Chimney Services Blog
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 [...]
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 [...]
Chimney Downdrafts: Signs, Causes and Fixes
Chimney downdrafts can cause your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to go off. In extreme cases, they can lead to severe health problems as they can contaminate the air you breathe. Fortunately, you can call a chimney contractor to help you figure out if you have downdraft problems and what [...]
What You Should Know About Chimney Fire
A chimney fire is dangerous and will leave you wondering when you can safely use your fireplace again. You're also probably thinking of expensive repairs that will create a dent in your budget. Don't worry because chimney fires are usually manageable. Just make sure to immediately call a reliable chimney [...]
Addressing Lint Buildup in Your Dryer Vent the Right Way
The clothes dryer is an essential part of our lives. It can be found in almost every household across the country as it has become part of the standard way of taking care of the laundry. But to ensure that the dryer keeps drying efficiently, you'll need to keep the [...]
Summer Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist for Your Chimney
With the summer season in full swing, it's the perfect time for chimney maintenance. Doing this during summer can ensure your chimney is clean, safe and ready by the time fall and winter weather sets in again. It's also better to do it sooner so that you won't have to [...]
Why Your Gas Fireplace Still Needs a Proper Chimney Cleaning
A traditional wood-burning fireplace requires regular cleaning to clear out the ash and carbon that have collected in the firebox and chimney. This can be tedious and costly at times, which is why many homeowners switch to gas fireplaces instead. But because they don't burn wood, do gas fireplaces still [...]
What’s the Difference Between Top-Sealing & Throat Dampers?
Throat dampers are pretty common and most homeowners – even those who don’t have a fireplace – are familiar with them. They are part of the fireplace, rather than the chimney, and work by keeping the chimney closed off at the bottom, keeping the house warm by shutting out the [...]
How Dryer Vent Cleaning Can Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality – if it’s not something that you think about often, you probably should. After all, it's an important but often overlooked factor to your family’s overall health. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to symptoms like headaches, difficulty in concentrating, fatigue, as well as irritation to [...]
What Is a Chimney Smoke Test and How Is It Done?
If you’re planning to reinstate a chimney that hasn’t been used in a while, or maybe you just purchased a house and would like to check how airtight the chimney is, you'll want to have a chimney smoke test done. In today’s article, your friendly team of chimney cleaning experts at Batts' [...]
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Fireplace Cracks
As a homeowner, you should always be on the lookout for cracks in your fireplace even if you only use it a few months each year. Depending on the material, cracks can be caused by different factors. If you want to keep enjoying the warmth of your fireplace while keeping [...]
What Causes Creosote Buildup?
Whenever the fireplace is used, a residue called creosote is deposited in the chimney flue or lining. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), this is a highly flammable material that can be a potential hazard and lead to a house fire. Fortunately, the buildup can be dealt with [...]
The Consequences of a Cracked Chimney Flue
Also known as a chimney liner, a chimney flue is a little-known component that serves a big role in the safety of your roofing system. Its function is so important that fire experts even recommend having the entire chimney inspected professionally at least once a year for maintenance and repair. [...]
How to Keep Chimney Swifts out of Your Chimney in Spring
Did you know that your chimney system offers an inviting nesting space for a variety of animals? Chimney swifts are a species of birds that are particularly drawn to chimneys. Unlike other birds, they build their nests on vertical surfaces, as they can't perch on trees. Every March, chimney swifts [...]
Chimney Chase Covers: A Quick Overview
Understanding the parts of your chimney and their respective functions allows you to properly maintain the entire system. One important component you should know about is the chase cover or chase pan. It is the square or rectangular piece of metal that is fitted on top of your chimney chase. [...]
What You Need to Know About Creosote Sweeping Logs
If your chimney is caked in creosote, this can be a potential fire hazard, possibly putting you and your family in danger. Since creosote can be tough to clean, soap and water may not be enough. For this reason, many homeowners use creosote sweeping logs to deal with this chimney [...]
How Water Damages Your Chimney
Water is one of the main causes of damage in different parts of your home, especially your chimney. Heavy rain and severe weather conditions can take a toll on your chimney. To avoid chimney issues from ensuing, make sure that you get it maintained and inspected regularly. (more…)
How Can You Tell If You Have a Chimney Leak?
If you live in an area with heavy downpours, your roofing system, and even your chimney could leak. You might think that you have to step outside to inspect for signs of damage. Fortunately, that isn’t the case. You can do these checks from the comfort of your living space! [...]
How to Deal With Wood Ash as Winter Ends?
Other than your HVAC system, you heavily rely on your fireplace to keep you comfy during the winter months. Since it sustains heavy use, you should have it cleaned and maintained regularly to keep it free from contaminants, such as wood ash. In this post, Batts' Chimney Services, the leading chimney [...]
