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All Seasons Chimney Truck

1083 Little Britain Rd
New Windsor, NY 12553

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Company Blog

How the Freeze/Thaw Cycle Affects Your Masonry Chimney

Winter is just around the corner, and the freezing temperatures it brings can do a lot of damage to your masonry chimney, especially if water has leaked into the bricks and mortar. For good reason, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) calls water the biggest enemy of a masonry chimney. The amount of damage that water can do to masonry materials can cause so much deterioration that your chimney could end up collapsing if the damage is left unrepaired. Here in the Hudson Valley, we experience very cold winters, and All Seasons Chimney knows what the brutally cold weather can do to chimneys. We would like to explain to you exactly what repeated freeze/thaw cycles do to the bricks and mortar of your chimney and how you can prevent this type of damage.

How the Freeze/Thaw Cycle Affects Your Masonry Chimney Image - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons Chimney

What is a freeze/thaw cycle?

Known as spalling, the freeze/thaw cycle speeds up the deterioration of masonry materials. When water leaks into your chimney, it is absorbed by the bricks and mortar. As the temperature drops below freezing, the water in the masonry materials freezes and expands. When the temperature rises above freezing, the water thaws and causes the bricks and mortar to break apart and crack. This process repeats itself each time the temperature drops, and the repeated spalling can lead to pieces of bricks and mortar falling from your chimney structure. If this damage is left unrepaired, your chimney can deteriorate to the point of collapsing.

How can I prevent spalling damage?

The best way to keep spalling from damaging your chimney is to keep water from leaking into your chimney. All Seasons Chimney offers a couple of services that prevent water penetration. We can design and install flashing systems around chimneys to keep water from entering. Constructed from stainless steel or copper, flashing is the seal between the roof and the chimney. As every chimney and roof have different shapes and dimensions, flashing should be customized to fit perfectly. Our expert chimney technicians can create a custom flashing system for your chimney and roof that will protect your chimney from water penetration. Our other water penetration prevention service is waterproofing. Using a formula that is 100% vapor permeable, we will apply this formula to your entire chimney to provide a barrier that will keep water from leaking into the bricks and mortar, but allow water vapors to escape. If the vapors cannot escape, it can lead to even more spalling damage. Waterproofing your chimney is the best way to keep spalling from ever even occurring.

Protect your masonry chimney from spalling damage this winter. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney to make an appointment for our flashing or waterproofing services.

The Dangers of Chimney Sweeping Logs

You may have seen chimney sweeping logs, a product that claims to reduce and remove the amount of creosote that builds up on the inner walls of your chimney. Seeing that these chimney sweeping logs cost much less than a professional chimney sweeping, you may have thought that you could save money by using this product. If they can remove creosote, your chimney should be safe to use. However, All Seasons Chimney would like to warn you against using chimney sweeping logs as they do not work sufficiently and can pose potential dangers. We would like to tell you more about this product by sharing with you some information from the Washington Public Fire Educators Association.

The Dangers of Chimney Sweeping Logs Image - Poughkeepsie NY - All Season Chimney Inc.

What are chimney sweeping logs?

The manufacturer of this product claims that specially developed minerals in chimney sweeping logs will reduce deposits of tar and creosote to prevent chimney fires. To use one of these logs, you place it in the firebox and burn it for one hour. The website for these chimney sweeping logs states that burning one of these logs will reduce creosote buildup by 60%.

Are these claims true?

While chimney sweeping logs do remove some of the creosote that has accumulated in your chimney, the claims are very misleading. In no way can these logs take the place of a professional chimney sweeping. There is also no mention of the potential dangers that can occur when you use this product.

What are the dangers that could occur when you use chimney sweeping logs?

When a chimney sweeping log is burning in your fireplace or stove, it causes the creosote that has built up on the inner walls of your chimney to flake off and fall down the chimney. Since creosote is highly flammable, these flakes of creosote could ignite on the way down the chimney and start a chimney fire. If the pieces of creosote do not ignite, they just land on the smoke shelf where they gather with other pieces of creosote to form another fire hazard.

Why are chimney sweeping logs not a valid substitute for a professional chimney sweeping?

Not only could chimney sweeping logs possibly ignite a chimney fire, but they do not remove all of the creosote from your chimney. The certified chimney sweeps at All Seasons Chimney guarantee to remove every single bit of creosote from your chimney. Our sweeps will also inspect your chimney to be sure there is no damage that needs repairing. They will also check to see if anything like bird and animal nests and other debris are blocking your chimney.

If you need your chimney cleaned, do not fall for the claims of chimney sweeping logs. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney to schedule an appointment for a professional chimney sweeping today.