Q: How often should I have my chimney cleaned?
A: This is the question we hear the most. How often your chimney needs cleaned depends solely on how much you use it. The National Chimney Safety Institute recommends having your chimney inspected for damage and blockage ONCE A YEAR. They say for regular use that your system should be cleaned ONCE A YEAR or every cord of wood. This means either have it cleaned once a year, or if it takes you two years to burn a cord of wood. Then after two years would be sufficient.

Q: What is creosote?
A: Creosote is the residue left over from unburnt energy in the wood. The smoke from the fire drafts up your chimney. Basically this smoke condenses on the interior surface of the chimney. This creosote comes in three degrees. 1st Degree creosote is the least flammable and resembles black flour. (More of a dust) 2nd Degree creosote in more flammable than 1st degree. It resembles black corn flakes. (flaky and crisp)
3rd Degree creosote is the most dangerous. This creosote is almost in a liquid state. When a chimney fire occurs, it is this type of creosote that burns causing the fire. This creosote resembles a hard tar like material. Annual cleaning of your chimney is the best way to prevent this type of creosote.

Q: What is a chimney fire?
A: A chimney fire is a fire that occurs from the ignition of 3rd Degree creosote inside your chimney. The 3rd degree creosote burns very hot and as it burns it expels all of its energy within the creosote, leaving behind a big black puffy residue. This residue which resembles burnt marshmallows is a tell tale sign of a chimney fire.  In the event you have a chimney fire, your safety is the number one priority.  Have all the people evacuate the structure and call 911.

Q: Can I use creosote sweeping logs?
A: Creosote sweeping logs do work to a point. However they are not recommended simply because of their contents. The logs are made mostly of a sulfur base. (salt) This sulfur base does break down the creosote, but it also put unnatural wear on the inside of your chimney. This causes more damage then what it's worth. Somewhat like the salt residue on the roads in the Winter ruin your car.

Q: Why does my chimney look like its falling apart?
A: Your chimney maybe suffering from several problems. When bricks are loose or missing not only does it not look attractive, but it is also unsafe. The brick faces can pop off the brick.  This is called SPALLING. A brick is made in millions of compressed layers. The brick is very porous like a sponge. During the Spring and Summer months the brick will soak up water and moisture. The trapped water then freezes in the Winter expanding and blowing the face of the brick off.  This is how spalling occurs.  Not only can the bricks spall but the orange flue liners can spall as well. This spalling will progressively get worse until the chimney needs rebuilt.  Through preventive maintenance you can stop this cycle.

Q: What is the best time to have your chimney cleaned?
A: The Fall is the standard busy season for the industry. 75% of homeowners call between the months of September and December. If you wait till this time of the year, more than likely you will have to wait a couple days for a scheduling date. We clean chimneys ALL YEAR long! The off season in the Spring and Summer is the best time to schedule. You beat the Fall rush and also receive a off season discount.

Q: What if I have an emergency?
A: If you have an emergency your safety is the number one priority.  Have all people evacuate the structure and call 911.  Sometimes a chimney can become plugged and no longer vents effectively. If you have a gas furnace or a wood stove that heats your home, this can become a matter of life or death in the frigid winter months. A gas company will sometimes shut off gas to the home if a furnace is malfunctioning due to blocked chimney.  Also sometimes a Carbon Monoxide detector sounds due to gas build up in the home due to a blocked chimney. We offer a 24 hour a day emergency service for just these problems. Our phone is answered by a person 24 hours a day. Like our 24 hr slogan says " You can't put business hours on safety!"

Q: What is your service area?
A: Our basic service area is a radius of 35 miles from our home base in Edinboro, PA. This area covers Edinboro, Albion, Conneaut, Meadville, Erie and the surroundings, North East and Corry to name a few.  Due to a high demand in our specialized training we upgraded our area to a 60 mile radius. Some of the cities included are Greenville, Oil City, Franklin, Titusville, Ashtabula, OH and Ripley, NY.