Home Maintenance

Sooty, dirty and grimy fireplace stove pipes are fire hazards. If left alone, deposits in the chimney stove pipe can become overheated to the point that they ignite. After only a few moments, the...

Adult raccoons typically build nests in hollow trees during the springtime to protect and raise their young. In suburban areas, raccoons have found a new place to set up their day care centers:...

Many people use ammonia to clean their chimneys and fireplaces, although it is important to remember that cleaning a chimney can be very dangerous and most fireplace manufacturers, construction...

The start of fireplace season varies in different climates, but most homeowners are nervous about chimney fires during the first few burns of the year. Following appropriate steps can prevent...

Few things are as cozy and inviting as a warm fire in a fireplace on a cold winter's night. Before lighting that first fire of the season, however, you must make sure that your fireplace is safe...

As winter approaches, we look forward to a cozy home with a fireplace burning brightly. No matter if you're burning fake logs or real wood, many hazards are associated with fireplaces. Keep your...

A wood stove can be an inexpensive and efficient alternative for heating your home. One of the most important steps you can take to ensure your wood stove's safety and efficiency is to keep the...

The proper use of a wood burning stove begins with the right selection and installation so that it meets local health and safety regulations as well as the Environmental Protection Agency's air...

You can cement over a brick chimney easily. The hard part is getting the cement to stick. Most skim coats of concrete will crack and peel off within a few months if you do not know how to properly...

A chimney is a tube connected to a heat production unit that carries exhaust from the inside to the outside air. You might think of bricks when you think of a chimney, but modern chimneys can be...

Fireplaces are a great way to heat your home and also create a cozy atmosphere. Fireplaces though can cause great risks and hazards to your home unless you properly maintain them and get informed.

A chimney cap keeps rodents and birds from getting inside your chimney and wreaking havoc. A cap also keeps rain out of the chimney, which is important since moisture and water could compromise...

Although a cozy fire in the fireplace is pleasant on a cold winter's evening, chimneys gather soot, creosote, dust and debris that can present a fire hazard. The buildup can also interfere with...

Installing a woodstove as a way to heat one's home is something more and more people are exploring, especially as oil and natural gas prices rise. The fact that very efficient woodstoves are...

Many people assume that the constant chirping and racket coming from their chimney is the sound of bats. While this is a common source of chimney chirps, the notorious chimney swift is more likely...

The damper in a woodburning stove or fireplace is a control used to regulate a fire's intensity, restricting the heat escaping from the woodburner through a chimney or stovepipe by narrowing the...

It's that time of the year again. It's winter. If you are an optimist, you picture winter as a time to snuggle in front of the fire and sip hot cocoa. If you are a pessimist, you see winter as a...

Chimneys come in many shapes, sizes and finishes. Many chimneys are made from stainless steel, which helps conduct heat well and prevents the buildup of creosote inside the chimney. Still, regular...

Waterproofing your house is one of the smartest investments you can make as a homeowner. Water damage can be expensive as well as a health hazard. Use all of your senses to detect and combat water...

With the increase of in home wood-burning devices comes the need for regular chimney cleaning. Regardless of the type of wood or method of burning, every chimney needs to be cleaned at least once...

Proper maintenance of your fireplace should include regular cleaning of your chimney. If you keep your chimney clean, you will reduce the incidence of chimney fires. The goal is not to make your...

A honey bee colony that makes itself at home in your chimney presents a special problem. If angered, the bees can sting children and pets. There are numerous arguments against using insecticides...

Chimney caps, also called chase tops, break down and rust with age. When it rains, the rust runs down on the chimney stones and causes staining. The stains can be cleaned off with chemicals,...

A fireplace is an attractive feature in a home and often is a selling point for potential home buyers. There are two basic types of fireplaces: wood-burning and gas-burning. No matter what type of...

Creosote is a volatile, oily liquid that is the result of coal or wood tar being distilled. Different forms of creosote are more harmful than others, and the large amounts that can build up in...

A Fireplace is both a beautiful focal point in a room and a money saving energy source for cold weather. A fireplace is a great place to curl up in front of on a cold winter night. In order to...

Professional chimney cleaning of your fireplace chimney is just one of the many preventive maintenance projects that you as a homeowner need to have performed to keep your home safe and in...

Chimney cleaning is a must for any homeowner. In a report filed by the U.S. Fire Administration, heating fires were the second leading cause of house fires in the country. Chimneys, vents and...

Cleaning buildup from your chimney should be done once a year. The fall seems to be the ideal time for this, especially if you use your fireplace often in the winter. Soot and creosote deposits...

The National Agricultural Safety Database (NASD) advises the public to perform yearly maintenance on chimneys in order to prevent house fires. Over time, chimneys can become clogged by built up...

In the spring and summer birds look for new homes to build their nests, lay their eggs and raise their young. Unfortunately sometimes their new home is inside your chimney. It’s a perfect place...

One of the most important things to do if you have a wood burning stove is to keep the chimney clean. Creosote and other ash buildup can cause backfires that can blow out the front of the wood...

There is nothing like a cozy, warm fire on a chilly night to soothe the nerves and create a romantic mood. However, there is a lot more to using a fireplace than just lighting a fire and enjoying...

Annual cleaning of your wood-burning stove's chimney is a recommended maintenance task. Removing built-up debris such as creosote will reduce the chances of a dangerous flue fire. By following a...

A fireplace damper is designed to allow the smoke to move up the chimney, causing a movement of air that feeds the fire and allows it to burn more efficiently. When the fireplace is not in use, an...

Chimney caps help keep birds, squirrels, leaves, water and twigs from coming into your chimney. Without them, your fireplace can develop a permanent smoky smell caused by rain, mixing with the...

Creosote, a flammable, oily buildup and natural byproduct of wood fires, will coat the inside of your chimney the more fires you burn in your fireplace or stove. A layer of creosote and soot forms...

A fireplace denotes a warm and cozy atmosphere. Keeping that atmosphere clean helps to retain its appeal. If you have old or reusable chimney logs, you may want to clean them. This may be for the...

Cold winter nights are made warm and cozy by building a fire in the fireplace. In the process of burning firewood, creosote and soot build up inside the chimney pipe which can cause a chimney...

A fireplace draft is a metal plate that regulates the flow of air into and out of a fireplace via the chimney. Another important function of the draft is to prevent heated air from escaping from a...

Cleaning the inside of your chimney will help prevent fires and black smoke from coming into your home. It is recommended that you clean your chimney after each season. Check inside the chimney...

Cleaning the chimney liner or flue is a maintenance process that should be conducted at least once a year. Whether that chimney is used for wood burning or gas products, sweeping or cleaning that...

Normal pellet stove operation produces fly ash, which can collect in the chimney and restrict ventilation. If you don't start or operate your stove according to the manufacturer's instructions,...

Burning wood in a stove or fireplace causes creosote buildup in the chimney. Creosote burns, and this means the more creosote accumulation you have in your chimney, the higher the possibility of...

Fireplace drafts can cause a chill in your home as well as in your pocketbook. In addition to allowing cool air to infiltrate your living space, the source of the draft is likely to be sucking out...

Learn how to visually inspect a fireplace to insure it's overall condition, performance and functionality.

It doesn't take a chimney cleaning company to clean a fireplace chimney. What it does take is a little time, a few tools and careful footing.

I always wanted a home with a fireplace, however once I got one I didn't know how to care for it. After finding out I was doing all the wrong things, I figured out the proper way to clean a...

When the cold season comes around, curling up in front of a crackling fire with blankets and cups of hot cocoa is the best thing to do. All fireplaces come with cleaning precautions that ensure...

They’re cute little creatures when they’re scampering around your backyard, but when they find their way into your house, squirrels can do a significant amount of damage. If there is already a...