Posts by TJ Robinson
5 Warning Signs Your Dryer Vent Needs Cleaning
Imagine you go into your laundry room to check on the clothes in the dryer and you find that the room is on fire. From 2009 to 2011, on average, 6,000 residential fires were caused by clothes dryers, resulting in $75.3 million of damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. When lint and…
Read MoreParts of Your Masonry Fireplace and Chimney
Did you know that your masonry fireplace and chimney can be made of 22 components? How many do you think you know? Having knowledge about the different parts of your masonry fireplace and chimney can help you troubleshoot problems and stay on top of maintenance. Or, if you’re not a do-it-yourself type of person, knowing…
Read MoreNational Chimney Safety Week: Schedule Your Chimney Inspection
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, from 2009 to 2011, fireplaces and chimneys were the source of 24,300 residential fires (on average), resulting in about $30.8 million in property damages. Additionally, blocked chimneys contribute to unintentional, non-fire-related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning annually. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year,…
Read MoreFaulty Chimney Flashing Can Cause Water Damage
If you’ve noticed damage to your roof, ceilings or attic, especially around your chimney, you probably have a water leak due to defective or worn chimney flashing. Moisture in your home’s chimney system can lead to costly problems like wood rot, deteriorating bricks and mortar, and mold growth. Chimney flashing is made from galvanized or…
Read More4 Tips when Hiring a Chimney Sweep
The heating season is almost upon us. Before you light a fire in your fireplace or heating stove, you need to have your chimney or venting systems inspected and cleaned – as well as repaired, if needed. Hidden heating system and chimney defects can lead to damaging fires and potentially deadly carbon monoxide poisonings. Unfortunately,…
Read MoreDuct Cleaning Saves Money and Energy
Have you noticed that your utility bills have gone up in recent months? Are your utility bills higher than those of your neighbors? Do you have rooms in your home that are hard to keep a comfortable temperature, for example, cool in the summer or warm in the winter? Have you noticed that dust quickly…
Read MoreWhat is a Chimney Liner?
A chimney liner is an important safety feature within your home’s chimney. It covers the rough interior of the chimney, creating a smooth passageway that carries the smoke and other combustion products up the chimney and out of your house. A chimney liner: Keeps your chimney from overheating. When high heat transfers to the masonry…
Read MoreChimney Caps Keep Out Birds and Animals
Have you heard flapping or scratching sounds coming from your chimney? You may have a bird or animal trapped inside your chimney. Birds, bats, raccoons, squirrels, cats, snakes, barn owls, ducks and geese have all been known to fly, crawl, slither or fall down an open flue. And dealing with these birds and animals can be…
Read More6 Benefits of Tuckpointing
Have you noticed that the mortar in your masonry chimney is cracked, flaking off or missing? Or maybe you’ve noticed that the mortar in places doesn’t seem to be level with the rest of the mortar between the bricks. Or, maybe you’ve noticed you’re chimney is leaning. These are all signs that your chimney may…
Read MoreDryer Lint Increases Fire Risk
At least once a week – maybe more – you likely do laundry. After you wash your clothes, you throw them into the dryer – probably without too much thought about it. But did you know clothes dryers cause about 2,900 fires each year in residential buildings? According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS),…
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