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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) How often should my chimney be cleaned? How long will it take to clean my chimney and is there any Mess? Do you install caps? How much? How often should a dryer vent be cleaned? What is the difference between a Pre-fab fireplace and a Masonry Fireplace? What is the difference between vented and non vented gas logs? You sell gas logs but can you run the gas line for me? My chimney has white stains on the brick. What is this? What can be done to prevent the stains? Can you get replacement glass for my fireplace doors? Why should we choose you as our chimney professional? I get birds in my chimney every year. What can I do to prevent this? How often should my chimney be cleaned? The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends a yearly inspection and cleaning and repairs done as necessary. Free standing wood stoves or fire place inserts used to heat the home should be inspected and cleaned if needed every year. Regular open fireplaces need to be maintained and cleaned on a consistent basis as well. Usually a cleaning is needed for every cord of wood burned or at least 2-3 years.
How long will it take to clean my chimney and is there any MESS!! It usually takes less than an one hour to clean most masonry chimneys.
Upon entering your home we are careful to find the best way for us to get equipment and personal in and out of your home. We need some space in front of the fireplace to spread out the 9 x 12 ft tarp that covers the carpet and hearth, moving coffee tables and chairs if needed. "Special Stuff" on the mantel or walls above the fireplace is safe. If you want to remove items on the mantel please do. We set up all needed tools and our special
We remove the damper blade and handle (if possible) to check for rust and missing parts. While cleaning the firebox area we are checking for cracks in brick and missing or severely eroded mortar joints.
On masonry chimneys we reach up inside the smoke chamber area with hand brush to clean the breast area and the sides where the larger brush misses.
The process is reversed, and the liner is check for cracks, gaps and missing joints using a spotlight. We clean off debris that has fallen onto smoke shelf, the damper blade, handle and cotter pin is put back in place and dust is swept out of firebox. We vacuum off the hearth, and remove all equipment and tarp from your house, complete the invoice, get payment for the amount due, thank you for the business, sprinkle some good luck around and look forward to the next customers dirty chimney. The whole process takes about 1 hour more or less depending on conditions and such.
Do you install chimney caps? How much? Yes, We carry Stainless Steel and Copper Chimney Caps that carry a lifetime guarantee. A cap will keep out animals, leaves, twigs, and rain. Rain entering from the uncovered top, does most of the damage in a chimney by getting into the mortar joints inside the firebox causing them to become weak and deteriorate. The single flue cap chimney cap starts at $95 Installed and are priced according to size. Multi-flue caps (covering more than one flue) start at $225 installed. Custom caps are priced according to size and material used, (ie., Stainless Steel or Copper only.)
YES, Our specialty is firebox repair and chimney relining. We do most everything and anything to do with chimney repairs. We also replace lost or damaged damper blades or install a Lock Top® damper if a replacement blade is not available. If you are having problems with your chimney, we can most likely find a workable solution.
Currently, most masonry chimneys are built with terra-cotta clay tiles stacked and mortared inside the brick structure. These tiles serve as a gas-tight and heat-resistant insulator against the masonry structure. Without a liner, or with cracked and damaged liners, there would be heat transfer or actual seepage through the brick and mortar. A liner is a stainless steel tube inserted into a chimney to draft an furnace, woodstove or fireplace. The appliance will vent through that stainless pipe and use the existing chimney structure as an encasement. New liners are gas tight systems and insulated for highest efficiency. This system can solve most drafting and safety issues of chimney fire damaged or older unlined chimney flues.
How often should my dryer vent be cleaned? Most dryer vents should be cleaned at least every two years or so. This depends on the length of your vent, how many twists and turns, and how often the dryer is used every week. Dryers that have short vents and little usage may be able to go longer than normal before being cleaned.
What is the difference between a Pre-Fab fireplace and
Pre-fab fireplaces are installed on site from UL listed components made in a factory, while a masonry chimney is constructed on site by brick masons. A pre-fab chimney has a metal pipe flue to vent smoke out of house. Pre-fabs are smaller and some have blowers built in. All pre-fab fireplaces are UL listed. The pre-fab chimney is encased in a wood chase covered by a metal cap to prevent water and provided with termination cap on top. A masonry chimney is built on site using terra cotta tile for liners and is more expensive to build to maintain. Most masonry chimneys do not have chimney caps installed allowing water and animals to get inside the structure and sometimes inside your house. A pre-fab fireplace can be removed if damaged and replaced with new unit for less cost than masonry chimney. Pre-fab fireplaces are not any more safe on less safe than masonry fireplaces. They are just different. But both will help keep you warm and they are romantic!!
What is the difference between vented and non vented gas logs? What else is there? There are several different types of gas logs. We deal with the most popular types, vented and non vented or heating logs. The differences between these two logs sets is very technical. But to boil it down, Vented type logs can only be used in fireplaces with a working chimney that meet current codes. The damper is locked open upon installation must be kept open when burning. Placement of the logs can be changed to make the fire look different. The flame has a more orange look and soot is more prevalent in the chimney. A chimney cap is HIGHLY recommended when using either type of log set to prevent water and other debris from falling on the log set. Water can rust the burner, grate and also damage the logs in a short amount of time.
My chimney has white stains on the brick what is this? The white stains or powder-like material is often the result of water penetration of the chimney. During a rain, snow, or ice storm water is absorbed by the brick and mortar crown. In the case of snow or ice storm the freeze thaw cycles can enlarge the cracks on the top of the chimney mortar crown allowing water to enter the structure this way. The chimney will soon saturate with water. As the chimney dries, lime and salts from brick and mortar are pushed out of the pores of the chimney. Wood in contact with the chimney can also absorb water, and in most cases, start to rot. This is a common problem that we can help prevent. The cost of this service depends on many factors. Call us for more info or to schedule a visit.
What can be done to prevent the white stains? The first step is a visual evaluation of the chimney crown, mortar joints and flashing. Often we find the crown has cracks caused by shrinkage of the mortar during construction. These start out as hairline cracks but get bigger over the years from freeze thaw-cycles and the natural expansion-contraction that occurs during the spring & summer seasons. If the chimney has darkened from mold and mildew, we recommend cleaning the surface of the brick by power washing. This opens the pores of the brick and cleans off mold and mildew deposits. We apply a layer of CrownSeal on the mortar crown sealing the cracks but remaining flexible to allow for expansion-contraction cycles. Afterwards then apply the water repellent product ChimneySaver® with a low pressure sprayer. Both products have a 10-year warranty and we have confidence in their ability to perform as stated.
Can I get replacement glass for my fireplace doors? Yes, we now have a great source where we can provide high temp tempered glass for fireplace doors. We need length, width, and thickness of glass and if the glass is enclose in full frame or has exposed edges. Turnaround time is 7-10 days.
We can give you the names of past customers, realtors and property management company's we have performed chimney services for in the past if you desire. Please call and let us know in advance. We will be happy to let you hear all the nice things our customer are saying about us!!
The chimney swift, a colony bird from South America, spends the summer in your chimney nesting and getting ready for the long flight back to the forests of Peru. Chimney Swifts eat several times there weight in flying bugs and such. Being a colony bird they will return to the chimney of birth each year, until you do something to prevent their return. We start seeing the birds in this area mid to late April. They stay until mid Sept and are usually gone by the first cold snap. We like to wait until the birds are gone to put out the "No Vacancy" sign. We recommend cleaning the chimney to remove the bird debris and any flammable material that may be in the chimney area. Next step is to install a chimney cap. This will prevent birds and other animals from entering the chimney along with rain and leaves. From then on your bird and small animal problem is solved and you are the hero. So, make that call today to schedule your appointment.
We provide quality service in the following areas: Avon, Holbrook, Canton, Stoughton, Milton, Sharon, Randolph, and other surrounding towns within an 25 mile radius.
Copyright© 1999-2003 Sunbrite. All Rights Reserved. 508 345-1729 P.O. Box 306 Avon, Mass 02322
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chimney vacuum to aid in dust control. We wear coveralls, gloves and a respirator to protect us from harmful creosote dust and ash in the chimney. We assess the chimneys condition noting any problems and proceed with cleaning.