by Mark Hudson | Apr 10, 2017 | Chimney Cap
The chimney cap is a vital part of the chimney system that has multiple jobs. The chimney cap is often overlooked, but when it’s gone it’s missed.
The Chimney Cap Keeps Weather Out
The chimney cap is placed at the flue opening. It prevents water from rain, snow, or hail from entering the flue. When the cap is missing, the water drops right into the flue’s opening and can cause water damage throughout the entire system in just a short time.
The Chimney Cap Keeps Wildlife Out
At various times throughout the year, animals seek shelter in chimney flues because they are warm and dry. These animals can bring debris with them. Even scratching the liner, damaging the masonry, blocking airflow, and can suffocate and die resulting in foul odors. A missing chimney cap can also allow sticks and leaves to fall into the flue during fall weather.
The Chimney Cap Keeps the Fire In
At times an unruly flame can throw sparks up the chimney along with the smoke and vapors naturally produced by the fire. If sparks are allowed to escape the flue opening, a fire can result when leaves and debris on the roof are ignited. Sparks have even been known to ignite dry grasses on the ground around the home.
Diagnosing a Chimney Cap Problem
The chimney cap is one component of the chimney system that can be visually inspected quite easily. Assessing your chimney system monthly, year-round, you will notice quickly if something has changed with your chimney cap. If it is turned, shifted, crooked, or missing it should be replaced as soon as possible. Do you have sudden downdrafts that push smoke into your living space? You should take a look at your chimney cap. The cap and screening is designed in a way to allow vapors to vent properly while preventing down drafts from blowing down your chimney. Downdrafts can decrease efficiency substantially and make it difficult to heat or cool your home and keep a fire going.
The most thorough assessment you can do for your chimney? Having a CSIA inspection! This is when a certified chimney sweep inspects your chimney from top to bottom. When you schedule an inspection your technician will notice right away if there’s a problem with your chimney cap. Not only will he point it out in the report, but will check thoroughly for damage caused by the missing cap.
Give Us A Call
Hudson Chimney not only replaces standard chimney caps, but we also specialize in custom chimney caps for our customers that prefer a personalized color or shape. Our chimney experts use stainless steel or galvanized metal to create caps that are both beautiful and functional. Call a Hudson Chimney expert today and get started with your chimney cap assessment and repair!
by Mark Hudson | Mar 26, 2017 | leaky chimney
When it comes to chimneys, leaks are a common problem. Leaks inside the chimney as well as on the outside of the chimney are detrimental to the structure of the home and the chimney. At Hudson Chimney we make it our priority to keep your chimney functioning safely and efficiently. Many chimney sweeps might repair the damage from a leaky chimney year after year, failing to fix the problem at it’s source—the leak. At Hudson Chimney we repair the damage and fix the problem.
The Dangers of a Leaky Chimney
A leaky chimney can cause unseen damage for weeks or months before it’s noticed by a homeowner. That’s why it’s vitally important to schedule regular maintenance like chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections. It’s at these appointments that a professional will get a look at your chimney.
When it’s caught early you can avoid the many damages and dangers caused by a leaky chimney.
- Rusted and Deteriorated Parts
Water can cause metal and cast iron parts like the damper and the liner to rust and malfunction or crack. A damaged chimney liner can raise fire risk and allow carbon monoxide and other harmful gases into your home.
- Stained, Weakened, and Ruined Structures
Water will ruin your walls, floors, and ceilings. A chimney leak can cause a leak in other parts of the house because the water runs to a lowest point, pools, then forms a leak. You might have a leak several feet or a couple rooms away from the chimney, but an experienced chimney sweep will check the chimney first.
- Stained and Deteriorated Masonry
Water damages and weakens masonry faster than anything else. It stains the exterior and interior of your chimney, the firebox, and hearth. Water stains are unsightly and point to a big problem. If your chimney has been leaking long enough to cause a stain, there is most likely already costly damage to the entire system.
- Increased Fire Risk
Water in the chimney affects the draft that keeps the chimney functioning properly, safely, and efficiently. When the draft is compromised, the air slows and stalls in the chimney, allowing hot gases and sparks to linger in the chimney, igniting creosote and soot that is highly flammable.
- Shortened Chimney Life
When water mingles with soot, it creates a highly corrosive substance that can damage masonry and chimney liner. Moisture disrupts the function of the chimney system and damages it structurally.
Trust In Us
Water causes such extensive damage, that it should be avoided at all costs. Not only can a certified chimney sweep catch a chimney leak in time to save your chimney, but he can also catch it in time to save you in catastrophic costs. Schedule your inspection and let a chimney expert diagnose and cure your leaky chimney today!
by Mark Hudson | Mar 12, 2017 | dryer vents
When your bought and installed your clothes dryer it should have worked great, drying clothes in one cycle, and since then it has declined. Many would attribute this change to age or “wear and tear”, but it’s actually more than that. If your clothes dryer is taking more than one cycle to dry an appropriately sized load of clothes, then there is a problem with your dryer. The most common reasons for a dryer failing to do the job it’s supposed to do is a heat element burning out or a ventilation issue.
Trouble Shooting Your Clothes Dryer
If you think your clothes dryer is working poorly, then you can check it out before calling in a professional.
- First, you should feel the dryer during and after a cycle. If the dryer is warm, then the heat element is working. If the dryer is warming up the area around it, even heating up the room where it’s located, then you most likely have a venting issue. A dryer is designed to vent excess heat. It shouldn’t add heat to the home if the vent hose is working.
- Check the vent flap on the outside of the house to make sure it is venting. Hold a hand in front of it to feel for warm air, make sure it opens as it should and is not clogged with lint or other debris.
- Remove the lint “trap” and wash it with warm, soapy water. Let it air dry, and return it to the dryer. This should be repeated monthly and will mostly help even if it doesn’t resolve the problem completely.
If your clothes continue to dry slower than they should, you can assume the dryer vent is clogged. Clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of house fires in the United States, accounting for 2900 house fires per year. This number is decreasing, but will remain a problem until clothes dryer safety is taken as seriously as chimney safety. Most homeowners don’t even know that local codes regulate how the dryer vent is installed, how many turns it can make, how long it is, and more. Most wouldn’t know there’s a problem with the clothes dryer at all because we assume it’s normal for dryers to take more cycles as they get older. This isn’t the case.
Click here for tips to protect your home from your clothes dryer, and call Hudson Chimney to have it cleaned regularly. Hudson Chimney specializes in dryer vent cleaning as part of a full menu of services designed to keep our customers safe. Find out how we can help you.
by Mark Hudson | Feb 25, 2017 | CSIA Certified
Every industry has standards to base services, professionalism, training, and more. The healthcare field has extensive training and licensing. It is unlawful to provide services outside of that system of licensing. However, other services, like auto repair and chimney services are up to the consumer’s discretion. In addition, you can hire your neighbor to fix your oil leak in your car, and you can hire your local handyman to clean your chimney. Nevertheless, would do you want to?
The Value of Time
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) was established in 1983. Since then, it has become the industry standard for training and certification in the chimney safety industry. Fire investigators consult CSIA certified chimney sweeps. Also, realtors, insurance companies, and other professionals look for the signature of a CSIA member on documents, inspections, and reports.
The Value of Training
Largely part of CSIA’s success is the extensive training required for certification. After completing the membership certification through class and field training, CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps® must re-certify by exam or continued education every three years. This system of re-certification is vital in an industry continuously changing and advancing.
The Value of Ethics
Every CSIA member must adhere to a stringent code of ethics created to protect homeowners from scams. In such a profession as chimney maintenance, it’s important that homeowners look for a CSIA certified chimney sweep. If a CSIA member is found to be in violation of the code of ethics, his certification can be revoked. We take our professionalism seriously, and our goal is safety and education. On the contrary, it is not money-making schemes and gimmicks!
The Value of Networking
When you choose a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® you get a nationwide network of chimney professionals behind the work. Your chimney sweep has access to the earliest advancements in the industry, experienced professionals nationwide, and a reciprocal relationship with similar trades. That means that your chimney sweep has access to countless other professionals if necessary to give you the absolute best service possible.
Finding Your Chimney Sweep
The first place to look for your chimney sweep should be the CSIA database where you can find a chimney sweep near you. If you have trouble choosing between companies, look at their websites and search for information that is important to you. Have they been operating long? Are they experienced in the area, aware of local codes and familiar with the climate? Are they affiliated with any other industry organizations such as the National Chimney Sweep Guild or the Florida Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps?
There should be no question who is more qualified once you find chimney sweeps who are CSIA certified. If you’re still not convinced, you can call and discuss questions and concerns with the chimney experts. Hudson Chimney welcomes inquiries. Our main goal is the safety and comfort of our customers and neighbors in Northeast Florida.
To talk to a Hudson Chimney sweep, call 904-282-4159 or contact us online.
by Mark Hudson | Feb 11, 2017 | Chimney Damper
Your chimney is a complex system of many parts. These parts are constantly working to remove harmful gases and byproducts from your home. If any of these parts become damaged, it can bring down the chimney’s efficiency drastically, affecting the way it vents, and allowing smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. One important part of this system is the damper. Not only does it help to control the flame and assist in starting a fire, but it also keeps the heat from escaping up the chimney. When the damper is in the closed position, it can keep smoke from rising up the chimney as well as the heat, then the smoke goes into the home. This can affect the air quality in your home.
Common Damper Problems
- Improper Seal
Traditional throat dampers can cause issues because they don’t close with a tight seal. They can cost a lot of money in the long run year-round by allowing heat to escape in the winter and allowing warm drafts in the summer. These dampers can also be a pain to repair or replace. A good alternative is to install a top-sealing damper.
- Rusted in Place
If a chimney has a leak that has gone unnoticed, the damper can quickly become rusted and become stuck in the place. It becomes an instant fire hazard whether the damper is stuck open or closed.
- Partial Close
If the chimney’s throat and the damper become covered in soot, creosote, or other debris, the damper can stop closing properly. This can cause substantial heat loss up the chimney.
- Drafts Present in Chimney
If your fire will only light or burn well during periods of high winds, then it’s possible your damper is not functioning properly. A top-sealing damper is a good option if you live in areas where there are high winds.
The Top-Sealing Damper
Hudson Chimney sells two of the most popular top-sealing dampers, the Energy Top and the Energy Top Plus from U.S. Fireplace Products. These dampers not only serve as a damper, but also as a chimney cap, preventing water penetration and downdrafts. They also prevent animals and debris from falling into the chimney through all seasons.
These dampers must stay open while the fire is in use because the tight seal will not allow exhaust to escape the chimney. During the off season the top-sealing damper closes tightly, to keep conditioned air from escaping, saving money throughout the year. They are easy to open and close, with an easily accessible handle.
Finally, a top-sealing damper is simple to install, and requires minimal maintenance. It can be assessed during your annual chimney inspection, but should last the life of your chimney.
Troubleshoot other reasons your chimney may not be working. If problems persist, you should contact a chimney expert at Hudson Chimney today. Call 904-282-4159 or contact us online.
