Old Smokey's Fireplace & Chimney's Blog

Time To Get A Chimney Sweeping

Nothing beats the snow and the frigid cold temperatures like cozying around a warm fire with your loved ones. This winter has been especially long and cold and you’ve probably been using your fireplace quite often. However, spring is in sight and soon it won’t be long until warmer weather arrives and it’ll be time to give your fireplace a little time off. This is a perfect time to get your annual chimney sweeping. A clean chimney is crucial to the safe operation of your chimney system and with winter almost done, now is the perfect time to schedule a cleaning. At Old Smokey’s, our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) trained and certified professionals have swept over 20,000 chimney’s in our 30 plus years in the industry. Customer satisfaction is the hallmark of our business and numbers like that translate into a lot of satisfied customers.

Why sweeping is important?

Both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Prevention Agency (NFPA) recommend getting your chimney cleaned and inspected by a CSIA certified chimney technician at least once a year. This is to check for combustible materials and that your chimney and fireplace is in good working and structural condition. There are a lot of things that could have happened to your chimney and fireplace over the past year. Winter can be especially hard on your chimney. If you used your chimney frequently over the winter, soot and creosote will settle and build up on the inside of your chimney. This can be a big issue because creosote is combustible and if it ignites, it creates a fire that is nearly impossible to extinguish.

Water and Your Masonry

Another winter related issue can also arise if moisture gets into the tiny pores or cracks in your chimney masonry. Water will freeze and expand if it sits in your chimneys masonry. Over time, this can weaken the structural integrity of your chimney causing it to crack or crumble. A thorough cleaning and inspection mean that these issues could be caught before they become a more serious issue.

Spring is a very busy time of year for us so appointment slots are starting to fill up fast! Call and schedule a chimney sweeping and inspection with northern Indiana’s, northern Ohio’s, and mid-Michigan’s number one chimney service today! You can reach Old Smokey’s at 260-424-0009 or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to serving you!

Santa is Coming, Is Your Chimney Clean?

Christmas Eve is almost here, and soon it will be a time for gathering around a warm fire with loved ones. However, once you put out your fire and go to bed on Christmas Eve, it will be Santa’s turn to show his appreciation to your family. Santa brings joy to your family, so why not return the favor by giving him a clean chimney to come down this Christmas. Santa doesn’t like his suit getting sooty, but another reason is for safety for all who lives in your home. At Old Smokey’s, we agree with Santa. A clean chimney is important, and we are here to help!

Be safe this holiday

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommend you to get your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once a year. As you use your fireplace, soot, smoke, and gases are released. These gases go up your chimney, and they cool and often condense on the interior of your chimney. After a while, if enough of this byproduct accumulates, it forms a thick, black, tar-like substance called creosote. Creosote is combustible. If it ignites, it can start a chimney fire.

Another reason to get your chimney inspected and cleaned is to check for blockages in your chimney. There are a number of ways your chimney could get a blockage such as creosote build up, animal nesting, or debris falling into your chimney. In addition to being a fire hazard, chimney blockages can also create airflow issues. This creates some annoying issues such as poorly burning and less efficient fires.

Smoke, gases and warm air produced in your fireplace need a way to get out of your home. If your chimney is blocked, these byproducts may come back into your home. Having a house full of smoke can really put a damper for any gatherings. Another serious issue is carbon monoxide, this byproduct could happen when you burn wood or gas. Carbon monoxide leak can lead to a number of serious medical issues.

We can help

Santa wants you to have a safe holiday season, and our team at Old Smokey’s wants this for you too! That’s why it is very  important to have your chimney serviced by our CSIA certified chimney sweep.  Only a chimney sweep has the technical and safety training to properly and safely clean your chimney. Although this is our busy time of year, we still have appointment slots open.

Get your chimney cleaned today! You can call us at 800-876-6539 or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!