Old Smokey's Fireplace & Chimney's Blog

Have Fireplace Fun with These Holiday Activities

The holiday season has arrived and it’s time for fellowship with family and friends. And what better place to share time with loved ones than around a nice, warm, glowing, fire? Your fireplace is the backdrop for many of your holiday traditions. Just like you, we here at Old Smokey’s have a few holiday activities that we enjoy around the fireplace during the holidays.

Roasting Marshmallows and Hot Cocoa

Roasting marshmallows aren’t just for camping! All you need is a couple of sticks and a bag of marshmallows to enjoy a nice winter treat. If you feel like kicking it up a notch, you might want to try making one of our all-time favorite treats, s’mores! Nothing beats the enjoyment you get from enjoying a warm, gooey snack with the family. Need something to wash those s’mores down? Warm yourself up by heating up a nice warm cup of hot cocoa.

Family Pictures

The fireplace is the quintessential backdrop for family photos and for good reason. Your fireplace represents the warmth and joy your family feels for each other. Maybe you are looking to take that perfect family photo to hang on the wall, or maybe you want to create a holiday greeting card to send to your loved ones. If you are, be sure to put on your best holiday sweater, gather your family around the fireplace. If you feel that your fireplace needs a little facelift, be sure to call Old Smokey’s. We’ll have your fireplace looking picturesque in no time!

Fun & Games

Playing your family’s favorite board games or card games while soaking in the warmth of a fire is a fun way to pass the time during the holiday break. Nothing stirs up a little friendly family competition like a game of Monopoly, Risk, or chess. If you feel like a team competition, try playing a game of Canasta, Spades, or Rook.

Happy Holidays!

No matter what you decide to do around the fireplace this holiday season, make sure you’re doing it safely. If you have a Christmas tree, be sure that it is further than three feet away from your fireplace. Also, be sure to take your stockings down when you have a fire lit. If you need to sweep your fireplace and chimney before the holiday season, you still have time to schedule an appointment with Old Smokey’s. We at Old Smokey’s appreciate your business and want to wish you a warm, happy holiday season!

Call us now to avoid the fall chimney inspection rush!

Summer is coming to an end! Soon it will be time to start getting cozy around your fireplace again. Before you fire up your fireplace for the first time this fall, it is important that you get your chimney inspected. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Prevention Agency (NFPA) both suggest getting your chimney inspected annually. In fact, an annual chimney inspection by a CSIA certified chimney sweep, like the ones at Old Smokey’s, is the best way to prevent a chimney fire from happening. So, now you know how important chimney inspections are. So, when is the best time to get time to get your chimney inspected?

Right Now!

You may be weeks away from lighting your fireplace for the first time. However, right now is an excellent time to have your chimney inspected! The fall and winter becomes very busy for a chimney sweep. Due to their busy schedule, it can be difficult to get an inspection done at a time that is most convenient to you. If you schedule an inspection before the fall rush, it will be easier to schedule a time that is best for you.

There are a lot of potential problems that can arise with owning a chimney. Therefore, you never know what may have happened to your chimney since your last inspection. Winter can be especially tough on your chimney. Wind and moisture can cause your chimney to erode and crack. The summer heat can also take it’s toll on your chimney. Oh, and let’s not forget about problems that can arise with birds and squirrels using your chimney for their home. With so many potential issues, it is important to get your chimney inspected as soon as possible. This will help assure that any issues found during an inspection will also be taken care of, before you want to start using your chimney!

The Three Levels Of Inspection:

Level one inspections are the most basic and most common. They are performed if there have been no changes to your chimney since its last inspection. However, has there been any structural changes to your chimney, a transfer of property, or an event that may have caused damage to your chimney (such as an earthquake, fire, or tornado)? If so, your chimney will require a level 2 or level 3 inspection. These type of inspections are more detailed and require specialized tools. Unfortunately, they also require more time to complete. If you think you need a level 2 or level 3 inspection, avoiding the fall rush! This will help assure that there is plenty of time available to complete your inspection. Also, that any issues found will be repaired in time for fall.

If you are in need of a chimney inspection, why wait? Call us today to have one of our CSIA certified chimney sweeps inspect your chimney. You can have peace of mind knowing that your chimney and fireplace will be ready warm you up once it gets cold outside!