Chimney repairs in Toronto ,905-403-0545 local GTA contractors for chimney cleaning masonry repairs

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(Free-Press-Release.com) April 21, 2009 -- Should I have a chimney liner installed?

Stainless-steel liners can be installed in masonry chimneys to correct internal damage caused by a chimney fire. A qualified chimney sweep should inspect your existing masonry chimney before your wood-burning appliance is installed.
Masonry chimneys must have a liner made of clay tiles, firebrick or stainless steel to be suitable. It is advisable to upgrade old, unlined chimneys by installing a certified stainless-steel liner.

Air-Cooled Chimneys – Some decorative factory-built fireplaces are approved for use with chimneys that use air flow, instead of solid insulation between inner and outer layers, to keep the outer surface cool. Never connect wood-burning heating appliances to air-cooled chimneys, or flue gas will cool excessively.
How often should I get my chimney cleaned?

If you use your fireplace 2-3 times per week during the burning season, you should have it cleaned & inspected annually for safety.
Dirty chimneys can and do cause house fires. In fact, 1 in 8 fires are due to improper maintenance & cleaning of chimneys.
Ideally, chimneys should be cleaned in the spring to remove toxic odours that can enter the home.
It takes about 1 hour to clean a chimney properly.
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Service Areas Include the following:
Ajax
North York

Ancaster Oakville

Brampton
Pickering

Brantford
Port Hope

Burlington
Richmond hill

Caledonia
Scarborough

East York
Thornhill

Etobicoke
Toronto

Georgetown
Unionville

Maple
Vaughan

Markham
Whitby

Milton
Woodbridge

Mississauga
519 areas
Newmarket
416 areas
Newcastle
905 areas

What about creosote?

The residue from burning fire logs is called creosote which over time forms a thick coating on the firebrick inside your chimney. It is highly flammable if allowed to accumulate and can create the conditions for a chimney fire if not cleaned regularly and properly.
Many people are very sensitive to this form of indoor air pollution.
To ensure less smoke, burn only clean, well-seasoned wood that has been split and dried properly. Dry wood lights faster, burns better and produces much less smoke than "green" wood, a major factor in creosote accumulation.
Never burn wrapping paper or cardboard as this may produce sparks that can ignite excess creosote in the chimney if it has not been cleaned properly or regularly.

Never burn garbage, plastic, particleboard, plywood, salted driftwood or painted or treated wood. Toxic chemicals are released which are harmful to human health.
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What if my fireplace emits smoke?

source: FPR

Remember, smoke means air pollution. If you see or smell smoke in your house, it usually means your fireplace system isn't venting properly.
Your chimney must be inspected for blockages and to ensure the damper is working properly.
Proper ventilation is necessary to prevent deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the fire hot and small. Feed it regularly with split wood and never let it smoulder. A smouldering fire creates more smoke.

Don't overload your stove or fireplace. Air should move around inside for a cleaner burn.
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What about animal nests in the chimney?

Birds and squirrels are the most common uninvited guests in urban residential areas because they have adapted well to urban environments. Depending on the region where you live many different types of animals take up temporary residence including owls, pigeons, woodpeckers and raccoons just to name a few.

Home owners should always check for animal nests before using the fireplace at the beginning of the burning season. A build up of creosote in a chimney where an animal has nested is a very serious situation that will spark a potential chimney fire very quickly if not first inspected for clear ventilation.
We recommend installing chimney caps to keep birds and animals out of chimneys.
Bird netting and/or bird-repellent spikes are humane ways to prevent birds from roosting on or in buildings.
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Why are chimney nests such a serious hazard?

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Contrary to popular belief, squirrels do not hibernate over the winter. They breed twice per year, once in late winter / early spring and again in mid-summer. They are always actively looking for secure food resources and warm, safe lodging for their families.
To prevent animal infestations, open vents or holes in a chimney or roof should be repaired with 1.25cm (½") mesh hardware cloth or sheet metal that exceeds at least 15cm (6") beyond the hole. Check the area for loose roof vents, rotten or loose soffits, loose shingles and have them repaired professionally.
If the squirrel is above the damper, you can hang a 1.25cm (½") thick rope down the chimney. The squirrel will usually climb the rope and leave the chimney.

Toronto Animal Services has extensive information animal removal from chimneys at http://www.toronto.ca/animal_services/squirrel.htm. If you wish to consult a professional, we recommend calling Peter Pekelny at ProPest at 416-487-4179.
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Christmas Fireplace Safety

We have seen many unfortunate incidents over the years and must stress the importance of safety in the fireplace at Christmastime.
Never burn wrapping papers or boxes in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely. This also produces excessive smoke which creates large build up of creosote inside chimneys.

Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
Install both a smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Make sure the batteries work.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
Make sure the area around the fireplace is clear of furniture, books, newspapers and other potentially flammable materials. Two feet away is a good rule.


Lighting the Fire
Clean out ashes from previous fires. Open the damper.
Use a fireplace grate.
Keep glass doors open during the fire.
Use fireplace tools to tend the fire.
Build a safe fire.
Always close the fire screen when in use.

Do’s & Don’ts
Never burn garbage, rolled newspapers, charcoal or plastic in the fireplace.
Never use gasoline or any liquid accelerant to help start a fire.
Keep small children and pets away from the fireplace.
Never leave a fire unattended.
Don’t close the damper until the embers have completely stopped burning.
Make sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.
When cleaning the fireplace, store ashes in a non-combustible container with a tightly fitting lid and place the container away from the house.

Never burn a Christmas tree in the fireplace.

Professional "tuckpointers" use tuckpointing tools, which depending on country and local trade terminology sometimes may be termed "jointers" or "tuckpointing irons (primarily in London where the trade originated)."

The tools themselves are made from a hardened quality tool steel and are shaped with a sharp pointed front with a flat base. They have a wooden handle which is attached with a brass ferrule.

Thicknesses or widths of tuckpointing tools may between 2mm to 10mm depending on the tuckpointers' personal preferences. Standard tuckpointing tools most commonly used in industry are usually 4mm and 6mm thick.

Lengths of tools also vary depending on personal preferences, but the most common lengths are usually between 75 and 125mm. However professionals sometimes like a much shorter tool, for instance one 30mm long which is flat on the front in order to get into hard to reach spots, for instance under window brick work and in corners.

Tools are sometimes "beaded". This means that a small rounded fillet is ground into the flat of the tuckpointing tool that comes into contact with the "perps" or "lines" in the brickwork. (In bricklaying terms, "perp" is a bricklaying term for the gap between the bricks in which which mortar runs in the vertical direction, perpendicular to the ends. "Lines" run in the horizontal direction).

Tuckpointing is a fairly rare but not forgotten trade these days. Many historic homes with stunning classic Italianate architecture like the Werribee Mansion, in Victoria, Australia west of Melbourne, show good examples of recent tuckpointing which display the contrast between the tuckpointed white lines in the mortar between the bluestone architecture. Tuckpointed homes are visually appealing to any generation because they bring out the lines in the brickwork.

More information can be found online at http://www.homepros.ca/chimney_tuck_pointing_and_repair.htm

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