Taking a good look at your chimney

Home ownership is not an easy thing.  There are many responsibilities that come with purchasing a residence and property.   You are required to pay all the associated bills, including electric, gas, cable, and phone.  In addition, you must pay taxes to the local municipality on the property.An often overlooked task when you buy a home is the amount of maintenance the property will require both inside and outside.

You understand you must keep your living space clean and tidy, but the detailed work that has to occur outside was something you never expected, especially if you did not grow up in a house.   There is a lawn to mow, seed, and fertilize.  The flowers need to be planted and cultivated.  Bushes and trees need to be trimmed and managed so that they do not grow wild.   It is a constant battle to maintain a semblance of cleanliness in your home and on your property.  Hidden concerns also must be addressed, like a leaking roof, faulty wiring in the walls, or cracks in the foundation.  One hidden area that is forgotten is the chimney inspection.

A necessary job
When you look at your home from the outside you may see two chimney stacks sticking above the top of the roof.   Once inside your home, all you think about is the chimney connected to the fireplace, as that is the one you will utilize when you light a fire on a cold drafty evening.  However, any burning appliance in your home needs to have a venting system.   The hot water heater, boiler, and furnace all must be properly ventilated to prevent a buildup of harmful substances in the air in your home. In order to make sure that the venting system is working properly, you need a chimney inspection. 

Keep it in working order
A chimney inspection is a great way to provide peace of mind, not only when you light a fire, but when you operate any apparatus that burns gas or wood. Chimney cleaning washington DC will examine the structure of the chimney, checking for any cracks, dislodged bricks, or broken mortar along the entire length of your chimney.  The inspector will assess the liner of your chimney to insure that it is intact and still in good working order. At the top of your chimney is an opening to allow the soot, ash and smoke from your fireplace and appliances to escape your home and vent into the night air.  All chimneys must have a cap in place to prevent animals, birds, and other debris from falling into your chimney and possibly clogging the flow of wasteful air out into the night. 

Do not wait until it is an emergency
It is recommend that a chimney inspection occurs on a regular basis, as that is the best way to insure that your venting system is working efficiently and effectively.  If the furnace is not vented properly, you may be breathing in harmful toxins and not even know it.  If the chimney over your fireplace is not clean, you will fill your home with smoke and ash every time you use it. A chimney inspection prevents these occurrences, and should be considered as part of your maintenance schedule for your property. 


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Types of wood stove repair

When your stove quits the first line of thinking is to pay for a replacement. These appliances aren't like refrigerators, which are made to have shorter lifespans now more than three decades ago. There are many types of wood stove installation jobs that can be done to bring your appliance back to good working order and keep it running for another ten years. One word of caution, if you don't have experience working with wood stoves you may be better off having a professional come in. The extreme temperatures they are exposed to can make a faulty repair dangerous. 

 Blowers and Motors

 Most of the modern wood stove inserts have blowers and motors to circulate heat more efficiently. This is the most common part of the stove to need repair or replacement. In many cases, there are only a few parts that need to be replaced to get it up and running again. The fans on these blowers are likely to become clogged faster than the fan on your blower for a traditional furnace, so all it may need is a good cleaning. Replacing the blower, motor or fan in a wood stove is far cheaper than replacing the entire unit or insert.

Insulation and glass

There is a special insulation in many of the modern glass front inserts. The glass in non-insulated doors may also require replacement. Having the glass seal fail due to heat and age can increase the air flow into the wood stove and reduce its’ efficiency. You can re-seat and re-seal the glass to return the stove to its’ operating standards. Also, having the glass cleaned periodically is a good idea. Not only will it preserve your view of the flames, but it will reduce fire risk too. 

 

 Re-surfacing

Another aspect of repairing a wood stove is to reseal the entire stove. Most people are only aware of the glass inserts needing sealing, but there are other joints within the stove that are also sealed using a special putty. Sealing it isn't as easy as just reapplying the putty. The area must be properly cleaned first.

This is the area where you most likely will need a wood stove insert installation technician. The vents and chimneys are deceptively easy to replace as they require no welding to create the seal. They do however require a level of experience to assemble properly. If you assemble them with too loose a connection, cinders and smoke can be introduced to your home or chimney. A technician can make sure the vents and chimneys are fitted properly; plus make sure the connection to the damper or flue is correct. 

Re-surfacing

Re-surfacing is a fancy way of saying “cleaning.” Just as you have your chimney cleaned once a season, you also need to have your wood stove cleaned. This is both part of a standard repair and maintenance service for a wood stove. The buildup of creosote can interfere with the functioning of the appliance, as well as increase the risk of fire. If you plan on doing your own cleaning make sure you are using the right agents and know how to dry the stove out correctly before returning it to use.

What to ask your wood stove repair technician 

When you call a wood stove repair service make sure you have a list of what you noticed about how the stove was behaving before it stopped working, or you stopped using it. You want to get an estimate on the work, but you also want to ask about the cost of replacement. If you opt for repair make sure you also check with the technician about what type of maintenance your stove needs to prolong its lifespan. They are often more than happy to write out a list for you of things you may do on your own, and tell you which types of maintenance you would be better off calling in a professional to perform. Done right, maintenance and repair can help you keep your wood stove going just as long as you want. 

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Getting it out of the chimney

The purchase of a home is always an important step in your life.  You have made an important decision for your family, selecting a locale to raise your children.   As a home owner, you are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance on the property.  You perform inspections on the house to make sure there is no damage, both internally and externally.  You listen for any telltale signs that there may be something wrong, such as abnormal creaks and bumps in the night. One thing that always makes you wonder is the sound of possible creatures in your home.  The attic is the most likely destination for these animals as they make their nests or create a habitat for themselves in which to live.  You must pay attention to any and all indications that an unwanted animal guest has taken up residence in your home.  In addition to the attic, a chimney is an ideal location for wild creatures.   During the spring and summer, you rarely, if ever, open the damper in your chimney, or inspect the cap at the top of the stack.   You may be sitting in your home one evening and hear scratches and movement coming from your chimney, and it is necessary that you get in there and remove the creatures before using your fireplace.  A chimney cleaning Maclean company can aid you in making sure you chimney is ready for use in the winter.

Why clean the chimney?

If the animals, like a bird or possum, have taken up residence in your chimney, before starting any fires you will need to completely remove them from the chute.   If they no longer are living in your chimney, a thorough cleaning is necessary to remove all evidence of dirt, debris and grime along the lining of your chimney to insure the fireplace works as efficiently as possible.  Your chimney provides the ventilation needed for the smoke and ash produced when you burn your logs in the fireplace.  If there is an excess buildup in the chimney, or obstruction of a living or dead creature, than the smoke and ash will not flow freely and easily through the chute out into the night air.

A warm fire at home

If you cannot utilize your fireplace, you will not be able to create the inviting warm atmosphere that is created by a blazing fire.  Any obstruction in the chimney most be completely and fully removed in order to use your fireplace.  You do not want the smoke or ash to be forced to flow into your living room while you are burning your logs in the metal grate of the fireplace.   This will cause you to extinguish the fire, and render your fireplace nothing more than a nice decoration in your home.  The ability to use the fireplace was one of the features of the home that enticed you to make the purchase.  If you do not clean the chimney properly and routinely, than it will be a waste of a quality addition.  Using a chimney cleaning Maclean Company will make sure you get the most benefit out of your fireplace.  

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A new wood burning stove

No matter the reason, getting a wood burning stove is a step in the direction of returning to your roots.  In the past, there was no gas or oil which powered your homes.  You had to rely on the fire produced by wood and kindling to provide heat and a source for your cooking. If you are a person who is interested in living like your ancestors, or like the look, a wood burning stove might be an ideal addition to your home.   As a person interested in conservation, a wood burning stove is an ideal addition to your home.  It provides a smoke free environment while giving off a clean source of heat and warmth.  It is not an easy project when you decide to do wood burning stove installation, but it is one you are confident you can accomplish in your home. 

wood stove repair

wood stove repair

Getting started

After you have decided to install a wood burning stove, you must consult your local ordinances to insure that you are legally able to install and use a wood burning stove.  There are building codes, fire codes, and other rules and regulations that you must comply with when installing this particular type of appliance.  In addition, there are safety guidelines and approved materials you must be familiar with before starting this project. There are manufacturer suggested instructions which should be followed whenever you are installing a wood burning stove.

 The following are basic steps in the process that must be supplemented by the required distances, approved components and other materials as recommended by the governing authorities. 

•    Select a chimney: There are three normal choices when choosing a chimney to be used during your wood burning stove installation.  All wood burning stoves must have a chimney.  The stovepipe of the stove cannot be run through walls, floors, or the ceiling and must be attached to the chimney through a connector.  Your choices are a properly lined masonry chimney, an Underwriters Laboratory approved stainless steel metal chimney, or a pre existing chimney with approved materials.
 
•    The Stovepipe:  This is a piece of metal used to connect the top of the stove to the metal or masonry chimney.  This stovepipe cannot be run through walls, ceiling or flooring.   It must be connected to the chimney directly.   Be sure the piping is sufficiently placed away from any other combustible materials, including the walls and ceiling.  You can use a single pipe, or a double pipe with insulation for added protection.

•    Support the stove:  As you choose a location in your home for the stove, you must reinforce the flooring with the proper base for the stove. The base of the wood burning stove must be made of non combustible material, like concrete. The base must extend beyond the diameter of the wood burning stove, including the width of the opening for the loading doors.  In addition, the floor underneath the length of the stovepipe from the top of the stove to the chimney must also be made of non combustible material.


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