Santa's Friend Chimney Service

Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

Types of Masonry Restoration

Notice problems in your chimney masonry? Call us and we'll do the necessary restoration so your chimney will look as good as new and function efficiently.

Notice problems in your chimney masonry? Call us and we’ll do the necessary repairs so your chimney will look and function as good as new.

If you have a masonry chimney, you should know that the Chimney Safety Institute of America claims water is your chimney’s greatest enemy because if it penetrates into your masonry joints, it can cause all sorts of expensive repair work, such as structural damage. Another victim of water damage is your chimney crown. To repair this water damage as well as to prevent water damage from even happening, you will need some sort of type of masonry restoration work from a professional chimney company like Santa’s Friend Chimney Service. We have experienced masons on hand that can perform several types of masonry restoration work, and we would like to tell you more about the types of masonry restoration work we provide.

Repointing/Tuckpointing

To provide a better understanding of repointing, the Masonry Magazine, the official publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America, states that looking at the differences between the 100-year old definitions of the masonry terms “pointing,” “jointing,” “repointing,” and “tuckpointing” will give you a better idea of what repointing means today.

  • Pointing – The definition of pointing is the placement and careful tooling of a mortar joint between bricks and stones, and contrary to jointing, this process scrapes back the mortar joint several days after the completion of the brickwork.
  • Jointing – Jointing is what bricklayers do today, the process of finishing the joint along with the brickwork being completed.
  • Repointing – Typically the type of restoration work done on older mortar, 100 years ago, repointing meant replacing a failed mortar joint, which happened about once a century.
  • Tuckpointing – The word “tuckpointing” referred to a specialized application of pointing where the bricks were first sanded to a smooth surface and the original mortar joint is masked with a thin strip that matched the brick in color. Then, the joint was meticulously shaved down to match exactly the other joints in the chimney, and a fine, usually white mortar was tucked over the lines and finely manicured to look like no repairs had ever been done.

Today, “repointing” refers to repairing damaged mortar joints by filling in the gaps and holes created by water penetration, and “tuckpointing” refers to replacing deteriorated mortar with new mortar. The experienced and trained masons at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service are able to provide both types of masonry restoration to repair spalling and other damage due to water penetration of your masonry joints.

After explaining the different types of masonry restoration we provide, Santa’s Friend Chimney Service would like to tell you about a water penetration prevention service we offer:

  • Waterproofing – Using specially formulated materials that prevent water from penetrating into your bricks and masonry joints but allow vapors to pass through your chimney, our technicians have been applying the Chimney Saver Water Repellent for the past 20 years successfully to chimneys all over the Central Mississippi area. Your chimney will be protected from water penetration that causes the damage that needs masonry repair work.

If you have loose bricks and chips in the mortar of your chimney, contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced chimney masons. We would be happy to provide our masonry restoration services to you.

A Stinky Chimney Problem

No more holding your breath at home due to your smelly chimney. Just call us and we'll have your chimney cleaned in no time.

No more holding your breath at home due to your smelly chimney. Just call us and we’ll have your chimney cleaned in no time.

When your friends enter your home, you want them to smell something good. Let’s face it; chimney odors do not fall into this category. This is one reason why it is important to keep your chimney maintenance up to date. If you are experiencing problems like this or have any other chimney related questions, call the experts at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service today.

Why does my chimney stink anyway?

The main reason your chimney will stink is because of creosote. When wood is burned in the fire, these byproducts come up and begin to clump together on the inside of your chimney. This will not only cause drafts problems, but if left long enough they will begin to soak into the structure of your chimney and become harder to remove. As weather become warmer and more humid, the smell will become stronger. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended that you have an extra sweep in addition to your annual sweep and inspection. One should be done after burning season to remove anything that built up over the winter months, but the second should be done after summer to remove anything natural that may have made its way into your chimney.

Mold is another reason that a chimney or any other part of your home will smell. Chimney mold is built when there is a crack in the structure or a piece of the chimney is not in working order. Your Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified professional will be able to spot these things during your inspection. Mold can grow in as little as one to two days, so if you see a leak or something suspicious, call for help. One way to reduce water troubles is by having the technicians put a waterproof sealant on the outside of the chimney. This is especially recommended if you live in a wet area.

How do you properly prepare for a sweep?

Here is a simple checklist to make sure your home is ready for its examination:

  • Do not burn a fire for more than 24 hours before your sweep.
  • Move valuables’ and furniture away from the fireplace.
  • Lock pets away in a spare room for safety

6 Questions to Ask Your Sweep

If you find yourself in the market for someone to handle all of your chimney maintenance needs, we want you to know that knowledge is power.  Here are some questions you can ask your prospective chimney sweeps to ensure that you’re getting the right people for the job.

We at Santa's Friend Chimney Service can answer all of your questions and provide you with peace of mind.

We at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service can answer all of your questions and provide you with peace of mind.

By Jim Robinson on April 28th, 2014 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , | Leave a Comment

Remember Your Chimney this Spring

As you write down your Spring home maintenance checklist, make your chimney a top priority.

As you write down your Spring home maintenance checklist, make your chimney a top priority.

We’ve had our share of unpredictable spring and summer weather in Mississippi, and that affects our lives in a number of ways, from the way we prepare our homes to the way we prepare ourselves.

As chimney technicians, part of our job at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service is to make sure our clients’ chimney systems are prepared to withstand a rainy spring and stormy summer without developing chimney leaks or other forms of damage. That’s part of why we encourage clients to make chimney maintenance a part of their spring home maintenance checklist.

Getting Your Chimney Ready For The Warmer Months

Chimney maintenance is an ongoing process, and the more consistent you are with your system’s routine needs, by and large, the fewer unexpected and unwanted surprises will pop up. As we close out the heating system and your fireplace or stove is getting ready to rest, here’s what we recommend:

Schedule Your Annual Chimney Inspection and Sweeping in the Spring

Many homeowners choose to wait until the start of the following heating season to take care of their annual chimney maintenance, but scheduling a chimney inspection and chimney sweeping in the spring can make your life easier, and your spring and summer more pleasant.

If you’ve been using your fireplace or stove all fall and winter, your flue has developed creosote and/or other byproduct deposits that should be swept and removed before the next heating season. By having that work done in the spring, you’re not only prepared for next fall ahead of time, but you’ll enjoy a cleaner-smelling home now.

Creosote has a smoky, often unpleasant odor, and the heat and humidity of summer magnifies that. If you’ve noticed a dank smell in your living area in past summers, there’s a good chance that’s the culprit. A swept chimney gets rid of those deposits.

Scheduling your inspection at the end of your system’s season of hard work benefits you too. Any issues that might have cropped up over the winter — from a missing chimney cap to a damaged flue liner  — can be found and repaired before the rains and storms really hit in earnest, leaving your system (and the interior of your home) more protected.

Add Some Extra Protection Against Chimney Leaks

Even the strongest masonry chimney undergoes wear and tear over years of moisture and temperature fluctuations. And the more worn your bricks and mortar joints get, the more likely a leak becomes. Your masonry can begin sucking water in like a sponge, damaging the interior of your chimney and the interior of your home.

We can help protect your masonry, your chimney system and your home’s interior by applying a specially formulated chimney waterproofing sealant. This product stops your masonry from absorbing water, but it’s completely vapor permeable, so the natural expulsion of vapors and small particles — part of your chimney’s proper function — will still occur.

Let Santa’s Friend help you go into the spring and summer with a chimney system that’s strong and prepared. If you have any questions about what your chimney needs — or want to schedule an appointment with our CSIA-certified technicians — give us a call!

Put Your Damper On Top

Dampen Your Chimney Problems for a Merrier Christmas

Now that we’ve put away our Halloween costumes and emptied our pantries of all those candies we’ve prepared, it only means one thing – Christmas is coming. The universally loved and awaited holiday not only by kids but by adults as well. Christmas carols are in the air, malls filled with glittering decors of green and red with that joyous glint of silver and gold. Households are busying up to get ready for the holiday festivities. So that means; food, presents, decorations, and possibly an intimate get together with family and close friends. But aside from the standard things we have on our Christmas to-do list, we shouldn’t forget about one important thing – get the chimney ready.

A top sealing damper keeps critters and moisture out - luckily Santa has all kinds of secret ways to deliver presents.

A top sealing damper keeps critters and moisture out – luckily Santa has all kinds of secret ways to deliver presents.

Aside from being a place to keep you warm, it is also popularly known as Santa Claus’ mode of entrance during this season. So there is a high chance that your children will be hovering around your fireplace waiting for a fat man in a red suit to pop out. It is therefore important for you to make sure your chimney is safe and secure. Not only to keep your children safe, but also to safeguard your entire household.

There are number of things that could go wrong in that tiny area. If ignored, chimneys could potentially be the cause of a house fire. Also, if you don’t take the necessary precaution, you might end up with a foul smelling house. If left unchecked, you wouldn’t be aware that there are water leaks that are beginning to come down the flue. The water then starts dripping into your fireplace giving off that foul odor.

Aside from fixing the problems, you have to make sure that your chimney is able to do its main function properly; and that is to keep you and your family warm. To achieve this you need make sure that the damper you have installed in your chimney is fully functional and effective. For those who aren’t familiar, the damper is like a door that is opened when burning a fire or smoke, and closed when the fireplace isn’t in use. This keeps the warm air in and the cold out, which is very important during cold seasons. Traditionally, there are two types of dampers; the Throat Damper and the Top Mount Damper.

At Santa’s Friend Chimney Service they make use of Top Mount Dampers. It is the go to guy when the original damper of the chimney has been worn out. It is also the most commonly used during repairs because it is virtually air tight due to its altered seal location. The seal is strategically placed on top of the flue therefore keeping the outside air outside. Aside from that, the Top Mount Damper also seals off the flue entirely when your chimney isn’t used. So it prevents the flue from competing against your AC and heating system therefore lowering your energy costs by a significant fraction. Other than this you can also keep those pesky bugs, insects and small animals from getting inside your house through your chimney. It saves from the worry and hassle of having to clean up annoying animal droppings on your living room. Throat Dampers are also as effective as the Top Mount Damper. The main difference between the two is their location. The Throat Damper is located at the base of the chimney, more towards the fireplace area, while the Top Mount is located at the upper end. The disadvantage of the Throat Damper is that when damaged, it is far more expensive to replace or repair.

You wouldn’t want your holidays to be ruined over a small chimney problem, now would you? That is why it is essential to have a top sealing damper installed. Not only does it keep you and your family warm, but it also saves you from having to spend a lot of money. So you best remember to call a certified chimney company such as the Santa’s Friend Chimney Service before you start getting busy with the festivities. These guys will definitely take care of you and your chimney. So why deprive yourself of having the perfect Christmas? Go ahead and get your chimney checked and have a top sealing damper installed today.

Does Your Chimney Need Repair?

Signs That Your Chimney Is In Need of Repair

One of the best features of many homes is a chimney and fireplace to enjoy a fire on a cold winter night. However, if the chimney is not in excellent working condition, it could actually be a source of peril rather than enjoyment. There are a few signs that any homeowner can look out for that would indicate a problem with their chimney. It is important to take these warning signs seriously because many of them can snowball into much more serious and dangerous situations.

One problem that can quickly lead to other problems is damage to the mortar joints. This is the place where the pieces of chimney masonry come together. It may be necessary to get up on the roof to see this damage, but it is well worth checking out. During your annual inspection, a certified sweep can take a look at your mortar joints for you, so that you don’t have to get up on the roof. If there is damage to the mortar joints, then too much moisture will be able to enter the chimney. Not only does moisture lead to many other problems with the chimney but, if it is not corrected, this could lead to a total collapse of the chimney.

Water in your chimney can cause many problems, including a collapse of your chimney.

Water in your chimney can cause many problems, including a collapse of your chimney.

Another issue that is best found from the chimney is a cracked or otherwise damaged chimney crown. The crown is the part of the chimney that keeps material out which should not be in the chimney. This helps prevent moisture in the chimney but also keeps things such as leaves and animals out. This may not seem important but allowing these foreign materials into the chimney can lead to much more serious issues.

If there is too much moisture in the chimney, one of the most obvious signs will be the development of rust. In particular, the damper and the firebox itself will have rust in the presence of excess moisture. When there is rust in the chimney, it can cause the flue to crack, which allows too much heat to enter the home when there is a fire in the fireplace. If this happens, the home is at an increased risk for a dangerous house fire.

Taking a good look at the firebox another good way to tell if there is too much moisture in the chimney. One obvious problem will be that the bricks on the chimney will begin to pop out, peel, or flake. Eventually, if it is not fixed, huge chunks of the firebox will start to break off. This could compromise the integrity of the entire structure, causing it to crumble completely.

If there are pieces of tile gathering at the bottom of the fireplace, it is important to consider where they are coming from. In most cases, they are coming from the flue liner, which is damaged. It is important to know that the fireplace should never be used if the flue liner is not intact. This is an extremely dangerous situation and should be remedied immediately. Many people in this situation choose to replace their tile liners with stainless steel, which is less likely to fall apart over time.

There are many different issues that may arise with a chimney and many of them can lead to other problems if they are not fixed in a timely manner. One of the most important things to look out for is excess water in the chimney. This can lead to deterioration that could eventually cause the entire structure to fall apart. If there is any sign that the structure of the chimney has been compromised, it is important to have it inspected immediately.