Company Blog

Spark Arrestors for Fall Fire Safety

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.

Keeping Animals Out of Your Chimney

Have you noticed scurrying and chirping sounds coming from your chimney? This could mean that a family of birds, squirrels, raccoons, or wild animals has mistaken your chimney as a nesting spot. The first thing that you should do is to give the team at All Seasons Chimney a call.

For over 25 years, we have been taking care of the chimneys in the lower Hudson Valley and surrounding areas. We know exactly what to do to safely remove animals from chimneys and homes as well as how to keep them from coming back. We would like to tell you more about keeping birds and wild animals out of your chimney and home for good.

Why do wild animals nest inside chimneys?

Due to real estate development and growing populations, more trees are being cut down. Therefore, it is very common for wild animals to mistake a chimney for its favorite nesting spot, a hollow tree. When birds, squirrels, raccoons, or other animals move into your chimney, it can increase the risk of a chimney fire. Even if the animals leave your chimney, they generally leave nesting materials behind in your flue.

You are also at a higher risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, as the nests may block the flue and force smoke and toxic gases back into your home. One of the worst situations that could happen is that an animal could get stuck and die inside your chimney. The smell of a decomposing animal is foul, which is why it is so important to keep animals out of your chimney.

How can All Seasons Chimney help me keep animals out of my chimney?

For the best protection against bird and wild animal chimney invasions, we recommend professional installation of an animal guard on top of your chimney. They are also known as spark arrestors. Animal guards can also prevent hot sparks from jumping out of the chimney to start an accidental fire while keeping leaves, sticks, and debris from getting inside the chimney. We carry a wide range of animal guards from Olympia Chimney Supply. We also have a wide variety of chimney caps that have animal guards built into the sides.

The best way to keep birds and animals out of your chimney is have a professional install an animal guard. Contact All Seasons Chimney today to schedule an appointment, we can protect your chimney with our superior animal guard installation services!