimney inspected. Creosote is not the only thing we look for. Birds could have built a nest, debris could have falling down the chimney, and mortar joints in your box could be cracked in need of repair. These are just to name a few items Chimney Doctor will look for in the inspection process.
Can I burn artificial logs in my fireplace?
Convenience is their strong suit when you want a quick fire. Usually they should be burned only one at a time and only in an open fireplace. Once they are burning, one should be careful about poking them and moving them around since they may break up and the fire may get a bit out of control. Be sure to carefully read the directions on the package.
They do produce creosote in the chimney which must be cleaned out, they are basically made of sawdust, glue and chemicals.
What about firewood?
Firewood is an area where you can have great influence over how well your system performs and how enjoyable your experience will be. Quality, well seasoned firewood will help your fireplace burn cleaner and more efficiently, while green or wet wood can cause smoking problems, odor problems, rapid creosote buildup and possibly even dangerous chimney fires.
Below are some examples of indicators of properly seasoned wood.
Color - Should have a dull grayness color with dark ends.
Bark - A sure sign is when the bark is falling off the wood 3 firewood pictures.
Cracks - Begins to split on the ends and displays cracks.
Touch - It is much lighter to pick up.
Sound - Makes a clear clunk when two pieces are hit together.
Your wood should be cut 6 months to a year before burning.
A “standard cord” of wood measures 4′ high by 4′ wide by 8′ long.
A “face cord or rick” of wood is 4′ high by 8′ long and is as wide as the firewood pieces.
On average a 16″ wide face cord or rick is equal to one-third of a standard cord.
Always store your wood away from the home and on a rack, to deter bugs and moisture.
Never burn construction scraps, painted & stained wood or railroad ties, they release toxins.
Artificial logs are made up of sawdust, glue and chemicals which still produces creosote.
How do you clean a chimney without making a mess?
A drop cloth is set up in front of the fireplace to place all of our equipment on. We use extension rods and several types of specialty brushes designed for your type of fireplace. The unit is swept thoroughly from the bottom up and if roof access allows we will then sweep from the top down.
The key element to the process is our highly specialized high-volume vacuum cleaner called a “Soot Sweeper.” This is a very clean and efficient process with no dust or debris getting into your home.
We offer an” Absolute, No Mess Cleaning” with our state-of-the-art equipment and tools. A chimney cleaning always includes a visual inspection over the unit to make sure your fireplace is visibly sound.