Our Chimney Sweep Blog

With the cool weather moving in, many of us are planning ways of keeping our homes warm and toasty in the coming months.  Fireplaces always seem to be a go-to heating option, given their calming ambience…but not everyone has that luxury.  What’s a homeowner to do, then?  Invest in a fireplace insert, of course!  Inserts Read more

A number of factors go into maintaining both the safety and overall condition of your chimney.  We know that hazards like residue buildup can cause problems, but many of us don’t remember the smaller nuisances—chimney pests.  A number of unwanted critters can find their way into your chimney, so let’s talk about what those are Read more

Before firing up your fireplace for the first time this winter, there are a few things you must check for the sake of your family’s health and safety.  Cozying up to a warm fire can be delightful on a chilly winter night, but be safe about it!  Follow the winter checklist below to ensure a Read more

What is Creosote? Creosote is actually just one of the components in the stuff (aside from the ash) that’s left over when wood is burned.  The whole mix of tar and creosote and soot is commonly called creosote.  The term is almost exclusively used when talking about burning wood.  If discussing soot resulting from burning Read more

Chimneys, Vents and Connectors: a Guide On part two of our guide to chimneys, vents and connectors, we will be covering the specific types of chimneys, vents and connectors. Refer to our initial chimney terminology guide for more general information on chimneys, vents, connectors and flues. Types of Chimneys There are two major types of Read more

Let’s start with a few definitions. Appliances include fireplaces, woodstoves, furnaces, boilers, pellet stoves, hot water heaters, etc. They’re all individual appliances. A chimney is a structure that has one or more flues in it. A flue is simply the chimney passageway that vents the fumes from whatever is attached to it. (A flue is Read more