CHIMNEY & FIREPLACE SAFETY
DELAWARE & MARYLAND

HOW Do Chimneys Work?

To care for your chimney properly, it’s important to know how the chimney works. Knowing how your chimney works will at least help you stay safe and use the chimney properly.

Basic Principles

A chimney works under the premise that hot air rises because it’s less dense than cold air. When you fill your chimney with fire, the hot gas will rise. This pressure difference will create a draft which will expel the hot gas outside.
How much of a draft your chimney produces will depend on the heat and height of the chimney. The hotter your chimney compared to the air outside, the stronger draft will be. For instance, if it’s snowy or very cold outside. The height of the chimney will also have an impact since the taller the chimney, the more draft you’ll experience.

Air Flow

When you think of the draft in your home, think about the airflow. You can’t see the motion of the air in your home of course, but you already know that the warm air will rise. This is called the stack effect, and it will occur when you get a fire burning in your chimney. Ultimately, this will prevent your home from being filled with any dangerous gases.

Chimney Function

The whole point of your chimney is to push the gases outside, but beyond that, your chimney also must be able to protect your house from any other hot gases running through it. It must also be made of materials that can tolerate the high temperature of a fire, and which can conserve some of the heat to produce a strong draft. This means that it should be strong enough to resist corrosion on the inside and the elements on the outside.

Chimney and Fireplace Safety

The truth is, a chimney requires more maintenance than most people think. While you can just let it sit there,if you are not proactive it may not be in great shape when you want to use it. Besides, it may be unsafe, which is why an annual chimney inspection and regular maintenance is essential.

To find a fireplace store near me schedule a showroom or in-home appointment!

Fixing Obstructions

Before you turn on the chimney for the cold season, check to be sure that there are no blockages or obstructions. These can be caused by many things and can be dangerous since they will prevent the hot air from rising, thereby trapping all the gas in your home. This can be toxic as the fire produces carbon monoxide.
Contact a professional like That Fireplace Store to help you. We’ll determine what the obstruction is and help you remove it safely.

Creosote Buildup

When you burn wood in your fireplace, creosote collects and builds up in your chimney. This happens as gases from combustion build up in your chimney and cool down. They’ll stick to the sides of the flue and form these tar-like creosote deposits. These are highly flammable, so if you don’t clean these up, you could end up with a chimney fire.
To clean and remove creosote properly, schedule an annual chimney sweep and inspection before you use the chimney.

Neglect

You need to keep an eye on your chimney for signs of neglect. A neglected chimney will lean and crumble over time. This can lead to chimney repairs and problems with the bricks ultimately collapsing or leaks, which can be prevented with regular maintenance.
We can work with you on this using a procedure called tuckpointing. We’ll remove damaged mortar and put in a new mortar, which will provide your chimney with both stability and protection for the long run. In the end, it will be a lot cheaper to give us a call now and keep it maintained than to have to replace your whole chimney.

Chimney Cap and Chimney Crown

The top of your chimney will usually have something called a chimney crown, which will prevent water from getting into your chimney. If your crown becomes cracked, moisture can get into your chimney, which can cause damage to the masonry, lining, firebox, and even the ceiling and walls in your home. To prevent this , we can install a chimney cap, which will protect you from moisture while keeping out animals and other debris.
It’s important to check on the cap and the crown before you use your chimney, and call if you see any cracking, rusting, or wear. We’ll help keep your entire chimney protected.

Flue Cracks

The flue is the lining of your chimney and is generally subjected to a lot of stress from the heat and the flames. Over time, if there are moisture and creosote, this lining can deteriorate and lead to more cracks in your fireplace. More than that, without the lining, the flammable parts of your home are at risk. We provide chimney lining services with over 20 years experience. We’ve installed hundreds of chimney liners in all types of flues keeping families and businesses safe.

Why You Should Use a Professional Fireplace Store

When looking for a fireplace store near me we realize there are other professional chimney services out there, but the heart of our business is within our customers.Contact That Fireplace Store to maintain your chimney and keep your family safe. We’ll come out to inspect your chimney with our 20 point inspection that includes the interior and the exterior to make sure that you’re safe, and that you can get a good fire going.
You won’t see anything out of place when we leave your home, and you won’t be dealing with any airborne debris. We’ll be sure to be completely honest and transparent with you when we work as well, so if there are any problems, you will know about them right away.
When we’re working with you, we’ll also make sure to provide you with a complete and detailed report and even invite you to view our video inspection. You will be able to see everything we’ve seen, so there will be no surprises and nothing that you don’t know about as we work to repair and maintain your chimney.
Give us a call to learn more, and to ask how we might be able to keep your chimney maintained for a safe and warm winter, and a centerpiece to your home!