Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
If you are driving down the street in your neighborhood and you look up and see blue tarps, waving in the wind on top of the chimney, you can pretty much bet that this is a temporary solution to a very aggravating water problem. There are many areas in a chimney where water can enter into a home. Areas of a chimney that appear to be soaking up water after a rain, are a tell-tale sign of a need for an application of silane/siloxane water repellent.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Ever wondered what exactly a chimney sweep does? This video will tell you by offering you a quick overview of the most common tasks of a chimney sweep.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Whether you have lived in your home for years or are building a new one, deciding between a solid fuel burning appliance versus a gas burning appliance can be a difficult decision. I view gas logs as having four major pros, beauty, convenience, minimal maintenance, and fuel price security. These four factors make installing gas logs versus installing a wood burning appliance seem pretty appealing.
Beauty
Gas logs have two major kinds, vented and vent-free. I do not recommend the installation of vent-free gas logs due to possible health risks which are currently being researched. Vent-free gas logs “completely” combust the natural gas fuel, causing a hotter flame which burns blue. Vented gas logs offer all the beauty of a wood burning fireplace with a natural looking, yellow or orange flame. Gas logs should not be ruled out on the basis of looks because new gas log sets are available to look just like logs actually burning in the fireplace, without the hassle.
Convenience
Wood-burning appliances require much work. In order to burn a fire in a wood burning fireplace or stove, one must acquire wood, either by purchasing it from a supplier or cutting it themselves, allow it to season, and actually build the fire, which most folks who are new to building fires have difficulty with. Gas log sets do not come with the risk of possible smoking problems, and odor is also not an issue. Gas log sets offer the convenience of a remote starter, which control not only whether the fire is burning or not, but the
Vented gas logs, like this set, give off a beautiful, natural glow.
temperature of the room in some cases. Gas logs eliminate the hassle of being warm while still offering beauty and a glow in the room.
Minimal Maintenance
While gas log sets should be inspected yearly, as well as the flue system through which they vent, gas log sets still involve less maintenance than a wood-burning fireplace. With a wood-burning fireplace, the integrity of not only the flue system but also the firebox has a chance of being an issue. A chimney sweep will inspect the flue system but unless debris is brought in by a critter or a storm or the logs are not burning properly, a sweep should not need to be conducted, saving you money and time.
Fuel Price Security
As the price of solid fuels such as wood and coal increases, natural gas prices have stayed stable. Natural gas is in relative abundance to solid-fuels, and gas log sets that do not need electricity to start will work even when the power is out, keeping you warm when you need it most.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Carbon monoxide is a huge health risk associated with any kind of home heating appliance as well as many other kinds of appliances.
A chimney cap that is blocked up by vines like this may prevent toxic gases from exiting the chimney.
Knowing how to protect your family from this fatal gas is extremely important and can be lifesaving. Despite increasing safety standards and a generally strong reputation for gas heaters, people still do die from CO poisoning. Due to innovations in the heating and cooling world including higher efficiency appliances and more air tight homes, carbon monoxide poisoning is becoming more and more prominent in the United States.
What Does Carbon Monoxide Do to the Body?
How does CO actually harm you and your family? Well, its a odorless, colorless gas which infiltrates the body’s blood stream. As the level of poisoning increases, symptoms include an increasingly sever headache, fainting or collapsing due to trouble breathing, and comas which can quickly become fatal. Carbon monoxide poisoning elevates to a very severe condition very quickly, it essentially robs the cells of the body of oxygen and replaces it with CO. Even small amounts in the blood stream are considered hazardous or bad for one’s health.
CO? Or CO2?
Carbon monoxide, the lethal gas, and carbon dioxide, the gas that we exhale and the gas which trees take in to produce their livelihood, are separated by only one molecule of oxygen. Carbon monoxide is one carbon and one oxygen molecule and carbon dioxide is one carbon and two oxygen molecules. Homes that are too air tight often cause the production of carbon monoxide because when gas is being combusted without enough fresh, oxygen containing air, carbon monoxide instead of dioxide is produced. A faulty or malfunctioning appliance can also produce carbon monoxide even if there is ample air supply.
Prevent Health Risks
In order to prevent these serious injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning from occurring, there are a few steps that you can take.
1. Have your appliances inspected yearly by a professional who will be able to detect any faulty parts or malfunctions of the appliance which could lead to CO being produced.
2. Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Having a detector will alert the family if unsafe levels of carbon monoxide occur in the home.
3. Have a professional check to make sure that the chimney, pipe, or other means of ventilation for the appliance is properly sized and in good working order. The flue system through which these appliances are vented should be checked for blockages or debris in order to ensure that the toxic chemicals can escape the home safely.
If You Suspect Carbon Monoxide In The Home
Leave immediately! Contact a professional to come and evaluate the problem. If your carbon monoxide detectors go off, evacuate your entire family and do not enter until the problem has been cleared by a professional. Use the neighbor’s phone to call for help, and if any family member seems ill or exhibits any signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical attention immediately.
A well kept, routinely inspected appliance should not cause problems in your household, but knowing the causes of carbon monoxide and what to do if an emergency occurs can be lifesaving.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
When most people are taking a look at gas logs for purchase, they mainly consider
This beautiful Regency gas appliance adds warmth to any room.
whether the logs are vented or vent-free and the
way that the logs actually look. There are many more considerations that you must take into consideration that some folks may not even know exist. There are many new additions to the traditional gas log set that should be considered.
Remote Control
Many folks appreciate gas log sets that can be controlled by a remote control. Remote controls for gas log sets can be used to turn the logs on and off, change the temperature of the logs, and turn on the blower as well. A remote control makes gas logs even more convenient than they already are and whether the gas logs come with one should be factored into your decision. Often these are an optional feature which comes with an additional cost to the base price of the appliance.
If soot or other noticeable buildup appears on your gas logs, consult a professional, who will diagnose the problem and may instruct you to use a gas log cleaner spray when using the logs.
Safety Pilot Light
Most reputable gas log dealers only sell gas log sets that come with safety pilot lights, and a local building inspector won’t approve the construction of your gas log set without one. Safety pilots do not allow gas to flow to the appliance unless the appliance is turned on. By preventing gas from flowing when the appliance is not lit, you will prevent natural gas from sitting in your home, which is a safety hazard.
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Some gas log sets come with a carbon monoxide detector but some do not. If the model you are looking to purchase does not come with a carbon monoxide detector, you will need to purchase one for your home, as CO is a safety hazard with or without gas logs in the home.
Oxygen Depletion Sensor
Most gas log sets, especially vent-free gas log sets, come with an oxygen depletion sensor which will automatically shut off the appliance and alert you if the level of oxygen in the room drops too low. This is definitely not an amenity in my opinion, more of a necessity if you are looking to install vent-free gas logs and is great to haveif you have a vented gas log set as well.
Service and Installation of Logs
Unless you are a licensed professional you are going to need to not only have your logs installed by a professional, but have them serviced and the chimney inspected yearly. Whoever you purchase your logs from should be able to install them for you. Be wary of purchasing from deep discounters or from home improvement stores if they are not able to install them for you or instruct you on how to contact someone who is capable of installing that particular make and model of gas log. Long term servicing for the logs is also required, so be sure that you are purchasing from a company who you are willing to work with. Many chimney sweep companies are licensed to service gas logs as well.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
In prefabricated chimneys, a chimney fire will warp the flue system and the cap, as pictured.
A lot of people don’t know it but not all chimney fires are the same, that is, professionals classify chimney fires into two different classes based on differences between the two, and both are generally covered by homeowner’s insurance. You will want to check with your insurance agent to be sure that you are protected against both. The difference between the two is the way the fire actually burns.
A rapid burning chimney fire is the type of chimney fire which your chimney professional will usually detail to you. An rapid burning chimney fire can be characterized by a loud rushing or rumbling sound which can resemble the noise of a nearby freight train. Insurance agents refer to chimney fires as sudden occurrences.
Chimney fires are caused by creosote buildup in the flue system which is ignited by sparks from the flames below.
This cap was warped by a chimney fire in a clay flue system.
The rapid increase in temperature in the flue system caused by combustion can cause physical damage to the flue system in the form of cracking the flue tiles or even causing them to crumble. These types of chimney fires generally leave behind glazed creosote all over the flue system because combustion actually occurs in the flue system and the creosote is what is being burned.
A slow burning chimney fire occurs when the heat from the flames in your firebox, which is intended to contain such heat, makes their way up through the damper system into the chimney flue system. These chimney fires burn slowly due to lack of oxygen.
When certain conditions exist, the flames move up through the damper system from the firebox, causing an extreme change in temperature in the flue system known as thermal shock. This thermal shock can damage the flue tiles by cracking or crumbling the flue tiles which are not meant to contain such levels of heat. In slow or rapid burning chimney fires, sometimes the chimney’s flue system is completely cleaned so that it looks like new. This is not typical but can be the result of a chimney fire.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
This winter, fires will be ablaze in fireplaces across the country. The holidays are fast approaching and with the holidays comes the family, the friends, and the parties, and man can it get cold. Make sure that your fireplace isn’t going to cause any problems or be a danger to this season by taking a few preventative measures.
You should not light a fire in a hearth with Christmas stockings hanging from the mantle as this is a fire risk.
Have your chimney swept and inspected. By having a chimney professional come out to sweep the chimney and make sure there are not any problems in the flue system, such as debris, creosote, or cracked flue tiles, which can cause a chimney fire, you are taking a lot of pressure off of yourself. Have a chimney professional come out before you start burning wood for the season. Cracked flue tiles, missing mortar joints, and similar problems can only be detected by a video inspection of the flue system by a professional. When hiring a professional, make sure the service man will be running a video inspection after sweeping the chimney. Your professional will check for any leaks or stains and ensure that the fireplace is in operable condition.
Make sure your cap is properly installed. Before the roof gets icy, you’re going to want to take a look at the top of the chimney and make sure that everything is sound. A chimney cap that has come loose in a storm or has become damaged will allow cold critters to come and build nests in the warmth of your home. Spending a few minutes on a day where no ice is present on the roof.
This spark guard is beautiful and protects the living room from stray sparks. chimney or having your chimney professional inspect the chimney top for you is worth your time.
Keep the hearth clear. When the whole family is over and the room is full to the brim with people and presents, make sure that nothing is too close to the fireplace and that a screen is in place to prevent a stray spark from starting a fire in the room. Keep Christmas trees clear of the fireplace as well. Anything that is too close has the potential to catch on fire due to a stray spark if there is no screen in place.
What not to burn. Finally, after the holiday festivities have come to an end, do not burn wrapping paper or the Christmas tree in your fireplace. Wrapping paper has so many dyes on it that and Christmas trees are not seasoned so that large amounts of creosote will build up in your fireplace. Only burn seasoned wood, no matter what time of year it is.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Installing vent-free gas logs into a factory built fireplace (prefab) is a real controversy right now. The fact is that prefabs were meant for use with the damper open and the installation of vent-free logs implies using the prefab with the damper closed. When the damper is closed and the vent-free logs are being operated, there is a chance that the temperature in the flue system or at the top of the chimney can reach an unsafe temperature.
I recommend the installation of vented gas logs, like these, which look realistic and are less of a health risk.
The fact of the matter is that there is not sufficient data at this point in time to say outright that vent-free gas logs in a prefab unit is unsafe, but some studies have shown that the temperature at the top of the chimney in a prefabricated unit does reach an unsafe temperature when vent-free gas logs are operated.
Vent-free gas logs come with other issues as well. Air quality and vent-free gas logs are a major issue. Professionals state that vent-free gas logs should not be operated when there are elderly or infants in the home because of the risk of decreasing air quality in the home. Although most vent-free gas logs come with an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) some do not and there is always the risk that the ODS will not detect an unsafe drop in oxygen in the home. Odors are another issue with vent-free gas logs.
A masonry chimney flue should not vent any appliance, even vent-free gas logs, if there are vertical cracks as pictured above.
Generally vent-free gas log odor is linked to the presence of chemicals in the home such as house hold cleaners which get on the logs and produce the odor, but sometimes the vent-free system can just smell. Vent-free log sets usually have a distinct and unattractive odor for the first five hours of operation or so. Usually this odor goes away.
Vent-free gas logs are extremely controversial no matter where they are installed. I do not recommend the use of vent-free gas logs, although some folks are all for them. If you have vent-free gas logs or are looking to purchase a set, they should be installed in an existing, operable masonry chimney.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
So you’ve got a two or more level house, with fireplaces on each level connected by the same chimney flue. Older homes are usually where this situation can be found. A system such as this can cause many problems, including a smoking issue that can be very difficult to fix. Smoking problems that arise from a chimney system such as this, where two fireplaces are venting through the same chimney, can cause smoking problems on any level of the home due to lack of air on the level which the fire is burning.
Say you have a fire in the fireplace in your living room and your kids in the basement start yelling that smoke is coming out of the fireplace down there. This is a classic example of lack of air for combustion on the top floor. Older homes were originally built without much regard to the amount of air available for combustion because older homes were much more drafty. Small gaps around the windows and doors and generally less sound construction allowed more air to enter the home to replace the air being used up for combustion.
If your older home has been fitted with new windows or doors which are more air tight than the old ones, you have a higher likelihood of experiencing a smoking problem. The solution to this problem is generally not difficult, but does require professional assistance. The bottom line is that the fireplaces on each floor of the home need to have adequate air for burning, and that needs to
This outside air source can provide air for combustion for your fireplace.
be done in any way possible. An outside air source installation is generally inexpensive and non obtrusive. It involves removing a brick or two from the outside of the chimney and a brick or two from the firebox itself to install a vent, which can be opened and closed as needed, to provide the fireplace on that level with air.
Basement fireplaces, however, may not be situated on the home such that a vent can be installed. Only if the back of the chimney can be seen on the outside of the home is this possible. Chimney professionals have come up with ways to facilitate air into a basement which involves running a pipe down into the basement to provide outside air to the entire basement. You will need to discuss this option with a chimney professional.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
The front of this fireplace has been stained by smoke.
There is a lot of hype out there revolving around the pros and cons of newer, air tight homes. Homes which have been built in the last fifteen years or so are more air tight than ever. Tax cuts were given on energy saving windows and doors that allowed the smallest possible amount of heated or cooled air out of the home in order to lessen the environmental impact that household had on the amount of energy that needed to be produced each day. Improvements in insulation has also helped less heat be lost in the wintertime, further hindering air flow in the home. What about older homes? Haven’t we improved them as well? Of course.
Older homes may experience smoking problems after any number of various changes or upgrades were made to the original design of the home. Remodeling the bathroom is one frequent renovation that is made which can cause smoking problems. The powerful fans that are often installed with bathroom overhauling suck up air in the home and deposit it outside to prevent condensation in the bathroom from shower steam or to rid the area of odor. These fans are also sucking the air which your fire needs to burn and draft properly up through the fireplace. If you have recently made changes to areas of the such as the bathroom, or installed a new kitchen fan, make sure these are not used before, during, or after you have a fire because it rids the home of necessary air.
The reason that newer homes are more criticized for their contribution to smoking problems is that in older, draftier homes, a fire in the fireplace is often able to have its air source replenished by small gaps between windows and doors. A fire needs air to burn, and if there is not enough of it in the home, it will suck outside air from down the chimney in order to burn properly, which in turn drafts the smoke back into the home, hence, a smoking problem.
A chimney which drafts well is controlled by positive air pressure in the home. Fans and other appliances which need to vent, such
Installing a SmokeGuard is easy and can help prevent smoke from rolling out of the firebox into your living room.
as a dryer or furnace, can contribute to taking more air out of the home than is coming back in. When the conditions exist, no matter how old the home is or what the reason is for the negative pressure to occur, your chimney will have smoking problems. Of course, especially with older homes, it is important to check to be sure that the chimney is capped and that there is no blockage in the chimney. The damper must be open in order for smoke to be able to exit the chimney as well.
After years of investigation, professionals have come up with the ideal firebox width to height ratio and what the proper chimney flue diameter and height should be in accordance with these measurements. If you are confused about smoking problems, call your local chimney professional who may be able to help you with modifying the size of your firebox with a SmokeGuard, the installation of which changes the size of the opening of the firebox which may prevent smoking issues from continuing to occur, or suggest another option for you.
No matter how old your home is, there is always hope for a chimney which continually presents smoking problems. Don’t give up on the chimney, because often, with the help of a professional, diagnosing and fixing this problem is not as difficult as it may seem.
Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry.
