by Mark Hudson | Mar 7, 2018 | Chimney Service
Hudson Chimney of Middleburg, Florida has been providing comprehensive chimney care for the area since 1979. Our full-service chimney and hearth care include chimney and fireplace maintenance, repairs, diagnostics, and sales and installations. Our technicians live and work in the area, so we have the neighborhood advantage. We know the local fire safety codes and even work together with local businesses and contractors to make safety a priority in our communities, no matter who’s doing the work. Hudson Chimney goes above and beyond, also providing dryer vent cleaning and installation to further keep families safe from accidental house fires.
Preventative Care
Our comprehensive list of chimney services starts with and includes preventative maintenance. Chimney fires are 100 percent preventable. Chimney leaks are 100 percent preventable. Dryer vent fires are 100 percent preventable. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both recommend routine chimney sweeps and annual inspections for the safest and most efficient chimney system. Safety and efficiency go hand-in-hand. If your chimney’s efficiency drops due to neglect, it becomes less safe and results in damage and health emergencies.
When you schedule your preventative care with Hudson Chimney, don’t forget our waterproofing services, seasonal preparation, and routine inspections and sweeps that keep the chimney working properly year-round.
Repairs and Installations
Whether you need a repair, or a part needs completely replaced, Hudson Chimney has you (and your chimney) covered. Common repairs we see here at Hudson Chimney include tuckpointing, firebox repair or rebuilds, masonry repairs, stain removals, mortar crown repairs and installations, and relining. There are many issues minor and major that may require repairs, but if you’re proactive about chimney care, you will avoid the major repairs that cost more time and money than you’d like.
Extend the Life of Your Chimney
Maintaining your chimney system properly will allow you to save more, work less, and your chimney will last as long as designed. Not only that, but a well-maintained chimney and fireplace are easier to convert to a new fuel such as a wood-to-gas conversion, and easier to install a new insert to bring up efficiency.
Choosing a full-service chimney company like Hudson Chimney today means you don’t have to worry about your chimney tomorrow. Whether you’re scheduling preventative care, repairs, conversions, or even have an emergency with your chimney system, you can call Hudson Chimney. Our chimney sweeps are certified and experienced in all aspects of chimney maintenance and repair, as well as fire science, and fire safety.
If you’re in the Middleburg, Florida area, including St. Augustine, Gainesville, and Clay, Duval, Putnam, St. Johns, Barker, Bradford, Alachua, and Nassau counties, we will come to you. If you aren’t within this area of service, please give us a call and see if we can still help you with all your chimney and fireplace needs! At Hudson Chimney, it’s our goal that all of our neighbors in Northeast Florida are comfortable and safe this season and year-round.
Call Hudson Chimney 904-282-4159 or contact us online today.
by Mark Hudson | Feb 21, 2018 | Chimney Inspection
Whether you’re a homebuyer, looking for a home to purchase, or a seller looking to sell a house, your chimney needs some attention. Before a sell, you might find yourself scheduling a home inspection. Depending on the realtor associated with your sale, the seller may pay for and schedule the inspection, or the buyer may. Regardless, you will want a chimney expert to check out the chimney system—because the home inspector won’t!
Disclosure Statement
When you’re buying or selling a home, there is a disclosure statement that includes known issues with the property. Oftentimes, instead of scheduling an inspection with a chimney expert, a seller will include the chimney in the disclosure statement. This frees them of costs and damages that may be associated with the chimney system. This may seem A-okay, but it can cost you more than you bargained for in the long-run. If you think the only thing you’ll be paying for when you take ownership of your house is a chimney inspection (required by most homeowners insurance), think again. If the previous owners don’t have an up-to-date chimney inspection, there is probably neglect and damage behind the scenes. These costs will add up quickly, and will likely mean you can’t use your fireplace until it is repaired.
The CSIA Signature
To ensure you have a safe chimney—or at least an accurate report of condition—you need to look for the CSIA signature on the report. This means the inspector is a classroom trained, tested, and field trained certified chimney sweep, with current membership in the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the nation’s standard for chimney professionals.
The CSIA Inspection
A home inspector will focus on the structure of the chimney and note visible issues. A CSIA certified chimney expert, however, will assess it from the inside out. Hudson Chimney, Jacksonville’s choice for chimney care for over 30 years, inspects chimneys year-round. Not only do we offer level 1, 2, and 3 inspections, but we proudly use a Chim-Scan camera to view the inside of the system, hidden to the untrained eye. Our technicians do not miss a chimney issue, large or small. If you are selling, we are happy to complete a level 2 inspection (required for land transfers and sales) and provide you with a thorough report for your potential buyers.
The best way to make your house more desirable is to leave no questions for the potential buyers. If your realtor has a current chimney inspection in-hand when speaking with potential buyers, they’re more apt to view it as what it is—a benefit. An inspection report is necessary for insurance policies, code enforcement, and more. Leaving it up to the home inspector is like hiring a veterinarian to remove your appendix. Professional training doesn’t always transfer to other uses.
Save time and money by hiring a chimney expert to assess your chimney. Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159 and schedule your chimney inspection today.
by Mark Hudson | Feb 6, 2018 | Ash Disposal
Every day that you burn wood in your fireplace, you are creating ash. Over the course of an entire winter, you may have to remove ashes from your fireplace countless times. It’s a headache, but it’s necessary. Leaving them in the firebox can crowd your fire, make it difficult to light and maintain, and even cause wood and hot ashes to fall out of the fire! Don’t risk it, remove the ashes regularly, and remove them safely.
Use Appropriate Tools
You can find fireplace accessories at a home improvement store. Make sure they work for you, because not everyone is the same. Be sure the shovel is long enough that your face and hands are away from the hot fire. Homeowners who have asthma or chronic respiratory illnesses may choose to wear a face mask while cleaning ashes from the fireplace. Make sure that your clothes are not loose and that hair does not drop close to the fire. It is best to remove ashes when the fire is out or very low. Removing red hot coals is dangerous, even if you have an appropriate metal bucket to store ashes in. Scoop the ashes into your metal bucket, and carry them outside to cool at least 5 feet from your house. If you save ashes for various uses, you may have a metal trashcan with a lid to dump them into. Keep this container away from flammables.
Reasons to Save Your Ashes
Your ashes are going to continue to build up throughout burning season, with you removing them regularly. Leave ¼ inch each time in order to insulate the bottom of the firebox. The rest can be useful for many purposes.
Cleaners: Add water to a small amount of ashes and polish silver, doorknobs, and chrome. Larger amounts mixed with water can clean stoves, ovens, and pots and pans.
Deodorizer: Dust a handful of cool, dry ashes into your pet’s fur to neutralize odors and deter mites and ticks.
For the Garage: Toss ashes onto slick sidewalks and driveways to prevent slips and falls. Pour onto oil spills on the driveway and in the garage.
For the Garden: Sprinkle ashes over soil to change the alkaline levels for certain plants to thrive. Putting along the edge and in between rows also deter bugs and slugs.
Get Creative: You can use your ashes to make lye, which you can use to make homemade soap products.
If you think your fire is producing too much ash, there may be a reason. Avoid extra ashes by building the best fire possible.
Have you been avoiding your ashes, only emptying it when it’s absolutely necessary? Like so many other things, a routine will help you stay on top of the problem. Have your chimney system swept regularly to in addition to emptying the ash so that the flue will be clear of soot, creosote, and debris as well. Even if you use an ash dump for your ashes, it should be cleaned out regularly by a professional. You really can’t go wrong with professional services. Call the chimney and fireplace experts to learn more about your fireplace and chimney system, and for valuable services that keep it working for you.
Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159 today.
by Mark Hudson | Jan 23, 2018 | Dryer Vent Cleaning
Even if your Christmas list didn’t include home maintenance, there is time to start on the right foot. You can save money this year, and improve your household safety, when you start the year off with a clean dryer vent.
Why Clean the Dryer Vent?
- Prevent Fires
There are 2,900 home clothes dryer fires reported each year, causing around 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. In fact, failing to clean the clothes dryer is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. These fires happen more in January than any other month, and when they happen during the night, the family is less likely to escape unscathed. The best way to prevent devastating fires is to keep the dryer vent clean.
- Raise Efficiency
The average homeowner doesn’t realize that a clothes dryer is designed to last 10 years, and designed to dry a load in ONE CYCLE. If your dryer takes more than one cycle to dry a normal-sized unit, there is a problem with the appliance. The most common problem is a dirty/clogged dryer vent. Not only is it a fire hazard, but it wastes electricity and shortens the life of the appliance!
- Save Money
If your dryer takes 2 or 3 cycles to completely dry a load of clothes, your dryer will only last 3-5 years when it should last ten. It will use 2-3 times more electricity and will cause other issues with your home year-round.
- Damage to Home Interior
When the dryer vent is clogged and efficiency drops, heat and moisture can push into your house. Many homeowners assume it is normal for your dryer to produce heat, and it does—but it should escape by way of the vent! There is a problem with the dryer vent if your dryer feels hot to the touch, heats the room where it’s installed, or causes condensation in the home. Condensation and heat inside your house can cause wallpaper and paint to buckle.
Call a Professional Today
Most homeowners buy a large appliance like a clothes dryer and has it delivered. This is not a professional installation and does not mean it’s ready to use. Only a professional knows there are the manufacturer and local codes that affect the way your dryer is installed. In some cases, these specifications will determine whether or not your appliance is covered by its warranty.
- The dryer duct should be 4 inches or more
- The dryer vent should be less than 25 feet
- Dryer vents should be independent systems and terminate outside
- The dryer vent termination hood should prevent backdrafts
- Metal transition ducts should be used between the dryer and the exhaust duct
- Flexible transition ducts are not safe for use in attics, crawlspaces, or inside walls
These safety standards are for safety and efficiency. Taking care of your dryer vent now, starts the year off right. Make sure your family is safe from a dryer vent fire, and save money in 2018.
Contact Us
Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159, and ask an expert about dryer vent services today.
by Mark Hudson | Jan 9, 2018 | CSIA Certified
When it comes to owning your own home, most homeowners not only take pride in it, but also take care of it. A person doesn’t buy a sports car and then forget to change the oil, rotate the tires, and wash it regularly. The same is true of your house. In order for your home to last a lifetime, it needs certain things. The plumbing may need to be repaired, the electrical box upgraded, and the chimney system cleaned. You wouldn’t hire any old amateur to repair your plumbing or rewire your breaker box, so why hire one to service your chimney?
The Chimney System
The chimney has an important job to do. It vents harmful gases and particulate pollution out of the home, and in doing so helps your fire to burn properly and keeps your family safe. It is one of the biggest most important systems in your home, and just like the rest of your house or your car, it will go quickly downhill if neglected. The best way to ensure your chimney lasts a lifetime is to schedule maintenance, repairs, installations, and construction with a certified chimney sweep only.
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps (CCS)
The nationally recognized standard for the chimney industry is and has been the CSIA certification. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has been the industry standard since its inception in the 1980s. The chimney industry is still widely under-regulated, so it’s important to avoid scams and amateur work. Hire the best every time when choosing CSIA certified sweeps.
Field and Classroom Trained – Your CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS) has invested time and money into this certification. He or she must:
- purchase study materials,
- attend an in-person review session,
- take the review online,
- or attend a National Chimney Sweep Training School.
Tested – After completing the classroom training, each student must pass a one-hour exam based on chimney sweeping followed by a 90-minute open-book review based on International Residential Code. This standardized method of testing means that every certified sweep has the knowledge required to get the job done.
Code of Ethics – Each CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS) must sign a Code of Ethics designed to protect homeowners from scams in the industry. If a sweep is found to be in violation of this code, he can have membership revoked.
Continuing Education – Because the chimney industry changes along with safety codes, technology, and even trends, there is a need for chimney sweeps to stay ahead of the changes. Each CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS) must re-certify every three years through examination or education credits.
Hiring the Best
You may find there are several CSIA certified chimney sweep companies in your area. It’s up to you to choose the best one for your home. Hudson Chimney is not only CSIA certified, but also holds membership in the National Chimney Sweep Guild, the Georgia Chimney Sweep Guild, and the Florida Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps. We don’t just say we’re the best; we are the best, serving the Jacksonville, Florida area for over 30 years. Call Hudson Chimney today to find out what our certified chimney sweeps can do for you. Dial 904-282-4159 today.
