Chimney

February 13, 2024

Phillip Batts

DIY Chimney Maintenance: Tips from a Professional Chimney Sweep

As professional chimney sweeps with years of experience, we often encounter homeowners eager to maintain their chimneys themselves. While certain tasks require professional expertise, there are several maintenance steps homeowners can undertake to ensure the safety and efficiency of their chimney. Here's a short DIY guide to chimney maintenance. Regular [...]

February 2, 2024

Phillip Batts

Choosing the Right Wood for Your Fireplace

Choosing the right wood for your fireplace is essential for safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Here's a helpful guide: Hardwoods vs. Softwoods Hardwoods like oak, ash, and maple are denser and heavier, offering a longer burn time and more heat output. They are ideal for your fireplace because they produce [...]

January 16, 2024

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Why Regular Chimney Cleaning is Crucial

The cold winter months beckon us towards crackling fires and cozy evenings under blankets. But the warmth and charm of a fireplace come with a hidden responsibility: chimney maintenance. Just like your car needs an oil change, your chimney requires regular cleaning to function safely and efficiently. While DIY options [...]

April 25, 2023

Phillip Batts

How Vital Are Chimney Liners?

The chimney liner serves as an integral, albeit often overlooked, tool in maintaining the integrity of a chimney. While not all homes require it, it should be considered if yours does need one. Without a functioning and up-to-date liner, repairs could cost far more than installing one in the first [...]

April 11, 2023

Phillip Batts

Is Installing a Chimney Cap Necessary?

A chimney cap not only adds a charming, rustic look to your home or business; it is also an important tool for ensuring the efficiency of the structure's fireplaces and other heating systems. Local chimney cleaning specialist Batts' Chimney Services explains the benefits of having chimney caps installed. (more…)

March 24, 2023

Phillip Batts

How to Spring-Clean Your Chimney and Fireplace

Spring is an excellent time for deep cleaning and freshening your home. A place that you should remember during the spring-cleaning season is the chimney and fireplace. Fireplace and chimney cleaning help to maintain cleanliness and safely use these structures year after year. In this blog post, we discuss why it's essential [...]

March 17, 2023

Phillip Batts

A Crash Course on Creosote

Creosote is common to all wood-burning systems. However, not all homeowners are aware of what it is, what its effects are, and how to prevent its buildup. This blog post offers a crash course on creosote, including learning about the different stages of creosote accumulation and steps for preventing further [...]

March 10, 2023

Phillip Batts

4 Common Causes of Chimney Damage

Chimneys and fireplaces can add a cozy atmosphere to your home, but they have certain risks. You need regular maintenance to avoid fire damage or costly chimney repair. In this post, we cover four of the most common causes of chimney damage so you can prevent them and keep your home [...]

January 27, 2023

Phillip Batts

How to Build a Fire in a Fireplace Properly

Fireplaces provide much-needed warmth during the cold winter months. The hearth can also provide an aesthetically-pleasing focal point to your home if the fire is built properly. In this post, Batts' Chimney Services will walk you through the proper way to build a fire in your fireplace. (more…)

January 19, 2023

Phillip Batts

What Causes Crumbling Chimney Masonry?

The condition of the masonry surrounding your chimney can have an impact on its functionality and life span, so it's important to be aware of its causes. Batts' Chimney Services takes a look at the common reasons why chimney masonry can crumble and what solutions are available to keep yours [...]

November 17, 2022

Phillip Batts

What Is Chimney Repointing?

If you have an old chimney, you've probably had someone recommend having it repointed. In today's post, Batts' Chimney Services shares a quick guide to what you need to know about chimney repointing. (more…)

November 10, 2022

Phillip Batts

4 Tips on Making Your Fireplace Burn More Efficiently

A fireplace is a great alternative heating system for your home and can improve your home's aesthetics, but it is not as efficient as a whole-home system like a furnace. However, there are a few things that you can do to improve a fireplace's efficiency. Read on as Batts' Chimney [...]

November 3, 2022

Phillip Batts

How to Get Bats Out of Your Chimney

Bats find shelter in dark and warm spaces where they feel secure and protected. Unfortunately, chimneys are among these spaces. However, letting them stay in your chimney can result in bat urine and droppings accumulating inside, leading to odors and contaminated runoff, and may even mean bats getting into your [...]

October 26, 2022

Phillip Batts

What You Need to Know About Chimney Stains

Chimney discoloration doesn't only ruin the appearance of your chimney but also indicates serious problems. Once you notice stains around your chimney, it's best to call a professional right away to check for hidden issues in your fireplace.  (more…)

October 19, 2022

Phillip Batts

Firewood Storage: Do’s and Don’ts

The way you stack and store your firewood can either cause you problems or save you from them. This is especially true if you have a wood-burning stove or wood-burning fire pit. It's crucial to store your firewood properly. Incorrect firewood storage can lead to infestations, mold growth and other [...]

October 12, 2022

Phillip Batts

4 Tips on Preparing for a Chimney Sweep

Regular maintenance is crucial to your chimney's performance and safety. In addition to annual chimney inspections, routine chimney cleaning is needed to ensure your home is safe. Dirty chimneys can cause various problems and hazards, including fires.  (more…)

September 29, 2022

Phillip Batts

How to Tell if Your Chimney Needs Urgent Repair

Your chimney is built to withstand extreme temperatures from the cold weather and your fireplace. This kind of wear and tear takes a toll over time, causing your chimney to eventually need repair. Unfortunately, you cannot always see the damage from the ground. Sometimes, issues are difficult to detect, causing [...]

September 23, 2022

Phillip Batts

4 Ways to Remove a Bird’s Nest From Your Chimney

A bird's nest in your chimney is dangerous because it blocks the top of the flue and traps hazardous carbon monoxide and other harmful fumes from combustion. Moreover, birds and other animals can affect the airflow and the structure of your chimney, which can present more problems.  (more…)

August 18, 2022

Phillip Batts

How Often Does Your Chimney Need Cleaning?

The chimney is one of the many features that homeowners tend to overlook. After all, it's not particularly easy to check whether it needs sweeping. Your fireplace may look clean, but your chimney may not be.  If you have a dirty chimney, harmful gases may linger in your home. In [...]

August 3, 2022

Phillip Batts

Should You Clean Your Chimney on Your Own?

If your chimney could use a good cleaning, you might think that doing it yourself is a cost-effective solution. Inspecting your chimney may be doable, such as checking to see if the chimney damper is open, but cleaning it is best left to a professional. Remember, your chimney is full [...]