chimney maintenance

April 18, 2023

Phillip Batts

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Its Biggest Benefits

Dryer vent cleaning is an integral part of maintaining your home. Not only does it keep your appliances functioning correctly, but it can also benefit your family's safety and help save you money over time. This blog post will discuss the five benefits of scheduling regular dryer vent cleaning. (more…)

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…)

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 [...]

July 20, 2022

Phillip Batts

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 [...]

April 11, 2022

Phillip Batts

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 [...]

March 16, 2022

Phillip Batts

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 [...]

March 2, 2022

Phillip Batts

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 [...]

December 2, 2021

Phillip Batts

How Often Should I Have My Chimney Inspected?

Chimney inspection is a critical part of home maintenance. Typically, it is recommended to be done at least once a year, especially if you use your fireplace regularly. Nevertheless, even if you rarely use your fireplace or stove, it’s still best to schedule chimney cleaning and inspection every year. (more…)

November 4, 2021

Phillip Batts

How to Get Rid of Animals In Your Chimney

Animals tend to seek warmth during the cold winter months, making your chimney look like prime real estate for them. This is especially true for birds and rodents. Unfortunately, even if you’re an animal lover, these animals can wreak havoc on your chimney if they’re left there alone for too [...]

September 23, 2021

Phillip Batts

3 Chimney Tips for Homeowners With a Fireplace

A beautiful home is an absolutely thrilling asset to have, especially when there is a new fireplace to create an ambiance and warm up with during the frosty winter months. It’s very important, however, to make sure it’s in the perfect condition to light a fire. Otherwise, an innocent chimney [...]

September 2, 2021

Phillip Batts

The Importance of a Chimney Cap

A chimney cap, also called a flue top cover, is a metal structure located at the peak of the chimney. It comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and finishes to match the chimney and the rest of the exterior. In this article, chimney sweep Batts’ Chimney Services reveals the reasons [...]

August 24, 2021

Phillip Batts

How to Hire the Right Chimney Sweep

Proper care and maintenance of your chimneys, wood stoves and fireplaces can help protect you from unnecessary fires and carbon monoxide poisonings. When trying to hire someone to clean your fireplace chimney, you may run into some issues, not knowing where to start. The details can often be overwhelming. (more…)

August 10, 2021

Phillip Batts

What to Do If Your Chimney Gets Struck by Lightning

More than 20 million lightning strikes are detected annually by the National Lightning Detection System (NDLS). A bolt of lightning packs a powerful punch. The electrostatic discharge can contain 100 million to 1 billion volts of electricity. The energy can heat the air around it to 50,000°F for a short [...]