Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

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.

Waterproofing a Chimney

You have probably heard us warn you about the dangers of water penetration of your chimney. Water can cause so much damage and deterioration that the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has named water as the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. To protect your chimney from water penetration damage, there are several preventive measures you can take, including installing a good quality chimney cap on top as well as a customized flashing system around your chimney where it meets the roof. However, the best investment you can make to prevent water penetration of your chimney is to schedule a professional waterproofing treatment from Santa’s Friend Chimney Service. We are proud to offer this chimney maintenance service, and you can trust the ChimneySaver products we use to protect your chimney from water penetration. We would like to tell you more about the kind of damage water can do, along with what you can expect from our waterproofing service.

How can water damage my chimney so badly?

Water penetration can seriously deteriorate the masonry materials of your chimney. The bricks and mortar that your chimney is constructed from are very porous and naturally absorb water. Extensive damage can occur when the water that is absorbed and trapped inside these masonry materials freezes and expands in the winter. As this water thaws, it causes the bricks and mortar joints to crack and break apart. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles can lead to bricks and mortar joints falling out of the chimney, which can lead to serious structural problems. Not only does water cause this type of damage, but it can also cause rusting damage to the metal components of your chimney, including the liner and damper. Sometimes, water can even leak into your home to create water stains in the ceilings and walls.

What can I expect from a waterproofing treatment from Santa’s Friend Chimney Service?

Before our CSIA-certified chimney technicians apply the waterproofing treatment to your chimney, we will examine your chimney to see what type of formula we will use. Generally we use a water-based formula, but if you have had a waterproofing treatment done in the past, we will have to use a solvent-based formula. After we clean the bricks with brushes, we will then apply a coating of this water repellent formula to your entire chimney. This 100% vapor-permeable waterproofing formula will create a barrier against water penetration of your chimney, while still allowing vapors to escape from the bricks and mortar. This environmentally-friendly product will resist mildew, mold, and fungus and reduce water penetration by 99.9 percent. You will also receive a 10-year warranty, which means the bricks and mortar of your chimney will be protected from water leaks for a decade.

Prolong the life of your masonry chimney. Contact us at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to schedule an appointment for our waterproofing services 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.

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.