Most chase covers installed at the time of original construction, were built of a very thin 30 gauge sheet metal, which was bent on the construction site, usually by hand. This resulted in a poor fitting cover that did not allow for expansion, contraction, or proper water shedding, causing excessive wear, rusting and leaking into the chase [...]
Crown cracking occurs from moisture being absorbed by the crown and then freezing. The freezing expands the moisture and evently will produce cracks in the crown. All crowns in the Chicagoland area will crack, it’s just a matter of when. Continue reading “Masonry Crown Cracking” »
Glazing, also known as 3rd stage creosote, is basically unburned carbon that is very dangerous. If it gets too hot it can combust and become the catalyst for a huge fire.
This level of creosote can be caused by burning too wet of wood or wood having a moisture content greater than 10-15%. If the wood is too wet, the fire has to use more of it’s energy to dry the wood before it starts to pyrolize or break down before combustion. When more energy is used the efficiency of the fire decreases or begins to burn cooler. Cooler gases don’t rise as fast and they stay in the chimney longer. When it has a longer “Residence time” creosote is formed. Continue reading “3rd Stage Creosote” »
Most chase covers installed at the time of original construction, were built of a very thin 30 gauge sheet metal, which was bent on the construction site, usually by hand. This resulted in a poor fitting cover that did not allow for expansion, contraction, or proper water shedding, causing excessive wear, rusting and leaking into the chase cover and ultimately the fireplace. Continue reading “Installing a Chase Cover” »
Having your dryer vent cleaned improves efficiency of your dryer installation. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports dryer related home fires are on the increase.
A customer recently called asking if he can apply CrownCoat by himself and if he could can he purchase this CrownCoat from the Chimney Department. The answer is no, CrownCoat is a product that repairs damaged chimney crowns and it needs to be applied by a contractor. Preferably by a masonry contractor or a Certified Chimney Professional (hint, hint…just like our chimney pros here at the Chimney Department, Ltd.) Continue reading “What is CrownCoat?” »
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