There’s a romance attached to wood stoves that folks don’t feel for their gas or oil furnaces. The reasons include economics, aesthetics, efficiency and environmental concerns. Today, wood stoves offer homeowners the promise of a heating system that’s independent of local utilities, plus the lure of cozy evenings cheered by gently flickering flames. An Exit [...]
Water Damage & Your Masonry Chimney
As odd as it may seem, water causes more damage to masonry chimneys than fire. Think about it for a moment. All the brick and other materials that make up your home are protected by the roof and eave, all that is, except your chimney. The chimney bravely sticks up above the roof constantly exposed [...]
About Chimney Liners
A flue lining in a masonry chimney is defined as “A clay, ceramic, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.” Although building codes vary from one state or locality to another, the installation [...]
100 Reasons Your Fireplace Doesn’t Work
Why fireplaces work, and how best to build them, has been a topic of hot debate literally for centuries. From the first stone rings stacked around the campfire, to the modern factory built fireplaces with carefully engineered dimensions, there has been a steady evolution of design parameters to make sure they draw well and cast [...]
Compare Fuel Costs
Pellet fuel is a cost stable and price competitive fuel. A good way to understand the price benefits of pellet fuel is to compare it against other home heating fuels. The following chart can assist in comparing home heating fuels. [...] Click here to visit the Pellet Fuels Institute’s handy calculator to compare fuel costs [...]
Woodburning Tips from the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Whether you are heating your home or simply enjoying a crackling fire in your fireplace, choosing the right wood can make a tremendous difference. The Chimney Safety Institute of America offers the following tips to make your woodburning experience more enjoyable and more efficient: 1. Always check your source. You can never be sure how [...]
Annual Inspections Can Prevent Fires and CO Poisonings
Storks nesting in chimneys were once believed to bring good luck, according to European folklore. But, in fact, nests in chimneys – or blockages of any kind – are nothing short of bad news. They can cause smoking problems, chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. In 2005, there were 24,500 residential fires in the United [...]
