by Mark Hudson | Dec 7, 2017 | Fire Safety Tips
The holiday season is your fireplace’s time to shine. A fireplace can help you keep your crowd warm, but it is also the focal point of many holiday decorations—even serving as a backdrop for family photos. While you’re making it look its best for the holidays, remember that the fireplace is dangerous if precautions aren’t taken while decorating and operating.
Decorating the Mantel
If your chimney system and hearth are properly-constructed, there shouldn’t be any risk in decorating your mantel.
- If your flue lining system is in good shape, you can hang a wreath or decorations onto the face of your chimney without fear of it getting heated. Just make sure that you get professional advice about how to add fasteners to your masonry.
- When decorating the top of your mantel, make sure that items are secure. Branches and flowers should be in an appropriately-sized vase that holds them securely and will not tip over. Loose items like pine cones or nuts should be in a dish so they do not roll. Any garland or lights should be secured with hooks.
- Traditionally, stockings are hung over the fire because socks were once hung at the hearth to dry or warm. If your fireplace can dry wet socks, imagine what can happen if store bought stockings are left to hang over the fireplace. Most stockings sold in the US are made of highly-flammable synthetic materials. If you choose to hang your stockings from your mantel, make sure they are easily removable so that you can remove them before lighting a fire. Designate a place for the stockings, away from the fireplace until it’s time to hang them again.
Decorating the Hearth
Your hearth may very well be your favorite part of your fireplace system. Many homeowners put their own personal touch into the design of the hearth itself, and decorating it is no different. If you choose to place freestanding decorations near your hearth, keep them a safe distance away, or to the side of the fireplace, on the outside of the fireplace screen. Items that are flammable or in danger of falling into the fire should be moved away before lighting it. Never decorate your fireplace door, screen, or opening.
Decorating the Tree
As long as you purchase appropriate lights for your tree, water it regularly, and place it away from the fire, you shouldn’t have a problem with your Christmas tree. Avoid vintage lights that are not tested for safe use by today’s standards. Bubble lights and early electric lights (typically big-bulb) can get too hot for a natural cut-tree. Do not place candles near your tree, or on your tree, and stand your tree far enough away from the fireplace opening so that it won’t reach it if it tips over.
Fire Safety
Christmastime is a good time to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Make a fire escape plan with your family, including two ways out, and practice it. Discuss fireplace safety with family and guests, and oversee decorating and fireplace operation to avoid accidental injuries and fire.
Click here to learn more about safe holiday decorating. Hudson Chimney’s first concern is the safety of our customers. Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159 if you have questions or concerns.
by Mark Hudson | Nov 23, 2017 | Scheduling
The holiday season is the time for your fireplace to be the star of the show. It’s the focal point of the living area, has its own set of holiday decorations, and is the backdrop of many traditions and even family photos. In order to get the most out of your fireplace and chimney system this season, you should take care to schedule routine maintenance now.
Schedule Early
The fall is the busiest time of year for chimney professionals. It’s the time between fall and January when chimney sweep companies are busy with repairs, installations, and emergency calls. In order to get your routine maintenance on the books, it’s important to schedule early. Hudson Chimney offers comprehensive chimney services year-round because we know our customers are busy. It’s our goal to help homeowners in and around Jacksonville, Florida have the safest and most efficient chimney systems possible, so we recommend scheduling services in advance.
Routine Maintenance to Schedule Now
Both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommend routine maintenance for the safest, most efficient fire. Chimney sweeps keep the entire system clean from top to bottom so that it can work properly and work well. Chimney inspections are the thorough assessment that can prevent serious damage, loss of life, and loss of property. During the inspection, a certified chimney sweep will assess the entire system, reporting on damages and issues, big and small. When you schedule early enough, necessary repairs can be made before the temperatures drop.
Prevent Flue Fires
When the chimney system is clean, it works correctly. How the chimney works depends on airflow. A dirty chimney means obstructed or interrupted airflow. As airflow slows down, the flue is exposed to high temperatures for longer, and creosote and debris on the walls can ignite. Oftentimes flue fires occur with no visible damage and burn out undetected. Learn the signs of flue fires and help prevent them completely by scheduling routine maintenance now.
Prevent Damage
Scheduling a chimney inspection before burn season is the best way to prevent damage. Minor damages or weaknesses in the system now, can become major damage and serious problems later. Letting a certified chimney sweep assess your chimney annually helps you stay safe year after year. It also keeps your chimney working well and helps it last.
Hudson Chimney has been Jacksonville’s choice for chimney care for over thirty years. When you schedule early, you can have a Hudson Chimney expert at your door before the rush. Beat the crowds, don’t be left out in the cold, schedule now. Hudson Chimney offers sweeps, inspections, masonry repairs, relining, leak repairs, cap, damper, and door installations, and more!
Find out what we can do for you and your chimney. Call Hudson Chimney now at 904-282-4159 or contact us online.
by Mark Hudson | Nov 10, 2017 | Storm Damage
Our service area of Jacksonville, Florida has been battered this summer by tropical storm systems, and there is more to come. While hurricane season is typically categorized as being from June to November, Nor’easter storms are just starting.
Nor’easter storm systems are storms along the East coast of North America. They come from the northeast, bringing with it cooler temperatures, heavy precipitation, and gale force winds. These types of storms have brought snow into the area in the past, and can again in the future. The odd weather in the last few years means we need to be ready for anything here in Northeast Florida to prevent damage and detect it early-on.
Preventative Measures
The best way to prevent storm damage is to prevent it. Natural disasters like hurricanes, Nor’easter storms, and even tornadoes can occur with little warning since even weather predictions can be miscalculated. You can give your chimney system its best chance by making sure it’s ready for any storm that might come your way.
Schedule Annual Chimney Inspections
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) along with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends annual inspections in order to have the safest and most efficient chimney system. An inspection will identify any weakness in your system. It’s a look at the entire system from top to bottom that will let you know what needs to be done to keep water, wind, and time from damaging your chimney system.
Install a New Cap
You can purchase a chimney cap that deflects wind from the flue opening. In this area where hurricanes and tropical storms typically produce strong winds, this is a great option. Ask Hudson Chimney about custom chimney caps that will help you protect your chimney system.
Schedule Waterproofing Services
Hudson Chimney recommends and applies ChimneySaver water repellent, which creates a barrier that water cannot penetrate. This is a specially formulated sealer that allows vapors to escape while keeping water molecules out. It will not only protect your masonry this season but for years.
Detecting Damage
The best way to detect storm damage is to hire a professional to assess your chimney. Inspections are recommended annually, but if your home was affected by the storm (trees fallen, shingles missing, etc.) then your chimney was most likely affected and you should call a professional. Hudson Chimney will assess your chimney in one quick and affordable appointment. This service may even be covered by your homeowner’s insurance if you have filed a storm claim. In general, an inspection will save you money in the long run, because letting damage go undetected is the best way to ruin a chimney. Water damage ruins masonry from the inside out and happens behind the scenes. By the time the average homeowner notices water and storm damage, it has likely caused costly and devastating damage already.
Take precautions this season to protect your chimney against storm damage. Prevention now can save you money later, and a chimney that is damaged is unsafe for your home and family. Let Hudson Chimney take care of your comprehensive chimney needs, and rest assured that yours will make it through the season and more.
Call Hudson now at 904-282-4159.
by Mark Hudson | Oct 23, 2017 | Storm Damage
One thing that many homeowners try to prepare for is hurricanes. This is especially true if you live in Florida. How many homeowners are prepared for more than one hurricane? How about two hurricanes and one tropical storm in one season? Our customers in Jacksonville are busy putting things back together after devastating storms statewide. Now we’re here to help!
Common Storm Damage
Tropical storms come with sustained winds of 39 mph and higher. Once the maximum sustained winds pass 74 mph, the storm is considered a hurricane. Tropical storms, hurricanes, and even a heavy thunderstorm can cause damage to your chimney system. Winds can blow off or damage flashing and chimney caps. Hail and rain can damage masonry, and if the damage isn’t repaired, more can occur. This season, our service area in Jacksonville has been battered, and you might not have gotten the repairs your chimney needed before another storm passed through.
Your Chimney Cap
In high-wind areas, you can opt for a chimney cap designed to handle hurricane-force winds, and deflect wind from coming into the flue. A functional cap should block rain from falling into the flue. However, when it blows off during a serious storm, it will allow water into the chimney system. Water destroys a chimney from the inside out. If it isn’t corrected, it will continue to ruin parts of the chimney system, as well as components of the home.
Your Flashing
The flashing is made up of thin sheets of metal, placed along the seam of the roof and chimney intersection. This is the most vulnerable of all the chimney system. Not to mention it becomes worse when flashing is installed incorrectly – as it often is. It’s best to have the chimney inspected regularly and know the flashing is in good shape and ready for Florida weather. What happens if the flashing becomes damaged, shifts, or is blown away? Water from tropical storms will penetrate the roof, affecting the chimney, flooring, walls, and structural materials of the home!
Your Chimney Repairs
Hudson Chimney sees a lot of storm damage this time of year, after hurricane season, and before fall. This is the time that homeowners are getting ready for burn season. So, it’s the best time to have the chimney inspected and schedule necessary repairs.
Flashing Repair – Hudson Chimney repairs flashing with the expertise required to properly place flashing according to the slant of the roof, the roofing materials, and the high wind area you live.
Masonry Repair – Depending on the damage to the masonry itself, whether water or wind damage, a masonry repair may be in order. Hudson Chimney sweeps can repair spalling masonry through a process called tuckpointing, replace chimney crowns, and waterproof the masonry for added protection.
When the storm has passed, it’s time to assess the damage, and start repairs. If you have questions about chimney damage, preventative maintenance, and insurance claims, a Hudson Chimney technician can assist you. Just call 904-282-4159 or schedule an appointment with Hudson Chimney online today!
by Mark Hudson | Oct 9, 2017 | Chimney Safety Week
The first National Chimney Safety Week was in October of 1978, and it was the first recorded celebration of chimney sweeps in the US. Although we at Hudson Chimney are celebrating National Chimney Safety Week this year, it isn’t about us. As certified chimney sweeps, our number one priority is safety for our customers.
Chimney Fires
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission there was an average of 22,300 chimney fires annually between 2011 and 2013. Even though this number shows a decrease over previous years, we think this number is too high! With every fire comes a loss of life, health, and property.
National Chimney Safety Week is designed to educate homeowners, communities, and professionals about chimney safety and fire prevention. It occurs October 1-October 7, but the mission is year-round. Hudson Chimney, as a CSIA member, makes it a priority to educate the community about chimney safety year-round and offer services to further this mission.
Safe Chimneys
Both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends routine maintenance for the safest and most efficient chimney system. A routine chimney sweep will keep your entire system cleaned of debris, soot, and creosote, that can slow airflow and raise fire risk. Creosote is a highly flammable material that will coat the flue if it isn’t cleaned away.
An annual chimney inspection is essential for ongoing chimney safety. The inspection identifies issues that homeowners won’t recognize until it is too late. A technician will identify hazards, weaknesses, and faulty components in all parts of your chimney system. Learn which level of inspection you should schedule here.
Safe Fires
If your chimney is safe and clean, then you are ready for your first fire of the season. It can be an exciting time of year, but it’s important to remember fire safety this fall and through the holidays, until winter is over. When you practice fire safety, and teach your family to do so, you will all be safer from chimney fires.
- Burn only properly seasoned firewood in your fireplace, insert, or stove. Burning any other items can result in a drop in efficiency, or even a flue fire from a fast-rising material that is aflame.
- NEVER light a fire using any kind of fuel other than wood and kindling. Using gasoline, kerosene, or oil is not safe in any fireplace or appliance.
- Use the damper or glass doors to help control the heat and flame. Never close the damper while a fire is burning, otherwise carbon monoxide and smoke is forced into the house
- Install a screen or custom glass doors to prevent small children from falling into a burning fire.
- Do not hang decorations on or near the hearth. Keep Christmas trees and other large decorations far enough away that they cannot land in the fireplace if they fall.
- Practice fire safety habits and teach your children and guests to follow house rules regarding the fire.
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, checking batteries monthly.
House fires aren’t always preventable, but chimney fires are! Ask Hudson Chimney about preventative services to help you feel safe this winter.
