What (or Who) is Stuck in My Chimney?

                       

You’ve got a chimney blockage in your Middle Tennessee chimney, and all you know is, “Uh-oh....” well, just in case you were wondering, that is the right reaction! Chimney blockages can be very dangerous to your home and your family’s health. That’s where a professional, reliable chimney sweep company like All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair comes in.

As a chimney owner, it’s more likely that you will experience a blockage at some point than not. Of course, it’s important to ensure that your chimney is always clean, as a dirty chimney can quickly cause a chimney fire. Here are three of the leading causes of chimney blockages:

DEBRIS

Leaves, twigs, and whatever the wind blows… that’s what winds up inside your chimney - often whether or not you have a chimney cap. Eventually, this accumulation can create a blockage large enough to cause that undesirable black smoke crawling back into your house due to incomplete combustion and negative air pressure. Also, dangerous, poisonous, carbon monoxide leaking into your house can mount should the accumulated debris cause cracks in your flue. 

WILDLIFE

An inactive chimney is a very hospitable home for wildlife like raccoons, opossum, chimney swifts, and occasionally even snakes! Not only does this create the obvious problem of rendering the fireplace useless until the wildlife is removed, certain species are also very destructive and may cause a good amount of damage to the chimney, like the raccoon. Never attempt to remove wildlife from a chimney yourself. Give us a call at All Year Chimney Sweeps, as this type of extraction should always be left to trained professionals.

BUILT-UP CREOSOTE

It’s that thick, sticky, black-brown tar-like residue that forms naturally as a by-product of burning wood, and it coats and eventually clogs the lining of your chimney. A wood-burning stove, you have creosote deposits building up on the walls of your chimney. If you go too long without a chimney sweeping, enough creosote can build up to become hazardous. Creosote is very dangerous, as it is highly-combustible and THE leading cause of chimney fires. Once again, the solution is that regular chimney cleaning and maintenance will prevent debris from mounting to dangerous levels.

---

If you’re dealing with a dangerous chimney blockage problem, call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair. We’ll have your chimney free and clear and restored back to perfect functionality before you know it!Call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair at (615) 285-9118 today! We look forward to serving you.

For special offers from All Year Chimney Sweeps, click here:

http://www.chimneysweepsnashville.com

Help Your Chimney Win the War Against Water!

           

It’s a problem, and a pretty big one at that: water damage to your chimney. In fact, did you know that the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) calls water the biggest enemy of chimney masonry? It makes sense when you think about it. Masonry is made of primarily natural materials brick, mortar, and concrete, which by nature are highly susceptible to the eroding effects of water and water penetration upon a chimney. When you consider that your chimney is daily exposed to the effects of the weather, including not just moisture but also, on occasion, moisture coupled with forceful winds, it’s hard not to see the importance of regular chimney check-ups and maintenance.

Here’s the good news: we can help! At  All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair , our chimney inspections are designed to help you stay ahead of damage. We’ll take care of any necessary repairs or special treatments as early as possible, in order to avoid the need for expensive repairs later. Here are a few of the most common treatments and repairs we perform:

Tuck Pointing

For chimneys with damage centered around the mortar joints, we use a repair process called tuck pointing, in which damaged joints are carefully removed and replaced with fresh, strong new joints.

Chimney Waterproofing

We can apply a waterproofing sealant that stops that absorption and protects the masonry going forward.

Chimney Cap Installation

A chimney cap is key in the prevention of water penetration of the masonry work on your chimney. All Year Chimney Sweeps can professionally the perfect chimney cap to protect your chimney from water damage. We can even create and install a new chimney crown.

Replace Chimney Flashing and/or Throat Damper Plate

Just say NO to corrosion! At All Year Chimney Sweeps we can install a fresh new chimney throat damper plate and flashing to boot - whatever the need. You may also want to consider a materials upgrade, as stainless steel and copper reist water far better than galvanized metal.

Call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair

to schedule your own chimney checkup. Our technicians will create a special treatment plan to care for any issues. We will return your chimney to a place of perfect health fortification to win the war against water! Contact All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair at (615) 285-9118 today! We look forward to serving you.

For special offers from All Year Chimney Sweeps, click below:

http://www.chimneysweepsnashville.com

Stinky Chimney Syndrome

                       

Summertime, summertime, summertime! Boy, do we love the sun. Everything is green, the air is filled with the scent of neighborhood blooms and newly cut grass, and the outdoor lakes and pools are finally the perfect temperature for a refreshing dip. But for many Middle Tennessee homeowners, there’s something else that may be in dire need of refreshing: your chimney.

That’s right: this time of year, more than any other, those oh-so-unpleasant odors tend to emanate from many greater Nashville chimneys and fireplaces. The high temperatures of the season can form an incubator to coax those disturbing aromas into prominence. Pretty soon they are dancing out of your fireplace and making themselves comfortable in your home.

At All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repairs, we want you to know that you don’t have to struggle anymore with commercially available powders and sprays that don’t work, and at best, could only serve to cover up a potentially serious issue. We’ve labeled it, simply, “Stinky Chimney Syndrome”, but in truth, it can often be far more serious than the discomfort of daily life with a foul smelling fireplace.

That’s why it’s important to get professional help. Our trained, licensed professionals will examine your chimney and fireplace to pinpoint the exact source of the odor. Causes generally range between an accumulation of creosote deposits, to the presence of mold and mildew growth, and even birds and animals who’ve chosen your chimney for a home - living or deceased. Between dangerous gases, mold spores, and airborne transmission of diseases from infected wildlife, dealing with a stinky chimney swiftly and seriously is key. Your family’s health may very likely be at risk.

Depending upon the diagnosis of the origin of the odor, our All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair technicians will create a treatment plan to resolve the issue. We will return your chimney, fireplace, and living space to a place of safe, optimum health, free of any harmful contaminants that would affect your family’s health. We will also completely eradicate the source of the chimney odor itself, as well as any lingering scent.

Isn’t it time to turn your losing battle with smelly chimney odor into a win for your family’s health and comfort? For more information about how to snuff out “Stinky Chimney Syndrome”, call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair at (615) 285-9118 today! We look forward to serving you.

For special offers from All Year Chimney Sweeps, click here:

http://www.chimneysweepsnashville.com