A 1 Safety Chimney Service Inc
630-827-0600
21W415 North Ave.
Lombard, IL 60148
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Emergency Service Available
Serving Most of Chicago (City of Chicago, Northwest Cook County, North Shore, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County, Glen Allen, Northbrook, Glenview, Hindsdale, Darien, Palatine) - Family Owned and Operated for 20 Years - First Woman-Owned Chimney Company in Illinois - Chicago Lands' Chimney Specialist - Ask about Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Chimney Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How often should I get my Furnace Flue and Fireplace cleaned and inspected?
A. As recommended by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency), you should get your furnace flue and chimney inspected every year. Your fireplace should be cleaned every 50 fires or cord of wood. Your furnace flue should be cleaned every two to three years.
Q. I recently converted to a gas fireplace do I still need to get it inspected and cleaned regularly?
A. A gas fireplace is just as important to clean and inspect as a traditional fireplace, and the same hazards arise if this is not done regularly as do with a traditional wood-burning fireplace.
Q. Why is it important to get my fireplace and furnace flue cleaned out on a regular basis?
A. In regards to your chimney, if it is not cleaned regularly, soot builds up on the chimney walls and is very flammable, and will cause a chimney fire to occur. If a fire occurs and the chimney glazes, then the tiles will crack. It will then be necessary to have a roto-cleaning done, and a new liner will have to be put in. This situation is not only dangerous to you and your family, but it also will be very expensive to repair the damages from a chimney fire.
In regards to your furnace flue, carbon will build up in the flue and eventually carbon monoxide will begin to leak into your house. Carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless, and is often called the "silent killer," due to the fact that you are unaware of its presence in your home. It is especially deadly in the winter months, because all of the windows are closed, so the carbon monoxide has no place to go. People also tend to use their furnace more so the carbon builds up much faster.
Q. Why does my chimney need a rain cap?
A. Water is the number one cause of damage to chimneys. Large amounts of rain and snow can enter your chimney in just one season, when thaw/freeze cycles are common. Chimney caps are the most inexpensive preventative measure that a homeowner can take. A rain cap also provides other benefits such as preventing birds and animals from entering and nesting in the chimney, and also can prevent sparks from landing on the roof or other combustible materials.
Q. What will the technician do when he comes to clean and inspect my fireplace and/or furnace flue?
A. Listed below are the processes that the technician will go through will cleaning and inspecting your fireplace and/ore furnace flue
1. Fireplaces
2. Furnace Flue
Inspection
14 Point safety inspection is for the fireplace, and the *7 point inspection is for the furnace flue
Q. How can I tell if my chimney is really dirty?
A. Your chimney is dirty, and due for a cleaning when you accumulate a 1/8 of an inch of creosote buildup. Your fireplace is also due for a cleaning every fifty fires, or cord of wood.
Q. What is the difference between a stainless steel and a flexible liner?
A. A stainless steel liner is used for a masonry fireplace, oil or coal systems UL 1777. Even if a furnace system has been converted to a gas, by code you must still run a stainless liner. The alloy determines a liner’s resistance to corrosion by the products of combustion.
Aluminum Flexi-Liner is to be used for gas-fired appliances with an AFUE of 83% or less. Flex-Liner is made of 2-ply 3003-alloy aluminum and features a 15 year prorated, limited warranty.
Q. Why should I have my chimney waterproofed?
A. All chimneys construction materials, except stone with suffer accelerated deterioration as a result of prolonged contact with water. Although stone is not affected by water penetration, large amounts of mortar are required to bond the stone together properly; therefore a stone chimney just like a brick chimney should also be protected against water penetration. Masonry materials, since they are porous, will absorb large amounts of water acting like a sponge and wicking moisture to the chimney interior. Therefore they will deteriorate quickly when exposed to the freeze/thaw process that occurs during winter.
Several products have been specifically designed to use as waterproofing agents on chimneys, these products are vapor permeable, meaning they allow the chimney to breathe out, but not in. Therefore, water that has penetrated the chimney is allowed to escape, while the waterproofing agent prevents water from entering from the outside. Most of these products come with a five to ten year guarantee. Waterproofing is a preventative measure; if damage already exists it should be repaired before the waterproofing agent is applied.
Q. How can I tell if I have had a chimney fire?
A. Since many chimney fires occur without anyone being aware of them, and since the damage from them can cause harm to you and your family, here are nine signs that a professional chimney sweep look for in order to determine if you have in fact had a chimney fire.
If you think that a chimney fire has occurred call a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to give you a professional evaluation of your chimney.
Q. What if my manufactured firebox is cracked?
A. Most fireplace manufacturers require replacement of the refractory panels of the firebox when a nickel, on end, can be inserted into the crack or when the surface of the refractory panel has abraded more than one-fourth of an inch from the original surface. Replacement of the refractory panels should be completed by a qualified professional familiar with fireplaces and the panel replacement procedure.
Q. What happens if I smell soot?
A. When you smell soot in your house, either all the time or only when you turn on the heat or air-conditioning then it is a down drafting problem. The first thing to do is make sure that your damper is closed. If you have done this or you smell soot all the time then a licensed technician should come out and inspect it for you.