Old Smokey's Fireplace & Chimney's Blog

Schedule Your Gas Fireplace Service Today!

Many people prefer gas fireplaces to wood burning ones because they produce less ash, soot, and smoke. However, many homeowners mistakenly think that gas fireplaces don’t need annual inspections because they are easy to burn. Although gas doesn’t create as much creosote as wood fuel, you still need to have it checked out periodically. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both suggest having your gas fireplace serviced once a year. At Old Smokey’s, our experienced fireplace technicians are professionals at inspecting, maintaining and repairing gas fireplace systems. Let us tell you why it is crucial that you schedule an annual fireplace inspection.

How is a gas fireplace inspection different from a wood fireplace inspection?

There are similarities between gas and wood fireplaces, however, the way they operate, and their mechanics are very different. Similar to a wood fire, gas produces creosote. During a service call, our fireplace technician will inspect the flue pipe to see if there is any creosote buildup. Gas fireplaces don’t need to be cleaned as often but should be checked anyway. If a burner isn’t burning hot enough or there is residue on the burner, creosote can build up quickly. Another reason for the flue inspection is to be sure that no animals have tried to build a nest in it. Nests and other debris are a fire hazard that needs to be removed immediately.

During a service call, our fireplace technician will also check to see if your gas system is working properly. Having a functioning gas system is very important because leaks can lead to a fire, an explosion, or exposure to carbon monoxide. Technicians will also check to make sure the gas pressure is set correctly and that the burners are in good working condition. Most newer gas systems come with a CO alarm which will be inspected as well. If you don’t have one, we suggest installing one.

What if there is an issue with my gas fireplace?

If we find an issue with your gas fireplace, we can fix it for you. At Old Smokey’s, we’ve been in the gas fireplace business for over two decades, so we’ve seen it all and we’ve repaired it all when it comes to gas heating systems. We also believe that it’s important to supplement our experience by working with professional safety organizations as well. That’s why all of our fireplace technicians are require to be certified by the CSIA. CSIA certification is important to our company because it means that our technicians are willing to become dedicated to a higher quality of service and home safety.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had your gas fireplace serviced, let one of the certified gas fireplace experts at Old Smokey’s serve you. Spring is a great time for an inspection, so call us today at 800-876-6539 or 260-424-0009, or schedule an appointment online to meet with one of our CSIA certified gas technicians today!

Trust Us for Your Annual Chimney Inspection!

It is critical to your family’s safety that your regularly used chimney is operating well. Even if your chimney is only occasionally used, you should still have it periodically inspected by a professional. This is because dirty chimneys are a potential fire hazard. In fact, The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) states that the leading contributor to home heating fires is having a chimney that isn’t clean.  However, this shouldn’t deter you from enjoying your fireplace this winter. We here at Old Smokey’s want to let you know that, with a little help and guidance from our professional chimney technicians, your chimney will be perfectly safe to operate this winter.

Why are inspections important?

Getting your chimney inspected by one of our chimney technicians is one of the most important things you can do for its health. This is because an inspection allows us to determine if there are any issues that may have risen over the past year that would affect how your chimney operates. During an inspection one of our highly skilled chimney technicians will look for any damage to the your chimney and fireplace masonry, such as cracked brick or crumbling mortar. We will also inspect the inside of your chimney to make sure that it isn’t clogged with any debris, animal nests, or creosote. Lastly, we will inspect any other chimney components (chimney crown, chimney cap, damper, etc.) and make sure they are in safe, operational condition.

Have your chimney inspected by a CSIA certified technician

When you get your chimney inspected, you want to make sure that your inspection is going to be done thoroughly and safely. That’s why it’s critical that you have your chimney inspected by a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney technician.  To gain CSIA certification, a chimney technician must go through a tough training schedule, learning the latest chimney inspection and chimney maintenance techniques. Next, chimney technicians must learn about the latest in chimney fireplace and safety. Technicians are then allowed to be certified after they pass an exam related to their training and take an oath to perform their work ethically, never taking shortcuts or scamming their customers. At Old Smokey’s, we take CSIA certification very seriously. All of our chimney technicians are required to have CSIA certification to work for us. We want to make sure our customers are satisfied with our work and we want to assure them that we will keep their home and family free from hazards. That’s why being certified is important to us, because it is important to our customers.

If you haven’t had your chimney inspected in a while, you may be putting your home at risk. We still have appointment slots open, so call us at 800-876-6539 or 260-424-0009 or reach us online to set up an inspection with one of our chimney technicians. We look forward to serving you!