Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

How a Chimney Cap Keeps Your Chimney Safe

Is your chimney uncapped? Or is your chimney cap cracked or damaged? If you do not have a chimney cap or if your chimney cap is deteriorated, your chimney is at risk for several problems. The purpose of a chimney cap is to protect your chimney’s interior from intruders like water and animals. An important part of your chimney system, your chimney cap serves to keep your chimney safe. At Santa’s Friend Chimney Service, we understand how essential a good chimney cap is for your chimney. We also know the importance of proper installation of a chimney cap, and our expert technicians will provide you with a perfect, customized chimney cap installation. We would like to share with you five reasons why chimney caps are so important, according to a blog on Angie’s List.

1. A chimney cap keeps your chimney safe from water penetration. The main function of a chimney cap is to keep water out of your chimney. One of the best protections from water penetration, a properly fitted cap will keep your chimney dry. Water is the number one enemy of a masonry chimney because of the amount of expensive damage it can do. If water gets into your bricks and mortar, you can end up with spalled bricks and chipped mortar. Water also can eat away at your chimney liner, which puts you at risk for carbon monoxide leaks. Water in your chimney can also cause your damper to rust. Another hazardous possibility is mold growth on your chimney walls.
2. A chimney cap keeps your chimney safe from animal invasions. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other animals like to take up residence in chimneys because they mistake them for hollow trees. However, these animals are fire hazards because their nests are highly flammable. Animals can also get stuck inside your chimney and die, which can produce maggots, flies, and an unpleasant odor in your home. A chimney cap with metal mesh sides will serve to keep these animals from getting into your chimney.
3. A chimney cap can block downdrafts. When the wind blows in a certain direction, it can cause a downdraft in your chimney. Without a chimney cap, a wood-burning fireplace can be negatively affected by a downdraft as it can cause smoke to blow into your home. The reason why chimney caps have flat tops is to help prevent downdrafts caused by the wind.
4. A chimney cap can prevent sparks and embers from leaving the chimney. Some people refer to chimney caps as “spark arrestors” because they stop lit embers and sparks which travel up the chimney. If these sparks and embers jump out of your chimney, they can possibly catch your roof on fire.
5. A chimney cap keeps your chimney safe from a buildup of debris. Without a chimney cap, leaves, branches, twigs, and other debris can get into your chimney and accumulate. These accumulations can become large enough to block your flue, which causes toxic gases to enter your home.

As you can see, a chimney cap is essential to keep your chimney safe from several things. If you need a new chimney cap, contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to schedule a consultation with our experienced staff.

Leaky Chimneys and the Damage They Cause

If there is a number one enemy of your masonry chimney, it would have to be water. When the bricks and mortar are exposed to water for a prolonged amount of time, they will deteriorate and erode rapidly. Even more damage occurs when moisture is trapped inside the masonry of your chimney and the temperatures drop below freezing. Rust can also occur on parts of your chimney, and this can cause them to weaken and be destroyed. The majority of this damage requires essential repairs that can end up costing you lots of money. At Santa’s Friend Chimney Service, we strongly feel that preventing water penetration is one of the most important maintenance tasks for homeowners with chimneys. We would like to tell you more about exactly what kind of damage can be caused by chimney leaks and which ways you can prevent water penetration from even happening to your masonry chimney.

Water Penetration Damage Possibilities

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water penetration can cause the following damage to your masonry chimney and your home:

• rusted and deteriorated damper and firebox assemblies, fireplace accessories, and glass doors
• rotting wood adjacent to your fireplace and chimney
• water stained walls and ceilings
• stained chimney exterior
• decayed exterior mortar and spalled bricks
• cracked or deteriorated flue lining system
• collapsed hearth support
• chimney settlement
• tilted or collapsed chimney structure

Ways To Prevent Leaky Chimneys

There are several essential repairs needed to stop water penetration as well as ways you can prevent any water leaks in the future, including:

• repair or replace a damaged chimney cap – Chimney caps sit on top of your chimney’s opening and protect it from water penetration and animal invasions. The most inexpensive water penetration prevention measure, chimney caps have long been known as an important chimney safety and damage prevention part of a chimney system.
• repair deteriorated mortar joints – Mortar joints should have no gaps or missing mortar and should be shaped in a way that will direct water out of the joint. When water penetrates mortar joints, they become soft and erode quickly. When this occurs, your exterior chimney should be repointed to repair the deteriorated joints and keep the water out.
• repair or install custom flashing – The seal between the roofing materials and the chimney, a customized and properly-fitted flashing system keeps water from penetrating your chimney’s interior. If your chimney is located on the slope of your roof, Santa’s Friend Chimney Service can add a cricket to the flashing to direct rain and snow away from your chimney and to keep the water from intruding.
• waterproofing – Using a 100% vapor permeable formula, Santa’s Friend Chimney Service can apply this waterproofing formula to the masonry work of your chimney. The formula we use keeps water from getting in and allows water vapors to escape your bricks and mortar, which gives you the ultimate protection from water leaks.

Have you noticed any signs of chimney leaks or water penetration damage? Contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service today to schedule an appointment to repair these leaks and damage and then to protect your chimney from future water penetration.

The Importance of Using A CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep

When you are looking for a professional chimney sweep company, you should always be sure the company is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), as we are at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service. This certification is so important because this credential is the industry standard and ensures you receive the highest quality service possible when working with a chimney sweeping company. We would like to tell you more about the CSIA and what their certification means so that you can understand the importance of only working with CSIA-certified chimney sweeps.

What Is the CSIA?

Founded in 1983, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of the safety of chimney and venting systems. Dedicated to preventing and eliminating the hazards and dangers of chimney fires, carbon monoxide leaks, and other issues, the CSIA devotes many resources to inform the public, chimney professionals, and fire prevention specialists on how to reduce and correct problems in chimney and venting systems. Providing the only certification program in the chimney and venting system industry, the CSIA is truly the professional standard.

What Is the CSIA-Certification Process?

To receive certification from the CSIA, an employee or an owner must attend a six-day program at its training center at the headquarters in Indianapolis, IN. Combining classroom training at the technology training center with hands-on experience in homes the course provides over 30 hours of experience using the tools of the trade and working with different venting systems. After the completion of this program, most participants will receive the credential of being a CSIA-certified Chimney Sweep after passing certification exams.

What Are the Different Topics Covered in the CSIA-Certification Program?

During the six-day program, students will learn:

• how to inspect and service chimney systems of all fuel types
• about the different home heating appliances, including pellet stoves, wood stoves, inserts, factory-built fireplaces, furnaces, and central heaters
• the standards of the National Fire Prevention Association 211
• how to navigate the International Residential Codes, chimney performance problems, understanding draft and flow, diagnosing drown drafts, flow reversals, inadequate flow, stack effects, updrafts, pressure effects, and gauges
• safety and health equipment and methods.

What If I Cannot Travel to Indianapolis to Attend the CSIA-Certification Program?

There is an alternative to taking the in-person program. CSIA also provides an online training session that people can take at home whenever convenient for them.

What Are the Other Steps to Becoming CSIA-Certified?

After completing the in-person or online training session, participants must pass an one-hour exam based on the CSIA textbook Successful Chimney Sweeping 2011 and NFPA 211 2013 and a 90-minute open book exam based on the 2006 International Residential Codes. After passing these exams, candidates must agree to pay the annual certification fee and sign the CSIA Code of Ethics.

You can depend on CSIA-certified chimney sweeps to do the best professional job possible. Contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to schedule your annual chimney cleaning with our CSIA-certified sweeps.

Choosing the Right Firewood

Believe it or not, but the type of wood you use to build fires makes a big difference in the performance of your fireplace and chimney. Choosing the right firewood provides convenience, efficiency, and safety when the time comes to light a fire, but what exactly are the qualities of excellent firewood? Once you have found good wood, how do you properly store it to ensure it remains effective? How do you know if your wood truly is the right kind for a safe and beautiful fire? At Santa’s Friend Chimney Service, we are often asked these questions about selecting the most successful firewood. To help you purchase the best wood for your money, we would like to share some tips with you to ensure a great wood-burning season.

Seasoned or Unseasoned Wood?

While all firewood has a certain amount of moisture content, seasoned wood has been dried to contain less water than freshly-cut, unseasoned wood. Dried wood burns easier and cleaner, and it also provides more heat because the fire does not have to waste energy on burning up a large amount of water content. Unseasoned or “green” wood can be responsible for smoke and odor issues, and using this type of firewood poses a hazardous risk of causing a chimney fire due to rapid accumulations of creosote deposits. Even though some species of wood are recommended for burning fires because of their density, the seasoning aspect makes much more of a difference on the quality of the firewood, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).

Properly Storing Firewood

You could purchase a wood moisture meter to be sure your firewood is sufficiently dry; however, you do not have to use an expensive tool when you can follow these natural guidelines to test your wood:

• Seasoned wood is lighter in weight.
• Seasoned wood will have cracks in its end grain.
• Hit two pieces of firewood together, and if properly dried, you should hear a hollow sound. Wet wood will make a dull, thudding noise.
• Firewood darkens from white or cream to yellow or gray as it seasons.
• Unseasoned wood makes a sizzling sound when burned.
• Split a piece of your firewood, and if its exposed face feels warm and dry, it is well-seasoned. If it feels cool and damp, the wood is unseasoned.

For more advice on choosing the right firewood, contact us today. Our staff loves sharing knowledge on the secrets to building the best fires.

Getting Your Chimney Ready for the Fall Season

In order to prepare for the colder weather ahead, getting your chimney ready for fall and winter early allows you to relax during the busy holiday season safely in front of your fireplace. If you wait too long to do certain maintenance tasks, you will have to deal with scheduling a chimney inspection during the busiest part of the year. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) the greatest amount of chimney fires occur during the months of December, January, and February, and the main cause of these fires is creosote build-up in a chimney. A simple call to Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to schedule your annual chimney sweeping in late summer will rid your chimney of large creosote deposits. It will help to prevent a chimney fire from happening later in the winter. We at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service would like to give you a fall chimney checklist for both wood-burning and gas fireplaces.

Fall Checklist For a Wood-Burning Fireplace

• Schedule your annual chimney cleaning and inspection.  The NFPA, the Chimney Safety Institute of America, and other fire safety organizations recommend your chimney be swept and inspected at least once a year. Scheduling this essential maintenance task to be done before fall ensures you are safe to light your first fire in your fireplace. Our sweeps at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service will make certain your chimney is free from creosote deposits as well as check your chimney for any needed repairs.
• Arrange for essential repairs to be completed. If any damage to your bricks and mortar from water leaks is discovered during our chimney inspection, we can replace missing or damaged bricks and mortar to prevent structural damage. Your flue liner is also inspected, and if any cracks or holes are found in the liner, we can either repair or replace the liner to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Have your chimney cap replaced if it is missing or damaged. The best way for keeping birds and animals from nesting in your chimney over the winter, a chimney cap should be on top of every chimney. Our chimney sweeps will check your chimney cap to be sure it is undamaged and properly fitted atop your chimney.
• Replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This step can save the lives of you and your family.

Fall Checklist For a Gas Fireplace

• Just as with a wood-burning fireplace, schedule your annual chimney cleaning and inspection. Like a wood-burning chimney sweeping, your cleaning and inspection will include looking for essential repairs to be performed. A gas fireplace chimney sweeping should involve cleaning the airways of the pilot and main burners as well as the blower.
• Replace batteries. Not only should you replace the batteries in the all-important smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, but you also need to change the batteries in the remote control and the receiver.

If you are ready to schedule your annual chimney sweeping and inspection before fall arrives, contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service today to arrange an appointment. Our experienced and certified staff is ready to prepare your chimney for the cooler months.

Don’t Ignore These 3 Chimney Repairs

Neglecting chimney repairs can lead to serious structural damage as well to possible health hazards to you and your family. While you may believe you’re saving money by ignoring chimney repairs, you’re actually going to have to spend more in the long run when these small, but ignored issues develop into larger, impossible-to-ignore problems. We at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service can perform both minor and major chimney repairs in an economical and efficient manner.

According to the Chimney Institute of America (CSIA), water leaks are the main cause of most chimney repairs; in their words, “water is the biggest enemy of your chimney.” The following water-related repairs are ones you should never ignore, as doing so could cause irreparable damage.

1. Spalling bricks and mortar

If you notice spalling, the breaking and chipping away of masonry materials due to water penetration, on your chimney’s exterior, you should seek immediate help from a certified professional. Water is absorbed into the porous brick and mortar over the years. The greatest cause of spalling is the freeze-thaw cycle; water inside your bricks and mortar freeze in the cold winter months (which causes it to expand) and thaws when temperatures warm (which allows the bricks to contract), which causes them to break apart.

The certified sweeps at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service have the expertise to repair spalling bricks and crumbling mortar. Once we’ve restored your chimney to its original condition, we can apply a 100% vapor permeable waterproofing formula to your chimney, which will let the byproducts of combustion escape yet prevent water from entering.

2. A damaged chimney crown and cap

Sitting on the very top of your chimney, chimney crowns and caps are the best protection from rainwater coming into your chimney; however, if either is cracked, deteriorated, and/or damaged, your chimney is open and more susceptible to water whenever it rains or snows. Because of the critical job they perform, damaged chimney crowns and caps most definitely need to be repaired or replaced sooner than later.

We can take care of your chimney cap and crown needs (be it repair or replacement) and can customize them to precisely fit the top of your chimney.

3. A cracked chimney flue liner

Water penetrating your chimney can also cause damage—chipping away, rusting or breaking—to your flue liner, depending on which type of liner you have. A damaged flue liner can be very hazardous to your health and creates a definite fire hazard as well; your flue liner’s main job is to keep the toxic byproducts of combustion, smoke and carbon monoxide, out of your home. Cracks and/or holes in the liner prevent the chimney from successfully performing its job duties, putting you and your family at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Santa’s Friend Chimney Service offers relining and replacement options for your damaged flue liner. HeatShield can be used for a flue liner that is not damaged beyond repair, whereas a stainless steel liner can be used to replace a liner that is damaged beyond repair.

No doubt, the best and surest way to know if anything is wrong with your chimney system is to schedule your annual chimney sweeping and inspection. Contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service today to schedule an appointment; our CSIA-certified sweeps will evaluate everything to determine what, if any, repairs are necessary.