Get to Know Your Chimney System
Winter has arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, and that means frigid temperatures and dreary weather. It also means it is time for chimney cleaning and chimney maintenance. How well do you know your chimney network? In this short guide, you will be informed of the top five structures of your chimney system.
The Flue
The flue is also known as the chimney itself. It is the opening where the smoke and gas is vented to the outside from your indoor fireplace, wood stove, or furnace. If a chimney repair needs to be made, it can be on the flue, which is also known as a masonry chimney. The pipe needs a chimney cleaning at least yearly and possibly more depending on how often you use your fireplace.
Flue Liner
The flue liner lines the chimney or flue. It is a critical component of the chimney system as it creates a smooth surface so the fire within the chimney cannot spread. It keeps the ventilation going up and out of the home instead of blowing the harmful smoke and gases into your living room. The liner also has excellent strength so the fire from the fireplace cannot weaken the structures around the flue liner causing a collapse or explosion inside of the home. All stoves should have a flue liner that has regular chimney maintenance performed on it yearly.
Chimney Cap
The chimney cap is another essential structure within the chimney itself. Just like the gutters are crucial to roofing, so is the chimney cap to the flue. The chimney cap keeps the dreary and cold weather from blasting inside the chimney and causing damage to your system. It blocks the flue opening so animals and other critters cannot come inside causing a fire or a blockage within the flue. It also keeps any loose particles, sparks, or flames inside the flue, so the particles do not catch your roof or your neighbor’s homes on fire.
Damper
The damper is another crucial part of your chimney system. It is useful as it allows you to close the flue during the spring and summer when you are not using the fireplace or furnace. It can also help when lighting a fire in the fireplace and it helps you control the girth of the fire and flames. The damper is vulnerable to moisture though, and if water has entered your flue, the damper is most likely rusted and not working correctly. A local handyman or professional chimney sweep can repair or replace a damper that is not working properly.
Firebox
The last crucial component of the chimney system is the firebox. It is similar to your HVAC system as it does all the work and gets no love. The firebox is just as it sounds; it is the area where the fire is burning and where it is contained. It needs to be built to fire code, as it is imperative that your home is protected from a fire in the fireplace.
As you can see, there is a lot to a chimney. It is essential to keep up with your chimney cleaning and chimney maintenance throughout the season. Whether the flue, flue liner, chimney cap, damper, or firebox needs to be maintained or replaced, knowing how your chimney and surrounding structures operate is vital to being a homeowner. If you keep abreast of the top five structures of your chimney system, and perform regular chimney cleaning, you will have the best functioning chimney in all of Cincinnati!
- Published in Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Dampers and Caps, Chimney Liners, Chimney Rebuilding, Chimney Repair, Chimney Sweep, Cincinnati Chimney Sweep
Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Clean your Cincinnati Chimney
It can get downright cold here in Cincinnati, Ohio, so it is well worth it to have a working chimney to keep you nice and toasty warm. Like everything else, vents need love too and to perform chimney maintenance and chimney cleaning in the frigid winter temperatures would be foolhardy. That is why summer is the perfect time to clean your chimney. In this short guide, you will be informed of the top five reasons that summer is the best time to maintain and clean your chimney. 
- No frigid temperatures
The best thing about summer being the perfect time to clean the chimney is that there are no freezing temperatures to contend with. If you were to sweep the chimney in the winter, you would be up on the roof, possibly with snow and ice in your footpath. This can be very dangerous. Make sure to perform chimney cleanings in the summer to avoid both cold temps and dangerous situations.
- More daylight when on the roof
When you sweep your chimney in the summer rather than the winter you have more available sunlight to get the job done. This is particularly useful if you have hired a professional chimney service team as they have more daylight to get your property cleaned as they are booked with chimney cleanings, chimney repairs, and chimney maintenance weeks in advance.
- Extra time if repairs are needed
As with all other repairs and maintenance of your home including roofing fixes, HVAC maintenance, painting, cleaning of the gutters, remodeling, or power washing, you need to set aside extra time in case something goes wrong or an unforeseen situation arises. By having the chimney maintenance performed in the summer, you have a few extra months in case your chimney inspection deems repairs that were not expected.
- You are not currently using your chimney
The best time to inspect, clean, and fix the chimney is when it is not in use. If you have the chimney inspected and cleaned in the winter, there is a possibility that an issue can be discovered which would possibly cause you to lose your heat. Since Cincinnati winters can get frigid, you do not want to be without heat. Make sure to have your chimney inspected and cleaned in the summer to prevent this.
- Avoid odor
With the summer heat comes humidity. Humidity can mix with the soot in your chimney and cause an offensive and unpleasant smell that can enter your home and stink it up. It is best to have your chimney cleaned before the high humidity hits in the Cincinnati area to avoid the odor it can cause.
As you can see, there are multiple reasons to do your chimney cleaning and chimney maintenance in the summer months. Whether it is to avoid odors, add extra time, or avoid the cold, you can bet your chimney will be looking brand-spanking new. If you are not interested in cleaning your own chimney, there are professional services that can perform the task for you. If you follow our advice on the top five reasons that summer is the perfect time to clean your chimney, your smokestack will be burning bright and toasty warm this winter!
Welcome to Best Cincinnati Chimney
Welcome to the new website for Best Cincinnati Chimney. Even though our website is new, our team is not! We bring many years of service to the chimney and roofing business. Please give us a call if you have any questions or if you are in need of a quote.
David Caine
Owner