How superstitious are you? Do you go out of your way to avoid walking under ladders? Do you take care to never open an umbrella indoors? Do you avoid potentially dangerous activities on Friday the 13th? […]
Have you ever looked at a fire burning away in a fireplace, assumed it was wood-fueled, and then suddenly realized that the “wood” wasn’t actually burning? If you have, then congratulations: you’ve encountered a gas log. These little pieces of hearth hardware often go unrecognized when the topic of fireplace maintenance comes up, so today’s post is all about them. Read on for a gas log crash course. […]
Here’s a fun fact: when set ablaze, certain substances can produce unusual colors of fire. No, we’re not talking about the bright blue flames of a gas stove or fireplace; nearly everyone’s seen that. But, have you ever seen a fire that’s green, vivid red, or even purple? […]
Longtime readers of this blog may notice that we talk about creosote on a fairly regular basis. Creosote is bad: creosote can cause chimney fires, creosote can compound if you neglect your annual inspections, etc. But if you’re going to avoid a toxic substance (or situation), it’s best to know as much as possible about the threat. So here’s an in-depth guide to creosote, as well as a more detailed explanation as to why you really shouldn’t mess with it: […]
In case it’s not obvious, at Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, we’re big fans of safety. It’s why we encourage homeowners to have their chimneys inspected annually, and it’s why we tell folks to not mess with wild animals. We want for people to be able to enjoy using their fireplaces and admiring wildlife, but not if it’s going to put their health and wellbeing at risk! […]
It stands to reason that, if a structure is going to encounter fire, smoke, and extreme heat on a regular basis, then it needs to be built from materials that can stand up to these threats and come out relatively unscathed. This is definitely true for chimneys; if you tried to make one entirely out of wood or plastic, it probably wouldn’t last very long. […]
Back in the days before central heating, a wood-burning fireplace or stove was often a house’s only source of heat. Thus, during the winter months, families would usually keep a fire blazing whenever possible, and everyone would stay comfortable by spending as much time as possible near the fire. In small, simply-designed dwellings, this setup was all you needed to warm the entire house. […]
At Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, we (obviously) spend quite a bit of time looking at chimneys. In fact, it’s pretty safe to say that we’re experts on the subject. So, with a great deal of confidence, we’d like to propose the following radical idea: contrary to popular belief, Santa Claus does not enter houses through their chimneys. […]
If you’ve ever been camping, then chances are, you’ve cooked food on a campfire at least once. There’s just something about a hot dog or a marshmallow roasted over an open flame that seems rustic and fun! With cold weather fast approaching, most of us will be saying goodbye to camping and similar activities…but must we also say goodbye to campfire cooking, as well? […]
With October in full swing, Halloween will soon be upon us! This is the time of year when many people are in the mood to hear spooky stories, and if we’re being honest, chimneys can be a bit scary sometimes. But instead of discussing horror fiction, we’re going to head in a slightly different direction. Let’s talk about fairy tales: those fanciful, fun, and occasionally violent fables that have been entertaining—and disturbing—folks around the world since time immemorial. […]