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Over 25 years
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All Seasons Chimney Truck

1083 Little Britain Rd
New Windsor, NY 12553

CALL US NOW 845-567-1217

Company Blog

Cap Your Chimney to Keep Your Home Safe

Usually made of copper or stainless steel, a chimney cap is a small metal apparatus that connects to the top of a chimney. Chimney caps are reasonably priced and any professional chimney sweep company can install one for at low cost. Even though chimney caps cost relatively little money and are easy to install, not all homes have them. Some homeowners do not know they need a chimney cap. Others simple do not realize how very vital a chimney cap can be for the home and fireplace. In fact, chimney caps offer protection from all types of dangers. However, the most common issue chimney caps fight is the infestation of small animals and pests.

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Chimney Caps and Pests

During bitter New York winters, everyone wants to keep warm, particularly small animals that have few options in the dangerously cold weather. In an effort to see it through to the spring, birds and squirrels find the warmth of the chimney very appealing. In addition, the confines of the chimney make the animals feel safe, and it protects them from direct contact with the elements. For these reasons, birds and squirrels will not hesitate to make a cozy winter home out of your uncapped flue.

While the animals may enjoy the advantages offered by hiding away in the chimney, eventually this arrangement will have serious consequences. The only reason homes have chimneys is to prevent toxic gases in the fireplace from permeating the home by expelling them outside. Particularly with wood burning fireplaces, the chemical process of burning wood produces dangerous materials. Messy soot floats around in the smoke, burnt wood produces creosote, and combustion produces carbon dioxide. While soot only results in a messy fireplace and house, creosote and carbon monoxide can cause negative health effects and even death. It is essential for the health of everyone in the home that these gases have a way to escape. When an animal makes a nest in the chimney, the exit for the toxic gases has become obstructed. This creates a back-up in which the smoke and all the toxins in it are forced back into the home with potentially fatal consequences. Because a chimney cap is an affordable option that prevents all of this risk, the decision to install or update a chimney cap is an easy one.

Installing a Chimney Cap

Many big box retailers offer chimney caps at very low prices. Beware, however, that these chimney caps are low quality and not guaranteed to fit your chimney. They will deteriorate quickly and require replacement often. Additionally, installing a chimney cap on your own can be very dangerous. In order to avoid investing in a low quality chimney cap and putting your safety in danger by installing one yourself, contact a chimney sweep company. If you live in the Hudson Valley area, contact All Seasons Chimney for a professional consultation. Along with your next annual chimney sweep and inspection, the serviceperson will inspect your chimney and provide you with expert advice on choosing a chimney cap. All Seasons Chimney will supply you with a high quality cap with a long life span, and they will install the chimney cap safely and precisely for an affordable price.

Clean Your Furnace Chimney Even If the Manufacturer Does Not

Many homes in the Hudson Valley area were built well over 100 years ago. These aged homes hold great character and charm, but they may not be as updated as their owners prefer. Older homes might suffer from outdated finishes, deteriorated foundations, and even dangerous electrical wiring. In addition, many older houses will not have the necessary hook ups to utilize a gas-burning furnace, so using a wood-burning furnace to heat the home may be the only option.

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While the furnace may have been updated several times since the original was installed, it still needs regular maintenance to keep it running properly. Some newer furnaces might still hold a valid manufacturer warranty that covers any repairs or damages for the unit, but most of these do not include the care of the chimney.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends cleaning and inspecting your chimney every year, more often if you use it regularly. Because cold New York winters require daily use of the furnace and chimney for several consecutive months, these chimneys should be serviced more often. No matter what type of fuel the furnace runs on, the chimney should at the very least be checked for bird nests or other obstructions prior to use. However, have a wood-burning furnace chimney cleaned and inspected regularly is crucial to keeping any home and family safe.

Burning wood creates a tar-like by-product called creosote. This compound builds up over time on the walls of the chimney, and failing to clean the creosote off can result in disastrous consequences. First, the material is highly flammable, so leaving it to build up can cause a dangerous chimney fire. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control says the hazard of creosote includes a variety of devastating health effects. When the wood stove burns, small particles of creosote can float in the air of the home, and cause problems such as eye damage, bronchitis, lung cancer and skin cancer. The carcinogenic material will eventually settle on surfaces, including food and food preparation areas, so the compound could be ingested. This has been known to result in liver and kidney damage, chemical burns in the mouth and throat, convulsions and even death. Creosote also poses a danger to pregnant women and their fetuses, because it passes through the placenta and has caused birth defects like a cleft palate.

Due to these types of serious dangers, the chimney to a wood-burning furnace must be cleaned and inspected regularly. Even though the unit manufacturer does not cover the cost of maintaining the chimney that does not mean this care is unimportant or unnecessary. Failing to properly address the care of the chimney can have dire results.

If you live in the Hudson Valley area, call All Seasons Chimney for a professional consultation. These experts have over 25 years experience cleaning and inspecting chimneys and can bring their knowledge and skill to your home.