Company Blog

Is Your Fireplace Ready for Winter?

Cozy Winter Fireplace Ready Image - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons ChimneyColder weather is in the forecast, but is your chimney and fireplace system ready for warm, cozy, and safe fires this winter? To be prepared for lighting the first fire in your fireplace this year, you need to schedule your annual professional chimney sweeping and inspection appointment with our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney sweeps at All Seasons Chimney. The CSIA, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and other national fire safety groups all recommend having this chimney maintenance done by qualified professionals before fireplace season gets started. Winter is just around the corner, and we are here to help you get your fireplace ready to go. We would like to tell you why it is so important to have your chimney professionally swept and inspected before winter.

Prevent chimney fires

When you burn wood in your fireplace, creosote is naturally produced during the combustion process and builds up in deposits on the inner walls of the chimney. The residue of smoke, vapors, gases, and other byproducts of combustion, creosote varies in color and texture. Whether it is black or brown, sticky and gummy, dry and flaky, or hard and shiny, creosote is very flammable. It is so hazardous that the CSIA has named it as a leading cause of chimney fires. If you have not had your chimney professionally swept since last winter, you could have a large amount of creosote accumulation inside your chimney. To get rid of this fire hazard, All Seasons Chimney can remove every bit of creosote from the interior chimney walls. We take great care in ensuring that your risk of a possibly devastating chimney fire is greatly reduced.

Avoid water deterioration

When All Seasons Chimney inspects your chimney, we look for any damaged and/or missing bricks and mortar joints on the exterior of your chimney structure. If the masonry materials are cracked and broken, water can penetrate into your home through the chimney. You can end up with stained ceilings and walls, rusted metal chimney components, and rotting wood. Even worse, the structure of your chimney could collapse as cold winter weather can cause even more deterioration of the bricks and mortar. Our CSIA-certified chimney experts will give you honest written estimates of the repair work needed to protect your chimney from water damage and deterioration during the winter. During the inspection, we will also look for other problems such as flue blockages and chimney liner damage that increase your risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. You can trust us to be sure your fireplace and chimney will be working efficiently and safely all winter long.

Be sure your fireplace is ready for winter. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney to schedule an appointment for our chimney sweeping and inspection services today.

Your Oil Furnace Needs Service Too

Oil Furnace Work Image - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons ChimneyAs you are getting your home ready for cooler weather, you should not forget about your oil furnace and its chimney. Your oil furnace needs to be serviced annually to ensure it is working safely and efficiently. All Seasons Chimney is proud to offer maintenance services for oil furnaces, along with our fireplace and chimney sweepings and inspections. We would like to tell you why it is so important to have your oil furnace and its chimney professionally serviced and inspected every year.

Prevent carbon monoxide leaks

Because your oil furnace routinely has long running cycles in the winter, it produces a lot of soot. Oil soot is very sticky and will adhere to the inner walls of the chimney. Over a long and cold winter, these soot deposits can build up to the point where they block the chimney. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), this soot will eventually fall to the base of the chimney or even directly on top of your furnace. When the base of the chimney has not been swept and when your furnace does not have proper ventilation, carbon monoxide can easily be forced back into your home. This toxic gas can cause serious illnesses that could possibly lead to death. Having your oil furnace professionally serviced and its chimney professionally swept can greatly reduce your chances of carbon monoxide leaks.

Prevent chimney corrosion

A large accumulation of soot deposits can be hard on both masonry and metal surfaces. Soot is a combination of sulphur and carbon, and when this mixture is combined with moisture from rainwater or flue gases, it can cause corrosion damage. If you have a masonry chimney, the bricks and mortar joints can suffer from spalling damage that leads to cracked and missing bricks. If you have a metal chimney, tiny holes can form from this corrosion damage, which disrupts the integrity of the liner.

What should I expect from an oil furnace service appointment?

When All Seasons Chimney arrives to your home to service your oil furnace and its chimney, we will set up our special equipment to be sure your home is protected from soot and other debris. We will then disconnect the pipe that connects your furnace to the chimney, sweep the pipe, and reconnect it. We then inspect both the interior and exterior of the chimney to look for any potential problems. After the inspection, we will restart your oil furnace and provide you with a written evaluation of your furnace and chimney.

With our years of experience and training, you can trust All Seasons Chimney to properly remove all of the oil soot deposits from your chimney and to ensure your oil furnace is functioning safely and efficiently. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to have your oil furnace and its chimney serviced before winter arrives.