Birds that perch on open chimney flues have a tendency to leave behind unwelcome calling cards: disease-bearing bird droppings in chimney or fireplace. Whether those droppings fall all the way to the floor of your fireplace or remain stuck to the inside walls of your chimney, that bird poop (and any disease-causing spores or bacteria […]
Gas fireplaces need two things to work: fuel and a means of igniting the fuel. Let’s troubleshoot these two critical elements if your gas fireplace will not ignite. Check Fuel Supply If Gas Fireplace Will Not Ignite If your gas fireplace won’t light when you turn it on, check the fuel supply. Is the gas […]
Not being able to open your throat damper makes your fireplace unusable. If you light a fire, smoke will flow out of the fireplace into the room, if the damper is closed. It’s not unusual to find that the handle that opens and closes the damper is stuck. (If the damper handle is not stuck, […]
A throat damper is a metal door located above the firebox, but below the flue pipe. (See a diagram of the parts of a chimney here.) When the damper is closed, it slows the loss of heat that would otherwise go up the chimney. When it is open, it allows smoke and exhaust gases from […]
Do-It-Yourself Gas Fireplace Safety Tests Before you turn on your gas fireplace for the first fire of the season, have it serviced by a certified chimney sweep or other gas product professional certified to work with gas fireplaces. You will need a professional who knows the relevant regulations of your local jurisdiction. There are some […]
Do I really need a chimney sweep or can I DIY? Aren’t there fireplace and chimney tasks I can do myself, without special training? And how much money will I save if I do the chimney maintenance and repair work a chimney sweep would charge me to do? If I maintain my fireplace and chimney […]
Why are Chimney Sweeps Lucky? Chimney sweep legends, lore and traditions were born with the invention of the chimney and have flourished every since. What are these legends and how did they originate? Why Is It Good Luck to Have a Chimney Sweep at a Wedding? Legend says a chimney sweep saved the life of […]
Use these 6 ideas to spruce up the fireplace for Christmas and your holiday guests: 1. Clean out the ashes. A fireplace full of ashes (like an ashtray full of ashes) looks unkempt. You can either scoop ashes with your fireplace shovel into an ash bucket or you can vacuum out the cold ashes […]
Using Wax Fire Logs with Care Although sawdust and wax composition fake fire logs offer convenience, if not properly used, they can create safety hazards. Do not break apart wax fire logs. When poked or broken apart, artificial fire logs can cause a flare-up (sudden increase in burn rate) and possibly even an explosion and chimney […]
