It looks pretty on the outside. But, how well is your fireplace really working?
Like many of my clients and some of you, I burn wood this time of year.
I love everything about it. Cutting up the trees, splitting the logs, stacking the wood, and building the fire. It is so rewarding for me to know that I provided comfort for my family once again with my own two hands.
I thought it would be fitting to talk about fireplaces this month.
When I think of a “Fireplace” I envision the traditional stone or brick fireplaces that we see everywhere this time of year. You know, the ones Santa drops down. Typically these have a large, open firebox made of steel or brick with a damper above it and an ash pit below it, a concrete or ceramic hearth in front of the opening, and a stone or brick chimney with sections of clay tile inside going up the wall outside. Some have spark screens or doors in front of the opening as well.
Here is how a fireplace works. Logs burn inside the firebox creating heat. The heat warms the room and also creates a draft that pulls the smoke from the fire up and out of the chimney. The damper above the firebox is adjustable so that the draft can be regulated. The ash pit below provides a temporary place to store leftover ashes after a fire has burned out. The hearth acts as a shield preventing any stray sparks from landing on the floor and burning it. Screens and doors prevent sparks from escaping out of the firebox as well.
When inspecting a fireplace I start inside and first look at the hearth. It should extend at least eighteen inches into the room and be made of some type of non-combustible material. Next I examine the firebox for signs of deteriorated mortar and loose bricks. I then check the operation of the damper and determine how much creosote has accumulated. Outside I examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of deteriorated mortar and loose masonry. Finally, I look down inside the chimney from above for signs of blockages, broken or misaligned tiles and creosote buildup.
CREOSOTE = Creosote is a dark brown / black tar-like substance that accumulates inside the throat and chimney of all wood burning fireplaces and wood stoves. It can ignite and cause a dangerous chimney fire. Chimney should be cleaned when creosote becomes 1/8th of an inch thick.
Note – Hardwoods, such as Oak, Maple, Birch, Walnut burn better than softwoods.
Stay warm,
Duane
If you would like more information about Fireplaces, Wood Stoves or Chimneys please feel free to contact me at dkingfullserviceinspector@gmail.com
How much damage do icicles like these cause on your roof?
Do you have numerous icicles hanging from the roof of your home ?
It may look enchanting but it could be costing you more to heat your home. It could also be causing damage to your home. Icicles can be a sign of a condition known as ice damming.
Ice damming occurs when heated air inside the home migrates upward into the attic. The warm air then melts snow on the upper portion of the roof. When the melted snow reaches the significantly colder soffit area near the eves it refreezes to form an ice dam which is typically indicated by icicles. The dam will not allow additional melted snow and water to run off the roof so it backs up under the shingles and begins to leak into the home causing damage to insulation and structural components of the roof.
Properly insulating attic spaces and sealing all areas that allow air from inside the house to escape into the attic is the key to preventing ice damming.
If you would like to know more about Ice Damming, Roof Leaks, or Attic Ventilation please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m always available for you!
You wake up unusually early one winter morning to discover that your furnace stopped working during the night. What would you do next?
Many of you would call a repair man to come over and get your furnace working again. He arrives at your home an agonizing thirty minutes later. He spends five minutes examining your thermostat and furnace then walks over to the main electrical panel and resets one of the breakers and the furnace begins working again. At this time he charges you $95.00!
What if you did the following before you made that phone call?
Check the thermostat to see if it is in “HEAT” mode and set at the proper temperature.
Check the service switch located on the side or above the furnace to see if it is in the “ON” position.
Check the gas valve located in the pipe leading to the furnace to see if it is in the “ON” position.
Check the gas valve located inside the furnace to see if it is in the “ON” position.
Check the access panel located at the blower compartment of the furnace to see if it is secure and engaging the safety switch located behind the panel.
Check the fuse/breaker labled “FURNACE” located in the main electrical panel to see if it is in the “ON” position.
We take so many modern convieniences for granted that we can feel completely helpless when something stops working. If we take a few minutes to think about how a thing works we can usually minimize the level of discomfort we experience and save a considerable amount of money.
Ever wondered how the furnace in your house works? Want to know how to prevent it stopping? In this video we’ll show you everything you need to know to keep your home warm and cozy!
Like many of my clients and some of you, I burn wood this time of year.
I love everything about it. Cutting up the trees, splitting the logs, stacking the wood, and building the fire. It is so rewarding for me to know that I provided comfort for my family once again with my own two hands.
When I think of a “Fireplace” I envision the traditional stone or brick fireplaces that we see everywhere this time of year. You know, the ones Santa drops down. Typically these have a large, open firebox made of steel or brick with a damper above it and an ash pit below it, a concrete or ceramic hearth in front of the opening, and a stone or brick chimney with sections of clay tile inside going up the wall outside. Some have spark screens or doors in front of the opening as well.
Here is how a fireplace works. Logs burn inside the firebox creating heat. The heat warms the room and also creates a draft that pulls the smoke from the fire up and out of the chimney. The damper above the firebox is adjustable so that the draft can be regulated. The ash pit below provides a temporary place to store leftover ashes after a fire has burned out. The hearth acts as a shield preventing any stray sparks from landing on the floor and burning it. Screens and doors prevent sparks from escaping out of the firebox as well.
When inspecting a fireplace I start inside and first look at the hearth. It should extend at least eighteen inches into the room and be made of some type of non-combustible material. Next I examine the firebox for signs of deteriorated mortar and loose bricks. I then check the operation of the damper and determine how much creosote has accumulated. Outside I examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of deteriorated mortar and loose masonry. Finally, I look down inside the chimney from above for signs of blockages, broken or misaligned tiles and creosote buildup.
CREOSOTE = Creosote is a dark brown / black tar-like substance that accumulates inside the throat and chimney of all wood burning fireplaces and wood stoves. It can ignite and cause a dangerous chimney fire. Chimney should be cleaned when creosote becomes 1/8th of an inch thick.
Note – Hardwoods, such as Oak, Maple, Birch, Walnut burn better than softwoods.
Stay warm,
Duane
If you would like more information about Fireplaces, Wood Stoves or Chimneys please feel free to contact me
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