Why Does My Chimney Stink?

During the summer, when we have hot, humid weather or lots of rain, you may notice an undesirable smell coming from your fireplace and chimney. This odor can be caused by a variety of reasons. Let’s explore some of the most common types of smells and the likely cause.   An asphalt or bad barbeque…

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Clothes Dryer Exhaust Safety – 6 Requirements You May Not Know

Did you know that lint and debris can build up in your clothes dryer duct? When lint buildup occurs, it can create potentially hazardous conditions, like dryer fires that can turn into devastating house fires, and carbon monoxide buildup that can poison people and pets – and even result in death. Therefore, it’s important that…

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Why You Need to Clean Your Oil-Fired Furnace Chimney

Did you know that oil is the dirtiest burning fuel? If you have an oil-fired furnace, not only should you have your furnace inspected every year, you also need to have the chimney inspected and cleaned annually, because oil’s by-products of combustion can be very volatile and corrosive. And neglecting to clean your oil furnace…

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8 Brick Fireplace Cleaning Tips

Do the bricks surrounding your fireplace look dark and dirty – especially the more you use your fireplace? Unfortunately, unsealed brick, which has a dull, flat appearance, is a porous material. That means soot, dust and dirt can penetrate into the cracks and crevasses of the bricks. Soot and dirt that has been absorbed into…

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5 Benefits of Cleaning Your Dryer Vent

How many loads of laundry do you do each week? According to Proctor & Gamble Co., the average U.S. household does 600 loads of laundry each year. And a 2007 survey of 2,500 Whirlpool customers found that 78% of those surveyed do about nine loads of laundry a week. That’s a lot of dirty clothes…

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Reduce Your Child’s Risk of Asthma

Over six million children in the U.S. have asthma. Medical studies have shown that long-term exposure to mold in your home can double your child’s risk of developing asthma. But there are some solutions to prevent and reduce mold in your home. Molds are fungi – plant-like organisms that grow outside or indoors. Inside your home, molds grow in…

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How to Prevent Creosote Buildup

According to the National Fire Protection Association, creosote buildup is the cause for most fireplace and chimney fires. Creosote buildup can be pretty sneaky since it occurs over time and you may not notice it. But there are some things you can do to minimize creosote buildup to help keep your family safe. (Unfortunately, you can’t eliminate creosote entirely.)…

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Creosote Buildup Can Cause Fires

When was the last time you cleaned your chimney? A year ago? A few years ago? Never? Did you know that creosote can build up on the walls of your chimney over time? Creosote is the leading cause of residential chimney fires in the U.S. each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Creosote is…

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Reduce Winter Allergy Symptoms with Air Duct Cleaning

Did you know that Americans spend about 90% of their lives indoors? Now that the weather is turning colder, this is certainly true. And with the arrival of colder weather, most Hoosiers have turned on our homes’ forced-air heating systems to keep warm. But did you notice after you cranked on your heating system that…

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4 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,…

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