Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

Stinky Chimneys

During the summer, the last thing on the minds of many homeowners is their fireplace, but when unpleasant odors start to invade their homes from the chimney through the fireplace, it can become a big concern.
Our staff at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service frequently receives calls from our customers complaining about stinky chimneys, and we have years of experience with dealing with this issue. We would like to tell you more about the sources of these unpleasant smells and what we can do to prevent this stinky situation from happening to your home.

CREOSOTE

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you most likely know that creosote is a natural compound that forms during the combustion process of burning wood. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) often warns the public of the dangers of accumulated creosote inside a chimney because it is the biggest cause of chimney fires. Not only is creosote extremely flammable, but it also releases a strong and acrid odor during the hot and humid months of summer. To prevent creosote from stinking up your home this year, Santa’s Friend Chimney Service recommends scheduling a spring chimney sweeping and inspection.
Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps will take great care to be sure every bit of creosote has been removed from your chimney to reduce your risk of a fire and of a stinky smell invasion of your house.

WATER

Without a chimney cap on top of your chimney, water from rain can get into your chimney very easily. This water lands on the smoke shelf, where it creates a musty odor. Very often, leaves and other debris also fall into your chimney to mix with the pooled water on the smoke shelf, and this will cause a rotting, decomposing smell inside your chimney. Santa’s Friend Chimney Service offers a variety of chimney caps, and our chimney experts can professionally install a cap on top of your chimney to protect it from water leaks. This will also keep leaves and other debris from getting into the chimney as well.

BIRDS AND ANIMALS

Another problem that can occur to an uncapped chimney that can cause unpleasant odors is birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals nesting inside your chimney. The droppings and nesting materials of these critters are stinky enough, but there is also the possibility of a bird or animal becoming trapped inside the chimney and dying. You can imagine how horrible a dead animal can smell. The best way to prevent birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals from getting inside your chimney is to have a good quality chimney cap with mesh metal sides installed on top of your chimney. Santa’s Friend Chimney Service is happy to show you the options we have to protect your chimney from wild animal invasions.

Keep your home smelling sweet this summer. Contact us at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service today to schedule a professional chimney sweeping and inspection.

What Is HeatShield? Do I Need It?

If you have an older masonry chimney, chances are you have a clay tile liner inside the flue. While clay tile liners are durable, they do not last forever. Because they are ceramic, these tiles cannot evenly distribute the heat that occurs when the temperature rises rapidly when a fire is burning. This uneven heating causes the tiles to expand at different rates, and this makes the tiles to crack and break apart. Once the clay tiles begin to deteriorate, the rest of the tiles are at risk of becoming damaged, which can cause your chimney to not work safely. Any cracks, gaps, or voids in a clay tile liner can lead to carbon monoxide leaks as well as residential fires. A couple of decades ago, the cost of replacing clay tiles was exorbitant because of the labor involved as parts of the chimney will need to be rebuilt. Many homeowners had to have stainless steel chimney liners installed to make their chimneys safe again. Fortunately, CeCure Chimney Systems  developed a revolutionary product about 20 years ago called HeatShield as a new way to reline a clay tile liner. Santa’s Friend Chimney Service is proud to have chimney technicians who have been trained and certified to use HeatShield when relining chimneys, and we would like to tell you a bit more about this option.

What exactly is HeatShield?

A specially formulated “Cerfractory” sealant, HeatShield can restore your clay tile liner to be able to vent away hazardous and toxic flue gases by eliminating the dangers of cracks, gaps, and voids in the flue. If you have an older masonry chimney with a clay tile liner, you need HeatShield to repair or restore your old liner. An economical way to repair damaged clay tiles, HeatShield does not require any rebuilding of your chimney. If only the mortar joints in your flue have deteriorated, Santa’s Friend Chimney Service can use HeatShield’s Joint Repair System to fill in the damaged mortar joints to prevent further damage. If you also have cracked or spalled clay tiles, we can use HeatShield’s Resurfacing System to coat the entire flue and make it safe to use again.

Why should I choose HeatShield?

This product is extremely durable because the formula is a combination of ceramic and refractory materials that withstands moisture, toxic and corrosive gases, and temperatures over 2900 degrees Fahrenheit. HeatShield actually goes above and beyond the standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Residential Code (IRC). If you are concerned about how long this type of liner will last, a 20-year warranty is included with your HeatShield services. As we mentioned above, HeatShield is an economical solution to repair and restore a clay tile liner. If you are concerned about the environment, you will be glad to know that this formula is created with recycled and naturally occurring materials to give you a green option for relining your chimney.

If it has been quite some time since your clay tile liner has been in use, you most likely need HeatShield. Contact us at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to find out more about this chimney relining option.