Lehigh Valley Chimney

Why should I have my chimney inspected? According to the National Fire Protection Association, chimney’s should be inspected or cleaned annually. The chimney and fireplace / furnace system is quite complicated and an inspection can alert you to a potential problem before it becomes a costly repair or a safety issue. Many times homeowners are unaware of problems that may exist. There are 3 levels of Chimney Inspections that can be done depending on each individual case. It is always a good idea to schedule your inspection and cleaning in the late summer or early fall, before you begin using the chimney or furnace during the heating season. Many of our customers request to be on a regular annual schedule for this work. Another important time to schedule an inspection is if you have changed to a new furnace or if you have just purchased the home and want to be sure about the condition of the chimney system. How does a Chimney Sweep clean a chimney? Will it make a mess? At Lehigh V...

Creosote is a carbon-based particulate that is carried up the chimney in the smoke given off by a fire. It is left behind when condensation occurs as a result of heated vapors making contact with the cooler brick or metal flue. Their formation occurs in three stages and creosotes are combustible in all of them. Stage 1 :  The first stage of creosote formation is a fine powder that can easily be swept out of the chimney with a brush long enough to reach the entire flue. The easiest type of creosote to deal with, stage one creosotes can cause slow-burning chimney fires which often go undetected by the homeowner. Creosote in this stage is soot, made up of carbon particles and ash. Stage 2: In its second stage, creosote takes the form of crunchy rock-like deposits and is more difficult to remove, requiring stiff brushes and scrapers. Creosote is porous in this stage and may at first be flaky, puffy bubbles of unburned carbon that can be broken up and scraped off. Stage 3:...