As we head into fall here in the Hudson Valley region, it is important to make sure that your chimney system is ready to work safely and efficiently throughout the colder months of the year. For over 25 years, All Seasons Chimney has been providing superior professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services, and you can count on us to inspect your chimney to see if you have the best components in place to 
prevent damage and other issues. We would like to tell you more about spark arrestors, which is one of the most essential chimney parts you need to reduce your risk of accidental fires, especially during the fall season.
What exactly is a spark arrestor?
Consisting of mesh metal wiring, a spark arrestor keeps hot embers and sparks from jumping out of the top of your chimney. The mesh allows smoke, gases, and vapors to freely pass out of your home, but it stops sparks and embers from escaping. Without a spark arrestor installed on the top of your chimney, you have a greater risk of nearby dry leaves accidentally catching on fire from the errant sparks. Most chimney caps and top-sealing dampers are equipped with spark arrestors, but if your chimney cap or damper does not have this feature, All Seasons Chimney may be able to install a spark arrestor to your existing cap or damper. We also carry a wide variety of chimney caps and top-mounted dampers from Olympia Chimney Supply. After you have selected your new component, our experienced technicians can professionally install it for you.
What are the other advantages of a spark arrestor?
Another common problem that you could have if your chimney is not equipped with this component is a bird, squirrel, raccoon, or other wild animal getting inside the flue for shelter. The mesh that stops hot embers and sparks from jumping out of the chimney also plays a role in preventing wild animals from invading your chimney. Over our years of working on chimneys, All Seasons Chimney helped our customers remove birds, opossums, mice, bats, squirrels, and raccoons from the flue, but if a chimney swift is present, you will have to wait until it leaves on its own. This species of bird is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the best way to keep it from returning in the spring is to make sure that you have a chimney cap with mesh metal siding installed at the top of your chimney.
Make sure that your chimney is protected from fire hazards this fall. Contact us today at All Seasons Chimney to schedule an appointment with our experienced professional chimney technicians. We are here for any of your professional chimney needs.