- The daily life of a Chimney Sweep
- What the heck are Aldehydes?
- The importance of hiring a experienced chimney sweep
- One option for a fireplace that has seen better days
- The potential hazards of new construction
- Tip of the day – Pooling water
- Potential hazards of older homes
- Attic dangers
- Inspection of the day – Active water intrusion
- Fireplaces in vacation rentals – are they safe?
Our News
Keep up to date with Jacksonville Chimney Pros News & Tips
Fire Extinguishers
Let me start off by saying everyone should have multiple ABC rated fire extinguishers throughout their home for safety. A fire extinguisher is something that you hopefully never have to use, but can save your home or life in the event of a fire. What does the A B C stand for? A - Trash, Wood, and Paper Monoammonium phosphate is the main ingredient in the fire extinguisher that will help smother this type of fire. B - Flammable Liquids...
Gas Basics – Why does it take so long for my pilot light to stay on?
A common question I get when servicing gas systems is why do I have to hold down the pilot knob for so long for it to stay lit. The answer is while you are holding down the pilot button it is heating up a part called a thermocouple that actually creates small amounts of electricity once heated. The thermocouple creates a small amount of electricity that activates a safety magnet that holds open a valve that allows gas to continue to...
The Don’t do it yourself project
On a regular basis I see factory built fireplaces incorrectly installed and unsafe for use. Some are due to the professional installer but more often it is a do it yourself project gone wrong. The scary thing is that the installation, most times, had been completed for some time or from a prior homeowner but the chance of a chimney fire is extreme. Here is one example below from last week: Let's start in the attic where the two inch...
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One option for a fireplace that has seen better days
Sometimes the elements win the battle against a fireplace, especially ones that have gone several years without maintenance. The fireplace above was...
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The potential hazards of new construction
One concern I see on a regular basis is the lack of regulation with chimney installations, including new construction. For reference here is the...
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Tip of the day – Pooling water
Water intrusion can be a costly headache but avoided if caught in time. This morning I inspected a chimney system with pooling water and...
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Potential hazards of older homes
I love working on older systems, partially due to working on several hundred growing up and living in a home built in 1926. Older homes have amazing...
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Attic dangers
When inspecting a chimney system it is key to inspect the attic where the flue passes through. It may be extremely difficult to access for some...
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Inspection of the day – Active water intrusion
My first appointment today was a active water leak coming down from the pre-fabricated fireplace and onto the front tile and the new wood floors!...
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be swept at 1/8″ of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. This is considered to be enough fuel buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home. Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic is that the deposit is quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace.
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