Frequently
Asked Questions
How
often should my chimney be cleaned?
How
long will it take to clean my chimney and is there any Mess?
How
do you clean a chimney?
Do you install caps?
Can
you do repairs?
What
is a chimney liner?
How
often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
What
is the difference between a Pre-fab fireplace and a Masonry Fireplace?
What
is the difference between vented and non vented gas logs?
You
sell gas logs but can you run the gas line for me?
My
chimney has white stains on the brick. What is this?
What
can be done to prevent the stains?
Can
you get replacement glass for my fireplace doors?
Why
should we choose you as our chimney professional?
Do
you have references?
What
areas do you service?
Chimney
Safety Institute of America FAQs
23,600 Reasons to have your chimney serviced.
Chimney Fires
How often should my chimney
be cleaned?
The
National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends a yearly inspection and
cleaning and repairs done as necessary. Free standing wood stoves or fire
place inserts used to heat the home should be inspected and cleaned if needed
every year. Regular open fireplaces need to be maintained and cleaned on a
consistent basis as well.
How long will it take to clean
my chimney and is there any MESS!!
It
usually takes less than an one hour to clean most masonry chimneys.
Our technicians are fully equipped so there is No Mess in your home.
Pre-fab fireplaces typically take about 35-45 min. Inserts can
take from 1-3 hours depending on how often they are cleaned, the type
of wood burned, and the way the stove is operated. No, There is no mess. We have tarps, vacuums and brushes to clean
your chimney without making a mess in your house.
How do you clean a chimney?
Upon
entering your home we are careful not to make a mess and find the best way
for us to get equipment and personal in and out of your home. We need some
space in front of the fireplace to spread out the 9 x 12 ft tarp that
covers the carpet and hearth, moving coffee tables and chairs if needed. "Special
Stuff" on the mantel or walls above the fireplace is safe. If you want
to remove items on the mantel please do. We set up all needed tools and our
special to aid in dust control. We wear coveralls, gloves and a
respirator to protect us from harmful creosote dust and ash in the chimney.
We assess the chimneys condition noting any problems and proceed with cleaning.
While cleaning the firebox area we are checking for cracks in brick and missing
or severely eroded mortar joints.
On masonry chimneys we reach up inside the smoke chamber area with hand brush
to clean the breast area and the sides where the larger brush misses.
Next, we insert a stiff polly brush attached to a flexible fiberglass rod
and clean the upper smoke chamber area. The brush is pushed up into the flue,
working in a scrubbing motion with sections of fiberglass rods added until
the brush exits the top of chimney.
The process is reversed, and the liner is checked for cracks, gaps and missing
joints using a spotlight. We clean off debris that have fallen onto smoke
shelf, the damper blade and handle. Thecotter pin is put back in place
and dust is swept out of firebox. We vacuum off the hearth, we remove all
equipment including the tarp from your house, complete the invoice, get payment
for the amount due, thank you for the business, and look forward to the next
customers dirty chimney. The whole process takes about 1 hour more or
less depending on conditions and such.
Do you install chimney caps?
Yes,
we sell and install Stainless Steel Chimney Caps that carry a lifetime guarantee.
A cap will keep out animals, leaves, twigs, and rain. Rain entering from the
uncovered top, does most of the damage in a chimney by getting into the mortar
joints inside the firebox causing them to become weak and deteriorate. Please
visit our Online Store to view our Chimney Cap product line.
Can you do repairs?
YES,
we do basic to complex repairs, everything from firebox repair to chimney
relining. If you are having problems with your chimney, we can most
likely find a workable solution. If you need to contact us to discuss
any problems with your chimney please visit our "Contact Us" page. What is a chimney liner?
Currently,
most masonry chimneys are built with terra-cotta clay tiles stacked and mortared
inside the brick structure. These tiles serve as a gas-tight and heat-resistant
insulator against the masonry structure. Without a liner, or with cracked
and damaged liners, there would be heat transfer or actual seepage through
the brick and mortar. A liner is a stainless steel tube inserted into a chimney.
The appliance will vent through that stainless pipe and use the existing chimney
structure as an encasement. New liners are gas tight systems and insulated
for highest efficiency. This system can solve most drafting and safety issues
of chimney fire damaged or older unlined chimney flues. How often should my dryer vent
be cleaned?
Most
dryer vents should be cleaned at least every two years . This depends
on the length of your vent, how many twists and turns, and how often the dryer
is used every week. Dryers that have short vents and little usage may be able
to go longer than normal before being cleaned. smoke detector to give a
early warning about smoke or fire in this area.
What is the difference between
a Pre-Fab fireplace and a Masonry fireplace ?
First
is a pre-fab fireplace is made in a factory while a masonry chimney is made
at the on site. A pre-fab chimney has a metal pipe flue to vent smoke
out of house. Pre-fabs are smaller and some have blowers built in. The
pre-fab chimney is encased in a wood chase covered by a metal cap to prevent
water and provided with termination cap on top. A masonry chimney is built
on site using brick and terra cotta tile for liners and is more expensive
to build to maintain. Most masonry chimneys do not have chimney caps installed
allowing water and animals to get inside the structure and sometimes inside
your house. A pre-fab fireplace can be removed if damaged and replaced with
new unit for less cost than masonry chimney. Pre-fab fireplaces are not any
more than masonry fireplaces. They are just different.
Back to top.
What is the difference between
vented and non vented gas logs? What else is there?
There
are several different types of gas logs. We deal with the most popular types,
vented and non vented or heating logs. The differences
between these two logs sets is very technical. But to boil it down:
Vented type logs can only be used in fireplaces with a working chimney
that meet current codes. The damper is locked open upon installation must
be kept open when burning. Placement of the logs can be changed to make the
fire look different. The flame has a more orange look and soot is more prevalent
in the chimney. A chimney cap is HIGHLY recommended when using either type
of log set to prevent water and other debris from falling on the log set.
Water can rust the burner, grate and also damage the logs in a short amount
of time.Non vented logs can be used in firebox with no chimney but still meet
current building codes. The damper (if there is one) is only cracked open
(1/4" to 3/8") allowing most of the heat to enter the living space. Once logs
are set up they must stay in this configuration through out their life. The
flame is more blue with yellow tips and these logs produce no soot. In some
cases they don't look that great in the fireplace. However, most of the newer
models have come a long ways in the looks departmentt.
You sell gas logs but can you
run the gas line for me?
We
sell and install gas logs and the gas line if needed. Please visit our
Online Store to view selections from our gas log product line.
My chimney has white stains on
the brick what is this?
The
white stains or powder-like material is often the result of water penetration
of the chimney. During a rain, snow, or ice storm water is absorbed by the
brick and mortar crown. In the case of snow or ice storm the freeze thaw cycles
can enlarge the cracks on the top of the chimney mortar crown allowing water
to enter the structure this way. The chimney will soon saturate with water.
As the chimney dries, lime and salts from brick and mortar are pushed out
of the pores of the chimney. Wood in contact with the chimney can also absorb
water, and in most cases, start to rot. This is a common problem that we can
help prevent. The cost of this service depends on many factors.
What can be done to prevent the
white stains?
The
first step is a visual evaluation of the chimney crown, mortar joints and
flashing. Often we find the crown has cracks caused by shrinkage of the mortar
during construction. These start out as hairline cracks but get bigger over
the years from freeze thaw-cycles and the natural expansion-contraction that
occurs during the spring & summer seasons. If the chimney has darkened from
mold and mildew, we recommend cleaning the surface of the brick by power washing.
This opens the pores of the brick and cleans off mold and mildew deposits.
A layer of CrownSeal is applied on the mortar crown sealing the cracks but
remaining flexible to allow for expansion-contraction cycles. On the brick
surface a water repellent product ChimneySaver® is applied with a low
pressure sprayer. Both products have a 10-year warranty and we have confidence
in their ability to perform as stated.
Can I get replacement glass for
my fireplace doors?
Yes,
we now have a great source where we can provide high temp tempered glass
for fireplace doors. We need length, width, and thickness of glass and if
the glass is enclose in full frame or has exposed edges. Turnaround time is
7-10 days. We can also get super high temp ceramic glass
especially for woodstove inserts and free standing models. For more info
on replacement glass click here
Why should we choose someone from
American Chimney Sweeps as our chimney professional?
Our certifications
prove that we are only interested in providing professional quality work.
We are members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, Certified by the Chimney
Safety Institute of America, VA Gas Certified, a Class A contractor, and we
are licensed and insured.
Do you have references?
Please
visit our "About Us" page.
What areas do you service?
We currently service all of Hampton Roads.
These are just a few of the answers to the most common asked questions.
chimney vacuum to aid in dust control. We wear coveralls, gloves and a
respirator to protect us from harmful creosote dust and ash in the chimney.
We assess the chimneys condition noting any problems and proceed with cleaning.