Fireplace

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 smell is probably due to creosote buildup. Creosote is a foul-smelling, flammable, corrosive substance that’s a byproduct of the wood-burning process.
A musty odor may be from rain water, ice or snow that’s gotten inside your smoke chamber, creating a moist environment.
A rotten, earthy smell could be from fallen leaves or other natural debris that’s gotten inside your chimney and combined with damp soot, and is now rotting.
A rotten smell of decomposition is likely from an animal that’s gotten inside your chimney and died or left animal scat.

If you have odors coming from your fireplace and chimney, contact the professionals at T.J.’s Chimney Service of Greenfield, IN. We can find the source of the smell and make recommendations for eliminating the odor.

Some solutions may be to:

Have your chimney professionally cleaned. Our chimney sweeps will remove any creosote buildup and decomposing leaves, animal nests and droppings, or dead animals. A professional chimney cleaning should eliminate most smells coming from your chimney. However, sometimes, creosote can soak into your chimney walls and may continue to smell some.
Have the professionals at T.J.’s Chimney Service install a top-mounted damper or chimney cap to the top of your chimney to keep rain and moisture out. Also, dampers and chimney caps will keep falling leaves and animals from getting into your chimney as well.
Correct negative air pressure in the home. Typically, chimney draft pulls any odors inside your chimney up the flue and away from the inside of your home. But if your home has a negative pressure issue, the smelly air can flow back into your home. This problem is often in found in newer, tightly sealed homes or when venting changes have been made. Some typical causes of negative air pressure are exhaust fans, central vacuum, additional chimneys, combustion appliance flues, range hoods and the installation of other household appliances. To correct negative air pressure in the home, you can: a) Keep a window cracked at all times to reduce the pressure; b) Close the fire damper when you’re not using your fireplace; and c) Have the professionals at T.J.’s Chimney service install a tight sealing, top-mounted damper onto the top of your chimney to reduce the airflow that comes down your chimney.

8 Brick Fireplace Cleaning Tips

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

wall-364683_1280 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 older bricks that haven’t been cleaned in a long time, unfortunately, can be harder to clean.

Soot is a black powder that’s produced when wood burns incompletely. Soot is hard to clean, because the particles are very small and difficult to remove completely. Plus, it easily stains most materials.

However, there are some tips you can try to clean your brick fireplace, so it can look great again.

Clean safely. Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin. Wear goggles to protect your eyes from any possible splatters. Wear an apron to protect your clothes. Make sure the room is well ventilated. Follow all cleaning product directions. Never mix cleaning chemicals together.
Make sure the bricks around your fireplace are cool to the touch. There should be no fire burning in the fireplace.
Lay down a drop cloth or plastic sheeting to protect the surrounding surfaces.
Remove the grate and any fireplace accessories.
Use a heavy, coarse brush on the bricks to loosen dirt and soot particles.
Use your fireplace brush, ash shovel and bucket to remove all ash.
Vacuum the bricks and hearth with a brush attachment to remove loose dirt and dust. Also, you may want to try the slanted head attachment to remove dirt and dust between the bricks.
Apply a brick fireplace cleaning solution or make one of your own (using these recipes). Commercial fireplace cleansers can be purchased at most home improvement stores. Make sure the cleaning solution is compatible with your fireplace bricks. Scrub the brick with a nylon scrub brush. First, try cleaning a small spot on the brick to see if it cleans the brick effectively. If not, try a different cleanser. Make sure to scrub the mortar between the bricks, too. Rinse the cleaner away with water. Let the bricks dry thoroughly. Don’t scrub damaged or deteriorating bricks as this can cause even more damage.

In the future, as soon as your bricks become dirty, wipe the soot away. This will help keep your brick fireplace looking like new.

And don’t forget to make sure the inside of your fireplace is inspected and swept at least once a year, too. Schedule an appointment with the chimney professionals at T. J.’s Chimney Service by calling 317-455-5310 today.

Safety Tips for Factory-built Fireplaces

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Gas Fireplace430x335 (2) Is your home less than 50 years old? Was your home’s design one of a half a dozen new build designs in a planned neighborhood? Does your home have a fireplace or multiple fireplaces? Well, chances are your home features a factory-built fireplace.

Factory-built fireplaces – often called pre-fab fireplaces – are constructed and assembled in a factory where they must meet rigorous testing standards established by the Underwriters Laboratories and the American Gas Association. They are then transported to the building construction site and installed by a professional fireplace installer.

While properly installed, factory-built fireplaces have an excellent safety record, there are some things you should and shouldn’t do when operating your factory-built fireplace to keep your family and home safe.

Before you start a fire in your fireplace:

Open the damper, so the fire will have proper air flow.
Don’t overload the fireplace with too much firewood. Otherwise, a burning log could roll out.
Always burn well-seasoned wood – never wet or green wood.
Never burn your Christmas tree in your fireplace. A dry Christmas tree can cause a hot fire that may warp the metal used in the construction of your fireplace.
Don’t use too much paper in your fireplace, especially paper with colored inks that contain harmful chemicals you could breathe in.
Do not use flammable liquids, like gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, etc., to start a fire.

Once a fire is going:

Close the screen to keep any sparks from flying out that could start a house fire or burn loved ones or pets.
Close the glass doors only when the fire is almost out.

Other tips to heed:

Never install a free-standing or insert-style wood stove into a factory-built fireplace and chimney system – unless the insert has been tested and listed for use in a factory-built fireplace AND it has been approved by the chimney system manufacturer (not just the stove manufacturer). Installing an insert that’s not designed to be used with your factory-built fireplace could cause a house fire.
Have your factory-built fireplace inspected and cleaned at least once a year by a professional chimney sweep company, like T. J.’s Chimney Service. T. J.’s Chimney Service is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, a non-profit, educational organization that’s dedicated to chimney and venting system safety. Contact us today to schedule your annual, professional chimney inspection and cleaning.

What Is a Factory-built Fireplace?

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Gas Fireplace When you think about a fireplace, you probably think of one made of bricks or stones. But did you know that, for over 50 years, many fireplaces used in the construction of new homes are actually made in factory?In fact, factory-built fireplaces now make up about 75% of all types of fireplaces used in home construction per the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

But what exactly is a factory-built fireplace? Well, it’s just that – a fireplace that’s been engineered to a specific design, manufactured in a factory and installed in a home at a later date.

Also called prefabricated metal fireplaces, zero-clearance fireplaces or “builder boxes,” most factory-built fireplaces are made of sheet metal and have round, metal chimneys. However, pre-manufactured masonry fireplaces are also available. Made as a complete system, pre-fab fireplaces have a firebox that’s enclosed within a steel cabinet and a steel chimney or flue. They also may have insulated walls, glass doors, an air-cooled pipe and blowers that circulate the heat from the fire.

They’re called zero-clearance fireplaces, because they’re typically installed within inches of combustible materials, like wood framing, drywall or siding. You can tell if you have a factory-built fireplace in your home by checking the outdoor enclosure around your fireplace and chimney. If the enclosure is covered with siding – and not brick or stone, chances are you have a factory-built fireplace. Also, if the front of your fireplace opening has a black metal facing and large visible louvers, you probably have a pre-fab fireplace. If you’re not really sure, you can always have a pro, like those at T.J.’s Chimney Service, check it out and tell you what kind of fireplace you have. Just know that factory-built fireplaces are safe and efficient.

While factory-built fireplace models vary, most generate heat in one of two ways.

Standard radiant heat method. The fire heats the fireplace which emits infra-red radiation. This radiant heat heats the room and you.
Circulating air method. Heat transfers to the air as it moves across the hot surfaces of the fireplace. Louvers and a blower are used to force the air along the fireplace’s hot walls and then the heated air is pushes out into the living space. Since heat rises, fresh air circulates in to replace it, therefore, circulating the air.

Regardless of whether you have a masonry or factory-built fireplace, normal maintenance and cleaning are necessary to ensure your fireplace operates safely and efficiently. At least once a year, hire a professional chimney sweep, like those at T.J.’s Chimney Service of Greenfield, IN, to inspect and clean your fireplace. Contact them today to schedule your appointment.

8 Steps for Starting a Safe Fire

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

wood-fire-402202_1280 Most people probably think starting a fire in their fireplace or wood-burning stove should be a pretty easy task. But if you don’t start your fire correctly, you could end up with a room full of smoke. Therefore, here is a recommended method for getting your fire going, so you can enjoy the comforts of a cozy fire in no time.

1. Remove any ashes from your fireplace or stove first. You should always let any fire cool completely before you sweep up the ashes – to be safe, let the ashes cool for up to a day. Sweep the ashes and coals into a metal bucket – never a plastic garbage can or bag. Take the bucket outside, away from your house. Let the ashes sit for another day to ensure all the embers have died before disposing of them. Ashes are a wonderful fertilizer for flowers, so sprinkled them in your garden.

2. Crumble single sheets of newspaper into balls and place them on top of the grate or in between the andirons, the horizontal iron bars. Don’t use any newspaper printed with colored inks since it can leave a flammable residue in your chimney. Place strips of newspaper on top of crumpled newspaper balls. Or, you can use other tinder options, like birch bark, dried corncobs, dried pinecones or Applewood chips. Tinder helps to ignite the kindling.

3. Place kindling, like pine or birch twigs, on top of the crumpled newspaper in a crisscross pattern. You’ll need around a dozen sticks. Make sure to leave some spaces between the twigs so air can circulate. In place of kindling, you may want to use a manufactured firestarter.

4. Arrange a few thin, split logs loosely on top of the tinder and kindling. Make sure your firewood is thoroughly seasoned. If you’re not sure whether you should use soft or hardwoods, refer to this blog post.

5. Open the damper on your fireplace or stove fully.

6. Light the tinder with a long match.

7. Add a few medium-sized logs to the fire once it’s burning steadily. However, don’t overfeed the fire. You don’t want too many logs, otherwise you could smother the fire or cause it to blaze out of control. Plus, you want to make sure air can get in between the logs, so the fire can breathe.

8. Shut the fire screen and enjoy the ambiance.

At least once a year, you should hire a chimney sweeping company, like T. J.’s Chimney Service, to professionally clean your fireplace or stove and flue. Otherwise, harmful creosote can build up on the inner surfaces of your flue walls. Creosote, a highly flammable material, is the cause of many disastrous house fires. Contact T. J.’s Chimney Service at 317-455-5310 to schedule your chimney inspection and cleaning today for peace of mind.

Pros and Cons of Soft vs. Hardwoods

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

fire-605585_1280 Did you know that the density of your firewood can determine how long your fire will burn and how much heat it gives off? The wood from different types of trees can vary widely in how much heat the wood produces, how the fire will burn and the overall fire quality. When you know more about soft and hardwoods, you can choose the right type of firewood for a perfect fire in your fireplace or wood-burning stove.

Some terms you need to know when it comes to firewood and burn quality include:

Density – dry weight of the wood per unit volume.
Green weight – the weight (in pounds) of a cord of freshly cut or green wood before it’s dried.
BTU – A British Thermal Unit is a standard measurement used to state the amount of energy that a fuel releases. (One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.)
Coaling – When wood burns down to form long-lasting coals of burning wood. Long-lasting coals are especially good for use in wood-burning stoves since the fire can burn for a longer period.

Softwoods

Softwoods refer to conifers or evergreens, such as firs, pines, cedars and spruces. Generally, softwoods aren’t as dense as hardwoods.

The benefits of burning softwoods are:

They’re easier to ignite since they contain resin.
They typically burn cleaner.
They tend to burn more rapidly with a high, hot flame.
They may produce a pleasant scent when burned.

The disadvantages of softwoods are:

They produce a sticky sap that get on your fingers and clothes, and can gum up stove pipes.
They burn out quickly, requiring more frequent attention.
They produce more popping and sparks due to trapped moisture, which can lead to potential house fires.

Hardwoods

Hardwoods refer to deciduous trees or those that shed leaves. A cord of seasoned hardwood is generally denser, weighing twice as much as a cord of seasoned softwood.

The advantages of burning hardwoods are:

They burn longer than softwoods, reducing your fuel costs
They produce twice as much heat compared to softwoods since they’re denser.
They produce more long-lasting coals.
Wood from fruit or nut-bearing trees produce a sweet-smelling aroma

A con of hardwoods is they’re more difficult to ignite when starting a fire.

To determine, which type of wood may be best for your fire, refer to this guide from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. Just make sure you burn seasoned firewood that has been stored in a dry place for at least six months.

Regardless of which type of wood you use in your fireplace or wood-burning stove, the professionals at T.J.’s Chimney Service, located in Greenfield, IN, recommend that you have your fireplace or wood-burning stove inspected and cleaned at least once a year to ensure they’re in good-working condition and to reduce your risk of a chimney fire. Contact T.J.’s Chimney Service to schedule your inspection today.

Why You Shouldn’t Burn Your Christmas Tree in Your Fireplace

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

After the holidays, it’s time to take down the Christmas tree, pack up the lights and decorations, and return your home’s décor back to the way it was. While you likely have a location to store all of your decorations, what do you do with a REAL Christmas tree after the holidays?

Unless you bought a potted live tree that you can plant in your yard later, a cut, dried-out Christmas tree can be a dilemma. If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove, you may think, “I’ll just burn it.” But don’t!

Here are some reasons that burning your Christmas tree in your fireplace or stove is a bad idea:

The dried needles can burn in a flash, causing a fierce fire. The needles can produce sparks that can fly into your room setting your rugs, furniture and other décor on fire. Sparks can also go up the chimney, setting your roof or landscaping on fire.
Firs, pines and spruces, which are some of the more popular Christmas tree varieties, all have a high sap content that can burn very quickly and explosively. These small explosions can cause items inside and outside your home to catch fire – including your chimney flue.
Since a dry Christmas tree can burn faster than expected, the fire can be difficult to control. To see how flammable a dry Christmas tree can be, watch this video produced by the National Fire Protection Association.
The wood from firs, pines and spruces can produce a lot of creosote, causing a buildup on chimney walls.
Burning a Christmas tree in a fireplace or stove with a dirty flue can cause any creosote deposits to ignite, resulting in a flue fire.
Because of the rapid nature of a Christmas tree fire, smoke can pour out of your fireplace with no warning, filling your home and damaging your belongings.
The fire from a burning Christmas tree can burn so hot that it can damage your firebox, chimney and/or flue, resulting in expensive repairs.

Therefore, the best advice the experts at T.J.’s Chimney Service can give you, is to never burn any part of your Christmas tree in your fireplace or stove for your safety. Also, make sure you have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and inspected by our chimney sweeps, too, to prevent flue-related fires. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that you have your flues cleaned at least once a year to remove soot, creosote buildup and debris. Contact T.J.’s Chimney Service to schedule your appointment today.

6 Benefits of Gas Fireplaces

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Gas Fireplace430x335 (2) Do you want the warm, cozy ambiance of a roaring fire on a cold winter night without the hassle of seasoning the firewood, starting the fire and cleaning up the ash afterward? A gas fireplace can be a great alternative to a traditional wood-burning fireplace.

If you’re not sure whether a gas fireplace is the right solution for your home heating and décor needs, check out these 6 benefits that a gas fireplace can offer you:

Less hassle & easy to use

Unlike a wood-burning fireplace, you don’t have to chop or buy firewood, season it, store it and carry it into the house. Also, gas fireplaces are easy to start. Typically, you only have to flip a switch or press a button on a remote control to have an instant roaring fire. And they’re just as easy to turn off, too – no waiting for the embers to die.

Constant heat

You don’t have to worry about running out of firewood with a gas fireplace. Your home’s gas line provides a continuous source of fuel for your fire. And a gas fireplace provides an even heat, since there aren’t any logs that burn down..

More environmentally friendly

While both wood-burning and gas fireplaces produce pollutants that can get into the air, gas fireplaces release fewer pollutants compared to wood-burning fireplaces, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Cleaner and safer to use

Unlike wood-burning fireplaces that produce soot and ash, you don’t have to clean up anything with gas fireplaces. Also, burning wood produces creosote, a highly flammable by-product that can accumulate on the inner walls of your chimney and increase your risk of chimney fire. Gas fireplaces don’t produce creosote.

Variety of designs and sizes

Gas fireplaces come in a wide variety of styles and sizes – from traditional to contemporary to ultra-modern. You can also choose gas logs that are designed to look like real firewood. T.J.’s Chimney Service of Greenfield, IN, offers some great, high-quality gas fireplace products for your home.

Easy maintenance

Gas fireplaces require little maintenance since they don’t produce soot and ash like wood-burning units. However, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association recommends that you have your gas fireplace inspected annually by a fireplace/chimney professional. The experts at T.J.’s Chimney Service will inspect your gas fireplace burner, fan, venting, pilot light, thermostat and log set to ensure everything is in good-working condition. Call T.J.’s Chimney Service at 317-455-5310 to schedule your gas fireplace inspection today!

Burning the Right Firewood Matters

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever burned wood in your fireplace or wood-burning stove that caused your home to fill with smoke, or produced a bad odor, or irritated your skin? The firewood you choose can affect:

The efficiency of your fire.
You and your family’s health and safety.
Environmental protection.
The safety of your home due to increased chimney fire risk.

Before you burn your next fire, make sure you follow these tips, so you choose the right firewood.

Burn Dry Seasoned Firewood

When selecting firewood, knowing the moisture content of the wood is important. Select firewood that is dry and well-seasoned before you use it.

Freshly cut wood or “green wood” contains moisture – anywhere from 35% to 80%. Green wood shouldn’t be used fires since it:

Takes longer to ignite.
Doesn’t burn as efficiently.
Creates more smoke.
Produces creosote which can stick to the inside walls of your flue and lead to a chimney fire.

Use firewood that has been dried out or seasoned for at least 12 months. To season wood, cut and/or split the wood 12 months before use. Stack the wood to enable air flow on both ends of the wood. Cover the wood to keep it dry from rain and snow.

To burn more efficiently, seasoned wood should only have a moisture content of 15% to 20%. Use a moisture meter to test the wood.

Seasoned firewood will burn cleaner with less smoke and fumes while creating a hotter fire. Plus your flue will have less creosote buildup over time.

Woods to Never Use

Some types of wood you should never burn in your fireplace or stove include:

Leftover treated lumber or painted, stained or glued wood. Burning these woods can release chemicals and toxins, like lead or arsenic, that are unhealthy to you and your family as well as the environment. These chemicals and toxins can also damage your fireplace or stove.
Wood from poisonous plants. Burning poisonous plants, like poison oak, poison sumac or oleander, can produce smoke that may be irritating to your skin, nasal passages and lungs.
Rotted, diseased or moldy wood. Burning these woods can produce a horrible odor. Plus the bacteria, mold, mildew and fungus in these woods can make you sick.

By following these tips, you can ensure you’re building a fire that will burn efficiently while keeping you, your family and the environment safe.

Also remember to always have your fireplace or wood-burning stove inspected and cleaned annually by the professional chimney sweeps at T.J.’s Chimney Service in Greenfield, IN. Our professionals will ensure your fireplace or stove stays in top condition year after year. Contact us to schedule your appointment.

Carbon Monoxide—The Invisible Killer

by TJ Robinson Leave a Comment

Each year over 400 people die from accidental, non-fire-related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and thousands of people become ill from it. In fact, in 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to over 80,000 CO incidents in which CO was present in the building.

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion. While most people think you can only get CO poisoning from faulty gas appliances, that’s not true. CO is produced any time a fossil fuel, like oil, gasoline, natural gas, coal, propane and other materials, is burned. Typically, CO is vented out of your home when you use fuel-burning appliances like a furnace, stove, water heater or fireplace. However, if your fuel-burning appliance is broken or incorrectly-vented, or you’re using it improperly, such as using a generator inside a home, CO can escape and back up in your home. CO can also build up when you have chimneys or flues that are wrongly fitted, cracked, blocked from animal nests and another debris, badly swept or not swept in a long time.

Carbon monoxide is an “invisible killer,” because it’s colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating. So people don’t realize the toxic gas is in their home until it’s sometimes too late.

Therefore, it’s important to know the common symptoms of CO poisoning:

Headache
Fatique
Dizziness
Nausea
Shortness of breath

More severe symptoms from high levels of CO include:

Weakness or loss of muscular coordination
Vomiting
Chest pain
Mental confusion
Loss of consciousness

While CO poisoning can mimic the flu and other illnesses, if you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

To prevent CO poisoning from occurring in the first place:

Install a CO detector in your home and inspect it regularly to make sure it’s functioning properly.
Have all of your appliances checked yearly by a professional to confirm that they’re operating correctly.
Contact the CSIA-certified professionals at T.J.’s Chimney Service to ensure your appliance flues and chimney are in good working order by scheduling an annual chimney inspection and cleaning. We’ll make sure your flues and chimney are functioning properly and safely for your family’s peace of mind.