Old Smokey's Fireplace & Chimney's Blog

Now is the Best Time to Get Ahead on Chimney Repairs!

It’s officially summer, so your fireplace and chimney is the last thing on your mind. However, now is exactly the time you should be thinking about masonry inspections and repairs. In just three or four quick months, it will be time to cozy up by your fireplace again. Will your fireplace be ready to operate when you need it? Old Smokey’s can help you get a jump on your fireplace maintenance needs by scheduling a chimney inspection this summer!

The Offseason is Also Tough on Your Chimney

Your chimney may have been running perfectly at the end of the winter, but your chimney’s health could have been compromised since it’s last use. Springtime brings rainy weather, meaning now is a great time to see if there are any leaks in your masonry. Leaky masonry can lead to larger problems including crumbling bricks and weakened mortar joints. If moisture seeps into your masonry, it can freeze when it becomes cold out and shatter bricks from the inside out. It is best to get ahead of masonry problems before they grow to larger problems.

Get Ahead of the Busy Time

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both suggest annual chimney and fireplace inspections.  Summer is a great time to schedule your annual chimney and masonry inspection because we can schedule you in before our fall and winter rush. During the colder months, chimney sweeps are incredibly busy performing inspections and repairs. Therefore, it may be harder for us to schedule a meeting time that fits your schedule. However, if you schedule an inspection in the summer, we are a little more flexible with our schedule and can easily fit you into a time-slot that works for you. Remember, chimney inspections should only be carried out by a CSIA-certified chimney technician, like the ones at Old Smokey’s. Only a certified chimney technician has the training and knowledge to safely and effectively inspect your chimney masonry.

Extra Time for Repairs

Sometimes during a chimney masonry inspection, we will find an issue that requires some repair. Masonry issues can sometimes take a while to repair. This can be frustrating in fall and winter when you want to use your chimney. However, if issues with your chimney are found in the summer, we can usually schedule to have it fixed before you need to use it.

At Old Smokey’s, we like to get ahead of housing projects before they sneak up on us. If you’re like us, you’ll also want to get ahead of the game and schedule your chimney masonry inspection before our busy season. Call one of our CSIA certified chimney inspectors at 260-424-0009 or schedule an appointment online today!

Old-fashioned and ultra-modern appointment scheduling tips

The concept of “spring cleaning” is likely rooted in nature. Look around. You might see robins and sparrows gathering twigs and string to make nests. It’s not exactly spring cleaning, but you get the idea. After a winter of more or less hibernating, creatures get busy. We humans are no different. That’s why it is wise to put Old Smokey’s on your dance card as soon as possible for chimney, fireplace, or dryer vent inspections or improvements.

(Ever wonder what a dance card actually is? Back in the 19th century at a formal ball, a man wishing to dance with a woman would pencil in his name on an elaborately decorated booklet, or dance card, the woman carried with her. The woman recorded the names of her prospective dance partners on the dance card. Rules of etiquette made it difficult for her to refuse the dance offer.)

Old Smokey’s doesn’t want to say no to your inquiry or your prospective need for our professional services. Our first appointment scheduling tip is simple and direct: Get to us before our dance card is full!

Along those lines, Old Smokey’s also has some practical suggestions. These are recommendations that will help us to serve you better. You might say it’s akin to saying, in the 1800s, make sure you have a pencil and a dance card. Simple but practical.

First, schedule nonemergency services during the spring and summer months. That’s why we’re talking to you about this now. You won’t believe how busy things start to get — for you and for us. Sure, emergencies are never planned, but routine maintenance can be. Schedule it today.

Here’s another suggestion: do not use your fireplace and chimney in the 24 hours leading up to your appointment. Remove all ash from the firebox. Complying with these requests will help assure the safety of our technicians. (Old Smokey’s thanks you in advance for this courtesy.)

Finally, if you have breakable or delicate items in the 5- to 6-foot area surrounding the appliance being serviced, please move them before the appointment. That’s common sense and practical. (Thanks, again.)

Actually, before we leave this topic, a few other thoughts about appointments come to mind, some more whimsical than others:

Do not (repeat, do not) tie a string on your finger as an appointment reminder. That stuff never worked, not even in the days of dance cards. Some retro things are cool, but not tying a string on your finger.

You do not have to physically walk into our offices in Ashley, Indiana to make an appointment. However, if you do stop by to make an appointment, that’s fine. Glad to see you. We like visitors.

It is okay to mark your wall calendar at home with an appointment date or secure a note on your fridge with a magnet. Nevertheless, if you want to go all modern with some sort of appointment app reminder on your smartphone, go right ahead.

Schedule your appointment now by calling 260-424-0009. You can also book an appointment online. The advantage of booking online is that you have an opportunity to tell us a bit about the specific services you need, and why.

Tell us which dance (um, service) you want to be penciled in for. We won’t say no.