The days are starting to get longer and the temperatures are starting to rise. It's also the time of the year that we start to wind down the use of our fireplaces and wood burning appliances due to the warmer temperatures. Many shut them down and don't think about them till the chill hits the [...]
Every year many of us start the New Year with may one or multiple "New Years" resolutions. We start motivated with every intention of fulfilling our newly minted resolutions, but as we know, many of us, myself included, let them fall by the wayside and forget about them shortly after they began. Why not start [...]
Is your chimney protected from the elements? Your chimney, like the rest of your home, is exposed to the elements 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Whether it is made of brick or it is a chase style “prefab chimneys,” they need maintenance from time to time. The type of maintenance and timing [...]
Lock Top Dampers The chill in the air has started & Lock Top Dampers may be your solution. While that may be great as you enjoy the outdoors, you want to be "snug as a bug" while in your home. Have you noticed cold drafts by your fireplace even on non-windy days? Having trouble keeping [...]
Does your chimney have a cap to prevent rain, birds and other critters from getting inside your chimney? Is your chimney ready for fall? Haven't had it swept in years? Do you have cracks in the crown that may cause water penetration? Does your chimney have a cap to prevent rain, birds and other critters [...]
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are starting to fall but the temperatures are still warm, and it doesn’t feel like time to use the fireplace yet. But, as we all know time fly’s, and before you know it you’ll want to be using that fireplace in no time. If you haven’t had [...]
Thought about how your dryer vents the moisture from drying clothes lately? If you’re like a lot people, probably not. It’s like when the water heater goes when you have family visiting from out of town, out of site out of mind, till a problem arises. We can assure you, though that dryer vent cleaning [...]
Chimney Maintenance It’s in the 80’s and 90’s in North Carolina this time of year. Not exactly the time when our fireplaces and chimneys are top of mind unless you notice water or odor issues especially on damp rainy days. Although the weather may hot, this is the perfect time of the year to have [...]
Leaking Chimneys Summer is the time of the year when I receive the most calls for a leaking chimney. This is most likely due to the higher humidity levels and weather patterns that are conducive to heaver, and longer periods of rain. In some instances, it is obvious that there is a leak. You can [...]
The last installment I posted was concerning the European or Common Starling and the problems associated with this bird species. This segment we are going to discuss a lesser known species that comes with its own issues, challenges and protections, the “Chimney Swift.” The Chimney Swift is a small bird that hunts insects “on the [...]
