Fireplace Advice

We at Fireside Chimney Supplies are experts of all things chimneys. With the fall well under way and Winter approaching it is important to take the proper steps to keep your chimney and fireplace running smoothly. A chimney that is not maintained can cause unnecessary health risks and even fires. Neglected chimneys accumulate creosote, a combustible byproduct of charred wood, along their walls. If you add that to a high internal flue temperature you got yourself a recipe for a potential chimney fire.

While it still isn't too bad outside you want to take the proper steps to make sure your chimney and fireplace are ready to go for the winter. There would be no worse way to spend your winter finding out that you can't use your chimney because of an animal getting stuck in the chimney or high level of creosotes.

We got the lowdown and the information you need to make sure your fireplace is safe and running properly this winter!

1. Don't use a regular vacuum for

Letting a family of migratory birds, such as Chimney Swifts, inhabit chimneys may not be for everyone. But the good news is that it is very simple to prevent this with bird proof chimney caps. The only tricky part is you will have to install the cap while the birds are living down south.

When a chimney professional comes over to install a chimney cap, have them check for an active nest of birds. If one is found, reschedule the installation for after the Chimney Swifts (or other birds) have migrated back to their native land.

It is illegal for a chimney sweep to remove a bird’s nest or eggs (for migratory birds). Once the fowls have left and your chimney has been cleaned, the chimney cap may be installed and you will no longer be troubled by birds in your chimney. Another bonus is that caps like our round chimney caps provide

There has always been speculation about the necessity of having a chimney cap for chimneys. In all reality, having a chimney cap will help protect your chimney and your home from all different types of damages, which can be prevented by utilizing the chimney cap as soon as possible. Here we have listed 2 of the main reasons why we focus on the importance of a chimney cap.

Reasons for A Chimney Cap

• Unwanted Guests

  First and foremost, unwanted guests - Chimneys are naturally built to be exposed at the top to allow all of the excess from the fireplace, up the flue, and outside of the home. Now, chimneys are open at the top for a very good reason on behalf of ourselves and our families. Unfortunately animals have also adopted the idea that it is a wonderful idea. With that being said, going without a chimney cap can lead to all sorts of critters going down into the flue and down into your chimney. Birds and the nest they create naturally, are a serious hazard

There’s a unique romance to a wooden stove that is unlike what home owner may feel for an oil or gas furnace. Some of the key factors that create that romance are the economic factors, the overall aesthetic, and the undeniable efficiency. When you have a wood stove, there’s a promise of a heating system that is independent and non-reliant on other local utilities. Plus, they create a cozy setting with great ease.

If you invest in an older home, there’s a good chance that it has a wood burning fireplace rather than an electric one, which builders are now putting in the newer model homes. For those who have lived in an older home, they understand the importance of fireplace maintenance which means having the pit inspected as well as all the way up the flue. Now, with that being said, a licensed chimney inspector will

Everyone loves to curl up next to a warm and cozy fire during the winter, but the fire isn’t warm and cozy if you haven’t properly maintained your fireplace. A safe and clean fireplace is a warm and cozy fireplace, bottom line. So, how do you keep up on your fireplace maintenance? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks for making sure you keep your fireplace and chimney liner in good shape so that when winter hits, you’re all set to throw in some fresh firewood and light it up.

Spring is the perfect time to clean your chimney. During the winter months when you were enjoying the fire with your family, lots of gunk has been building up on the inside of your chimney. While this type of cleaning should be left to professionals, some people would like to take a do it yourself approach to this task.

After winter, when the temperatures begin to rise, you’ll notice you do not have to light as many fires as you did, so there’s really no need to keep your chimney open. While you don’t need to clean your fireplace as soon as that last bit of snow melts, it’s a good idea to add it to your spring cleaning list that you’ve been working on.

Chimneys always seem like a relatively easy concept, right? You put the wood in, make sure the flue is open, and then light the fire. Well, there’s actually a lot more that’s going on that makes it a far more complex concept that deals with the oxidation of carbon, water, draft induced by the change in temperature, and vaporization. All of these elements, if not properly managed, can start a chimney fire.