Company Blog

Keep the Chimney Odors at Bay with a Spring Chimney Sweeping

Keep The Chimney Odors at Bay with a Spring Chimney Cleaning Image - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons Chimney IncWarmer weather is on the way, which means it is time to start your spring cleaning routine. Since fireplace season is ending, spring is the best time to schedule your annual professional chimney sweeping and inspection. Not only will these services ensure your chimney did not suffer any winter-related damage, but a chimney sweeping in the spring will prevent unpleasant odors invading your home from the chimney through the fireplace. The humidity in the warm summer months can cause any accumulated creosote and soot in your chimney to release a smoky, almost tar-like smell, which can be blown into your home by backdrafts. The best way to be sure you will not be affected by these stinky scents is to have your chimney professionally cleaned. All Seasons Chimney is proud to offer professional chimney sweeping services from our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney sweeps, and we would like to advise you that you will have an easier time scheduling this appointment on the date that is most convenient for you in the spring.
Our busiest chimney sweeping season runs from September to December as most people tend to wait until the fall to get their chimneys ready to be used, but you can take care of this chimney maintenance task earlier so that your fireplace and chimney are ready to go in the fall. We would like to tell you more about why it is so important to have your chimney professionally swept and inspected every year.

Chimney Sweeping

Creosote can cause all sorts of problems in your chimney. The CSIA claims that this natural compound is the leading cause of chimney fires because it is so flammable. Creosote forms during the combustion process of burning wood and sticks to the internal walls of your chimney. This residue can accumulate into large deposits that can easily ignite if the temperature inside your chimney reaches a high enough point. Not only does creosote create a fire hazard, but it is also responsible for creating unpleasant odors. During the humid months of the summer, these odors can get very strong and can invade your home from the chimney through the fireplace. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps from All Seasons Chimney take care to remove every bit of accumulated creosote from the interior walls of your chimney to reduce your risks of experiencing a chimney fire and of smelling its acrid scent.

Chimney Inspection

After All Seasons Chimney sweeps your chimney, our CSIA-certified chimney technicians will then professionally inspect your chimney. We will look closely at the condition of the interior and exterior of your chimney to be sure your chimney has not suffered from winter-related chimney damage that could make your fireplace unsafe to use. We will also check to see if your chimney contains any blockages that could force smoke and carbon monoxide into your home. Our top priority when performing these chimney maintenance services is your safety.

Keep your home smelling sweet this summer by having your chimney professionally swept and inspected this spring. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney to schedule an appointment for these important chimney maintenance services.

The Importance of Having Your Boiler or Furnace Chimney Swept and Inspected

The Importance of Having Your Boiler or Furnace Chimney Swept and Inspected Image - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons Chimney Inc.If you heat your home with an oil-fired furnace or boiler, you need to know how important it is to have its chimney cleaned and inspected every year. Many people think that since it is not a fireplace, their chimneys do not need to be maintained in the same way, but the acids that are produced by your furnace or boiler can be harmful to the flue. These chimneys can also become clogged with soot and force toxic gases like carbon monoxide back into your home. To keep your furnace or boiler working efficiently and safely, you need to have its chimney swept and inspected as well as having the appliance itself serviced every year. All Seasons Chimney is proud to offer chimney maintenance services for furnaces and boilers, and we would like to share with you some information from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) about why it is important to have this service done.

I have my furnace serviced every year by an oil service technician. Isn’t this the same thing as having the chimney inspected?

While your oil service technician may shovel out the base of the chimney and brush out the pipes that connect your furnace to the chimney, he probably will not clean the actual chimney. He may tell you your furnace is okay without even inspecting the chimney. When All Seasons Chimney inspects your chimney, we will not only inspect the interior of the chimney, but we will also go up to the roof to check out the exterior of the chimney, including the chimney cap and the flashing system.

How the acidic gases produced by my furnace or boiler damage my chimney?

If you have a stainless steel liner, the sulfuric acid reaction to the soot produced by your furnace or boiler can cause small holes to form, which can make your liner unsafe to use. These tiny holes allow the toxic byproducts of combustion to leak back into your home. The same thing can happen to a clay tile liner. All Seasons Chimney will remove the soot deposits on your liner which can prevent the sulfuric acid reaction from occurring and damaging your liner.

What can I expect from this maintenance service from All Seasons Chimney?

When we arrive to your home to sweep and inspect your chimney, we will begin by setting up our equipment and sealing off areas of your home that may allow soot to enter. We will disconnect the pipe that connects your appliance to the chimney, sweep it, and reconnect it. We will then inspect the exterior of your chimney, sweep the chimney to loosen and remove the soot deposits, and then inspect the interior of the chimney. After we have finished our service, we will restart your furnace or boiler for you.

If you have an oil-fired furnace or boiler, you should not neglect its chimney. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney to schedule a sweeping and inspection of your chimney to be sure your appliance will work efficiently and safely.