Old Smokey's Fireplace & Chimney's Blog

Fall is fast approaching don’t wait to book an appointment

Late summer and early fall are a great time to be outdoors and enjoy the balmy weather with the ones we love. It is also a great time to get your home ready for the cold winter months ahead. When winterizing your home, it is important to also get your fireplace and chimney ready for heavy use. Being proactive and getting your chimney and fireplace service needs taken care of now, instead of when it gets cooler out, has its advantages. At Old Smokey’s, we think now is a great time to book an appointment for your annual chimney inspection and we’d like to tell you why.

Beat the rush

When cold weather comes in, people naturally start using their fireplaces again for the fall and winter. With this usually comes an onslaught of chimney inspection and maintenance needs. Because of this, we here at Old Smokey’s become incredibly busy with service calls and inspections. Although we would still be able to squeeze you in our schedule this time of year, it may be more difficult to meet up at a time that is most convenient for you. However, if you schedule your annual inspection now, you should be able to beat the fall rush and get a timeslot that works best for you.

Catch issues early

Another reason to schedule now is to catch problems early. Although your fireplace and chimney were probably working fine the last time you used it, a lot of things happened over the spring and summer that could cause issues for your chimney. One of the biggest issues we come across is debris falling in and animal nesting in the chimney over the summer. Blockages are a big deal and can cause issues with airflow and can also be a fire hazard. If there were any severe storms or flooding in the spring or summer, there could also be structural damage to your chimney which would require a higher level of inspection. If we catch any issues during an inspection, they will need to be repaired. If you schedule your inspection now, it can give us some time to repair any issues before cold weather sets in.

CSIA Certified

The most important thing you need to consider when selecting chimney sweep is to decide on someone who is experienced, safety-oriented, and puts customer needs above anything else. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is an organization dedicated to certifying chimney sweeps based off of these considerations. The CSIA certifies chimney sweeps through rigorous training and testing on the latest ventilation and chimney maintenance and safety techniques. We here at Old Smokey’s require that all our chimney sweeps become certified. That way, you know you are getting the best service available.

Now is a great time to schedule a chimney inspection! Beat the fall rush and call Old Smokey’s today to have one of our CSIA certified chimney sweeps inspect your chimney. If you live in northern Indiana, northern Ohio, or mid-Michigan region, you can reach us at 800-876-6539 or 260-587-9691, or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!

Scheduling Tips As Fall Approaches

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost coming to an end and soon it will be time for decorating pumpkins, raking leaves, and watching the trees change to their autumn foliage. Fall also brings cooler weather, which means it will soon be time for cuddling around the warmth of a glowing fire with loved ones. However, you want to be sure that your fireplace is ready to use when you need it. If you wait until the last minute or until a problem arises to schedule a chimney inspection or maintenance appointment, it may be a little more difficult to schedule a time-slot that best fits your schedule. At Old Smokey’s, we want to give you some tips on scheduling a chimney inspection and maintenance appointment for the fall. By following these tips, we can help save you time and headaches of waiting until the last minute.

When should I schedule a chimney inspection or cleaning?

Although you may be a few weeks away from regular fireplace use, now is one of the best times to schedule a chimney inspection. When cold weather starts to set in, there are a lot of people trying to use their fireplace, all at the same time. Naturally, problems that may have occurred and gone unnoticed during warmer months may start to show up when people build a fire for the first time. This means that we get a lot of calls in a short period of time for maintenance issues. This means our schedule time-slots fill up very quickly during these times making it difficult to schedule at a time that fit your schedule best.

The great thing about chimney inspections and cleanings is that they can be done at any time of the year. This means that you don’t have to wait until the fall rush to schedule an appointment. Being proactive and scheduling a chimney inspection or cleaning during the summer will make it a lot easier to schedule a time that is more convenient for you. Scheduling in summer also has a couple of added benefits. First, if there are any issues discovered that need to be addressed, there is plenty of time to get them taken care of. Second, you can be sure that your fireplace will be ready to use the first time you need it when cooler weather sets in.

What are some summer chimney issues?

You may think “my chimney was working fine last time I used it. What could have gone wrong during the summer?” There are a lot of potential problems that could have arisen since your last chimney inspection. Winter is especially tough on your chimney. Wind, freezing temps, and moisture can cause your chimney to erode and crack. The stormy summer weather can also take its toll on your chimney. Also, problems can arise when birds and other nesting animals try to use your chimney for their home during the spring and summer. With so many potential issues, it’s easy to see why it is important to take care of your chimney inspection as soon as possible.

If you are in need of a chimney inspection, now is a great time to schedule one? Beat the fall rush and call Old Smokey’s today to have one of our CSIA certified chimney sweeps inspect your chimney. If you live in northern Indiana, northern Ohio, or mid-Michigan region, you can reach us at 800-876-6539 or 260-424-0009, or schedule an appointment online today!