Wednesday, 10 June 2015

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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Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Ventilation is crucial

As we go about our day, we are breathing in air that has pollutants and contaminants in it from various sources. Hopefully, our homes are not one of those sources. We spend a great majority of our time in our homes. That is why we expend so much effort and energy into the decision to purchase a new home. As a home owner, you are responsible for maintaining your property on a daily basis. This does not always include monitoring your air supply. In fact, this is something we never spend any time thinking about, we breathe the air, not giving it a moment’s pause as to the actual contents of the substance we are inhaling into our lungs. 

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This is normal, we cannot control the air we breathe, and we can only attempt to control the substances that are expelled into our atmosphere. The green movement is attempting to reduce our carbon emissions so that we will have healthy air to breathe for generations. We must all do our part to help the global community, and the health of our planet and species. The most dangerous emissions are caused by burning fossil fuels. A cleaner way to create heat and warmth is to burn wood. You can do this, albeit on a smaller scale, in your home. You can utilize your fireplace to provide warmth for your family, reducing your dependence on gas as a source of fuel for your furnace. In order to maximize the benefits of your fireplace, you must insure that it is vented properly, so that you are not replacing the carbon emissions from fossil fuels with smoke and ash from the burning wood. chimney cleaning fairfax va services can best handle the task to make this a reality.

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Why get a chimney sweep?

When we think of a chimney sweep, we conjure up images of Dick Van Dyke form Mary Poppins. Small thin men, and children, were used to climb inside a chimney with a brush and clean the insides of the stack. Over the years, the process has become more streamlined and automated, but the essence is the same. You need to remove all of the excess dirt, debris, and grime from the liner of the chimney to optimize the effectiveness of your fireplace. A chimney sweeper will scrub the insides of your chimney so that the smoke and ash are allowed to flow freely and easily up through the chute and out into the night air. This simple, yet important, task allows the air in your home to remain as toxin free as possible, giving you breathable clean air in your homes. 

You may not give it a second thought, but a failure to effectively clean your chimney will result in the obstructed flow of smoke and ash. Since the substances cannot flow up the chimney, the debris is forced into your homes. This will contaminate your air. Chimney sweep services will eliminate this harmful ending, removing all obstacles form your chimney, and creating an atmosphere which is supported by happy flames not engulfed by dangerous smoke.

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Thursday, 21 May 2015

There are automated vacuums, brushes and brooms



Every year around October you start to feel a little dip in the temperature.   The cold air starts to penetrate deeper into your bones, giving you that damp chilly feeling that moves throughout your entire body.   As the days grow shorter, and the night grows longer, you realize that winter is just around the corner.  You are sitting in your living room one evening, when a blast of cold air rattles the windows, and a draft whips through the room.   You realize it may be time to light a fire in your fireplace.  It has been many months since you opened the damper and looked up the flue into your chimney.  In order to do it properly, you consider Falls Church Chimney Cleaning.

Why chimney cleaning?

You may wonder why you need Falls Church chimney cleaning service, as you only use your fireplace on infrequent occasions.  That does not matter.  If your chimney is not properly cleaned, even using the fireplace one time may cause irreparable damage and harm to you and your family.  When you light a fire the smoke and ash created needs to be vented into the air.  If the damper is not opened, these materials will flow into your home and breathing air.  Once you have opened the damper, if the chimney is not cleaned correctly, much of the ash, soot, and smoke will not flow through the flue into the chimney and be expelled into the night sky.  It will fall down into your fireplace, and eventually into your home. 


  
Cleaning leads to good flow

With Falls Church Chimney Cleaning service there is no doubt that your fireplace will function in an effective manner.  The soot and ash which is trapped on the liner of your chimney will be swept away.  In the old days, children, or small skinny men, were used to climb into the chimneys and sweep them out with a brush and a broom.  Nowadays, it is much more sophisticated.  There are automated vacuums, brushes and brooms that will swiftly and efficiently clean the inside of your chimney.  By removing all possible debris in the flue and the chimney, you allow a free flow of ash and smoke up and out of your home.   

Warm fire

As a result of a quality chimney cleaning, you get to experience your fireplace during the winter in comfort and safety.   As you sit rocking in your chair before the blazing fire, the only thing you will feel is the warmth emanating from the burning embers, as all harmful elements are pushed up through the chimney.  It is hidden behind the walls and bricks, so a chimney does not capture our attention until it is too late.  We cannot see the insides of the chimney so we cannot imagine that it might be in need of servicing by way of a good cleaning.  chimney cleaning washington DC is always available all year round to help you to maintain the warm, safe home environment.  

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Wednesday, 6 May 2015

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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Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Building blocks for a great fire

As the autumn leaves fall, the days grow shorter, and a cool wind starts moving across the plains. The nights are getting longer and the cold air is coming down from the North, bringing snow, ice, and sleet.   Winter is just around the corner, and you must start to make preparations around your property. You bring in all your patio furniture.  You replace your screens with storm windows, caulking and sealing any exposed cracks in the borders.

You do inspections on your boiler and furnace to make sure they are in good working order as you approach the deep cold of the winter. You check your generator in case of any power outages. You examine your stock of logs to ascertain if you have an adequate supply for the winter. In addition, you clean your fireplace.  You remove all debris from the metal grate, scrub the inner walls of the fireplace, and make sure the damper opens and closes with no problems. You check the flue for any obstructions, as you prepare to light the first fire of the season. Before you do, it is necessary to inspect the length of the chimney for any damage, especially to see if you need to do any chimney crown repairs.

Chimney crown is vital

A chimney crown is like a hat for the chimney. After all the bricks are placed one on top of the other, and mortar and concrete placed in between to seal the chute tightly, a chimney crown is placed on top of the structure. This is an additional sealant for your chimney. It provides protection to the bricks at the top of the chimney from weather, debris, and animals. If this is not complete, the chimney will not function properly.

Complete chimney for a great fire

When you stack your logs in the fireplace, light the match, and start your fire, you are looking to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. The crackling fire will give you heat for your living room and provide a backdrop as it burns away in the fireplace. It is a comfortable ambience, peaceful and serene. This will all be disrupted if the chimney crown has deteriorated or been damaged. The pieces of bricks and mortar will fall down the chimney into the metal grate. The cap will be dislodged, providing an opening for animals and creatures to venture into your chimney, or other obstructions to become lodged in the shaft. All of these things will lead to a less effective fireplace or even a completely useless fireplace if you are unable to light a fire due to the obstructions. 

Repair the crown

An inspection of the top of the chimney is all that is needed to alert you to any potential damage. You can examine it for cracks, breaks, and crumbling pieces. If necessary you can use a sealant to fix the damage, or get an entirely new crown to be placed on the top of your chimney. Either way, if a chimney crown repair is necessary then, you can call for Arlington chimney repair and do not wait as it will affect your use of the fireplace.

Tuesday, 26 August 2014

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


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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Wednesday, 30 July 2014

A warming blaze

One of the most attractive features of your new home is the fireplace in the living room.  The design is unique with bricks, concrete, and mortar in an aesthetically pleasing array set into the walls of your home.   You were unsure if you wanted a fireplace in your home, as you had never had one before, but the idea seems appealing to you as you contemplate the cold months ahead, and the rising costs of heating your living space.  If cutting some trees in the backyard, drying the wood properly, and using them to provide warmth in your home reduces your living expenses, than the fireplace is a great addition.  You may even be able to save on cooking expense by utilizing the flames to boil water or fry up some bacon and eggs, as if you were camping. Before the omnipresent flow of gas into homes, our ancestors did all of their cooking over an open flame, so why not you?  Ok, that might be a stretch; after all we do live in a modern age.  But, a nice cozy fire provides an ambience in your home, an inviting glow, warming all those who gather around the hearth.  You must remember, as with all things, maintenance is required, or it will fail to function properly.  A good Arlington fireplace service company can do wonders to make it possible to continue to provide the roaring fires to warm your home.

Why get fireplace service?
Your fireplace is a bricked alcove set into the walls of your home.  In that alcove is a metal grate where you stack your wood for burning. As you use your fireplace, burning log after log, ashes and embers are collected below the metal grate.  If the ash is not removed, it will create a mound in your fireplace which will obstruct the metal grate, making it impossible to adequately stack your logs and start a fire.    The smoke attaches to the sides of the fireplace creating a layer of dust and debris.  Over time, the bricks may get chipped, the mantel may collapse and the hearth might sustain damage.  For all of these reasons, to insure optimal performance of your fireplace, you need to get service by a professional.

What will happen?
If you fail to properly service your fireplace, there will be an extensive buildup of soot and ash on the inside walls of the alcove.  This may lead to problems in the air quality of your home.  If the bricks get broken, or the hearth is damaged, this may lead to an ineffective fireplace, causing a leakage of not only smoke, soot and ash, but also the heat and warmth from the fire.   If the alcove is not properly formed and sealed, any potential heat may escape and not be concentrated into your home.  This will defeat the entire purpose of having a fireplace.  Every year you need to clean out the bottom of the metal grate, removing all soot and ash.  You need to thoroughly clean the walls of the fireplace, removing excess grime and debris.    During the winter season, routinely check the integrity of the bricks and hearth for any damage.  A professional Arlington fireplace service company can help you to accomplish all of these goals.