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All Seasons Chimney Truck

1083 Little Britain Rd
New Windsor, NY 12553

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Company Blog

How to Dispose of Fireplace Ash

In the winter, you may use your fireplace everyday to keep your home cozy and warm. When you are lighting a daily fire, you should be removing the ashes every other week or so. Although the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends leaving a one-inch layer of ashes to insulate the firebox, you do need to follow a regular ash removal routine to keep them from building up on the grate, which can cause it to prematurely wear out. Knowing how to properly and safely dispose fireplace ashes is very important. All Seasons Chimney wants to share with you some tips on removing ashes from your fireplace and your home this winter.

Allow sufficient cooling time before starting this task.

How to Dispose of Fireplace Ash - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons ChimneyNever remove fireplace ashes right after extinguishing a fire because of the dangers of smoldering ashes. A good rule of thumb is to wait for at least 36 hours after you have put out your last fire.

Have the right tools for ash removal.

Even though you have waited long enough to safely begin this task, you may still encounter hot ashes in the firebox. This is why it is so important to have a metal bucket with a fitted lid, a metal shovel, and gloves to safely remove the ashes. You may also want to wear a breathing mask, especially if you have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues.

Scoop the ashes into the bucket, close the lid tightly, and place the bucket outside.

You will want to make sure the lid is securely closed once you have placed the ashes inside the bucket. This prevents the ashes from spilling out if the bucket gets knocked over as well as to completely put out any still-smoldering ashes. Take the bucket outside your home and place it on a non-combustible surface like concrete or brick. Smoldering ashes can generate enough heat to possibly spark a fire on a combustible surface like wood. After a few days outside, you can dump the bucket of ashes into your outside trash can. You can also save the ashes to use in your garden in the spring.

Following these steps will allow you to stay safe when disposing of fireplace ash this winter. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney for any of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.

How Cold Weather Affects Your Chimney

As the brutally cold winter weather begins settling into the Hudson Valley, it is time to keep an eye on the exterior of your masonry chimney. According to the Chimney Institute of America (CSIA), the majority of masonry damage occurs during periods of freezing temperatures. This damage can become even worse as the cold accelerates the deterioration of the bricks and mortar joints. This is why All Seasons Chimney would like to tell you more about our professional chimney masonry repair services. We can even help you prevent this type of cold weather chimney damage from occurring.

How does cold weather affect my chimney?How Cold Weather Affects Your Chimney Image - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons

Because masonry materials are porous, the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney absorb a lot of water. As the temperatures start to drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, any moisture that is absorbed in those masonry materials will freeze and expand within the bricks and mortar joints. The real damage occurs when the weather warms up. The force of the water thawing out can cause the masonry materials to crack, break apart, and even become loose from the chimney structure. After a long, cold winter with multiple freeze/thaw cycles, there can be quite a bit of masonry damage.

How can All Seasons Chimney help me with cold weather chimney damage?

You can trust our CSIA-certified chimney technicians, who are trained and experienced in repairing chimney masonry. They can take care of any professional repair needs you may have. We use masonry techniques like tuckpointing to remove the damaged bricks and mortar joints and replace them with matching masonry materials. Our chimney professionals can also help you avoid these chimney problems by making sure your chimney is protected from water penetration. We provide professional chimney cap sales and installation services, and we can construct and repair a flashing system that keeps water from leaking where the chimney meets the roof. We recommend our professional chimney waterproofing services to give your chimney the ultimate protection against water penetration damage.

Keep your chimney safe this winter from cold weather damage that could jeopardize the soundness of its structure. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney today to schedule an appointment for our professional chimney waterproofing services.