Our Company Blog

Schedule an Early Chimney Sweeping

Summer is here! Have you started thinking about your annual chimney sweeping and inspection? The answer, most likely, is absolutely not. The sun is shining and temperatures are soaring, and lighting a fire is likely the farthest thing from your mind. Thinking about your chimney sweeping and inspection right now, however, isn’t such a crazy thought. In fact, there are several reasons you should be thinking about scheduling an early chimney sweeping.

Beat the Rush

One of the top reasons to schedule your chimney sweeping early is that you’ll beat the rush! Most homeowners know that keeping their home safe from the dangers of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning means having their chimney swept and inspected at least once per year. For most people, that means calling their chimney sweep when summer vacation ends, the days get shorter and temperatures begin to drop. When you wait until the fall, you’ll be contesting with everyone else to get your sweep to schedule an appointment. Scheduling now means you won’t have to wait to have your chimney swept, you will be able to find an appointment time that better suits your schedule and you won’t risk delaying your first fire while you wait for the chimney sweep to fit you into his or her schedule.

Protect Your Chimney and Fireplace

Believe it or not, an early sweeping is actually better for your fireplace and chimney system. That’s because the byproducts of combustion, whether you’re burning wood or gas, is corrosive. Leaving soot or creosote on the insides of your hearth appliance and your chimney all summer gives those corrosive byproducts the opportunity to deteriorate your fireplace components and your chimney liner. By having your chimney and fireplace cleaned as soon as the fire-burning season is over, you remove those damaging byproducts from the surfaces of your fireplace and chimney before they can cause additional damage.

Have Time for Repairs

Homeowners get used to the quick routine of fireplace sweeping and inspection. The chimney sweep cleans the fireplace, gives you the OK to operate the fireplace for the next season and goes on his way. But what about when something goes wrong? Will you have time to fix any problems before the fall? Summer sweepings and inspections leave plenty of time for unanticipated chimney repairs. You can also plan for improvements so your chimney and fireplace are ready to use as soon as temperatures drop.

Summer might be in full swing, but it’s not too soon to schedule your annual chimney sweeping and inspection! Beat the rush and call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule your annual chimney maintenance today!

By Joe Sauter on June 28th, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment

The process of tuckpointing

When it comes to restoring chimneys, tuckpointing is among the most common repairs. However, only a few people truly understand the tuckpointing process or the benefits of restoring a chimney with tuckpointing.

What is tuckpointing?

Tuckpointing is a centuries-old process for restoring chimneys or upgrading chimney aesthetics. It involves removing existing chimney mortar joints and replacing them with new and fresh mortar. Often, a contrasting color is used to emphasize the crispness of the mortar joints and enhance the appearance of the chimney.

Why do people have their chimneys tuckpointed?

The most common reason for chimney tuckpointing is the deterioration of the mortar joints between your chimney bricks. While the bricks are durable and last for decades, mortar joints are far less durable. Exposed to moisture and freezing temperatures, mortar joints will begin to deteriorate and crumble away.

Crumbling mortar joints are problematic for many reasons. First, they are unsightly. A chimney with crumbling mortar joints can deteriorate the curb appeal of a home. As mortar joints crumble away, they open up cracks in the chimney which allow water to gain entry to the chimney’s interior. This can lead to further deterioration of the chimney, chimney flue, fireplace or even your home’s structure. If damaged mortar joints are ignored over time, this can lead to  weakening of the overall chimney structure and eventually could cause a collapse.

What are the benefits of tuckpointing?

Tuckpointing your chimney removes ugly, crumbling mortar joints and replaces them with crisp and clean mortar joints instantly. It also stabilizes your chimney structure. It is also an important step to protect your chimney, fireplace, and home from long-term water damage. The benefits of tuckpointing are not only about upgrading your chimney, it’s a necessity when it comes to preserving your chimney’s integrity.

How can you tell if your chimney requires tuckpointing?

When it comes to tuckpointing, the mortar joints will look obviously crumbling. The chimney will also benefit aesthetically from tuckpointing. You can tell if tuckpointing is a necessity by gently scraping your mortar joints with a stick or screwdriver. If the mortar crumbles away under pressure, your mortar joints are failing and should be restored.

Who can you call for tuckpointing?

If it’s obvious that your chimney requires tuckpointing or you’re worried about your chimney, then call us at 317-243-9687 to schedule an appointment with Your Chimney Sweep today. Our chimney experts can assess your mortar joint, and restore your chimney with tuckpointing if it’s needed or desired.

By Joe Sauter on June 14th, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment