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Now that the summer is here, chimney maintenance may be the furthest thing from your mind. Scheduling an annual chimney cleaning and inspection is crucial to protect your home from the risk of a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure. It can also protect your home from water damage caused by chimney leaks. While it may not seem like a priority, this is […]

In the unlikely event your chimney is struck by lightning during a summer thunderstorm, the one thing you don’t want to do is operate the fireplace before having the chimney thoroughly inspected.  This is because a lightning strike can cause minor damage to the chimney structure – damage that a casual observer might not be able to spot. The two key concerns with lightning are a […]

Think about your chimney and all its components right now.  Do you know the exact state of all these elements?  Do you know where damage or breakdown is starting?  What about signs of serious damage?  If you’re like most homeowners, you can’t answer each of these questions with any certainty.  So what should you do?  […]

Older homes are a pleasure to live in because of their craftsmanship and character. One of the drawbacks to older homes is that many do not meet modern building codes. If your home was built 50 years ago or earlier, it is very likely that the fireplace and chimney are not up to code. Using your fireplace without having the chimney […]

Chimney crowns, the concrete coverings that sit on the tops of chimneys, are very durable and perform well for years.  Eventually, however, even the best-made structures can begin to fail.  When a chimney crown becomes cracked or damaged, it’s important that the situation is addressed right away, before more extensive – and expensive – damage happens. The chimney crown is always part of a thorough inspection performed by […]

Here in the Indianapolis area, we know all about cold winters.  If you’re building a new home here, you’ll thank yourself many times over if you follow through with including a fine new fireplace in your construction plans.  Modern fireplaces of all types are much better than their forebears at bringing supplemental – or primary – heat to any kind of home.  Let’s take a look at the most […]

Now that spring is here, you may be ready to forget about your chimney until fall rolls around. Waiting until autumn for an annual inspection could be too late. It’s smart to take a close look at your chimney now to make sure it hasn’t been damaged from the rough winter and isn’t vulnerable to […]

A clogged chimney is a dangerous chimney.  You may be able to determine if there’s an obstruction in your chimney, or you may need a certified chimney sweep to make this determination, but in either case, a clogged chimney must be addressed immediately Blockages in chimneys most commonly result from either an excessive buildup of creosote and soot or various debris such as leaves, twigs and small […]

Are you concerned that parts of your chimney look like they are crumbling? This is a common problem for homeowners with a fireplace. In most cases, cracked bricks and crumbling mortar are a sign of spalling. Spalling is a problem for brick structures like retaining walls and chimneys. It is a symptom of water damage that has begun to deteriorate the masonry. Learning how […]

Like most devices that function through a series of parts and components, fireplaces and their chimneys usually will tell you when something’s wrong before it becomes serious.  The problem is, most homeowners don’t know exactly what to do to fix problems when they arise.  This is why we have chimney sweeps – trained, certified professionals who understand fireplace systems inside and out.  Here are five signs that tell you […]