Chimney Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Chimney and Wildlife

Smoke Damage and Water Spots: How to Clean Up Chimney-Related Mishaps in Your Home

Question: “How are chimneys like children?”
Answer: “Both words start with a ‘chuh’ sound. Oh, and they both can totally wreck your house if you don’t watch them carefully.”

Please forgive the bad joke; it is relevant to today’s post. Chimneys are surprisingly complex structures, and when properly maintained, they typically function smoothly and safely. But if things do go wrong, the end result can be smoke damage, water damage, or even bird damage to your home. These messes need not be permanent, but it is crucial to know what you’re doing before you attempt to clean them up! […]

By Tony|October 18th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

What You Need to Know about Carbon Monoxide

How do you fight an enemy that you can’t see, smell, or touch? Worse, this enemy can also seep through cracks or wriggle under doors. And worse still, it can kill its victims—human and animal alike—so quickly that they don’t know what hit them. […]

By Tony|October 5th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

How Historical Chimney Sweeps Compare to Modern-Day Technicians

Be honest: what image comes to your mind when you hear the term “chimney sweep?” […]

By Tony|October 4th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

Have Your Chimney Inspected post Hurricane

Hurricane Harvey has come and gone, leaving substantial destruction, copious flooding, and stunned survivors in its wake. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Houston and other affected areas during this time, especially as evacuees head back to survey the damage done to their homes and property. Chimney and Wildlife Specialists’ expertise lies in chimney repair and animal control, so here’s our best advice for those trying to rebuild: […]

By Tony|September 28th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

Fireplace Safety For The Entire family

We’re officially in February, folks, which means that winter is on its way out! Of course, because we live in Texas, that information doesn’t really help us predict what the weather will be like in the upcoming weeks—it could, realistically, be 78°F tomorrow but drop to 46°F the next day. Yuck. […]

By Tony|September 14th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

Why you Should Hire a Professional to Clean and Inspect your Chimney

Is your chimney due for its annual cleaning and inspection? Remember: if it’s been more than year since this job was last done, then you should schedule an inspection as soon as possible!

Now, folks who are big on home improvement projects may be contemplating whether or not they want to just examine their chimney themselves instead of hiring (and paying) someone else to take care of it for them. But sweeping a chimney isn’t like sweeping a kitchen floor, and it’s not a task for the faint of heart. Here are three reasons to call a professional when your chimney needs a “checkup”:
[…]

By Tony|September 7th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

How to Properly Store and “Care For” Firewood

Let’s be honest: when the outdoor temperature is 95 degrees in the shade, most folks are not in the mood to have a warm, cozy fire inside their home. So, it makes sense if gathering firewood is the last thing on your mind during the month of August. But if you haven’t yet started stockpiling […]

By Tony|August 23rd, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

How to Talk to Your Kids about Fireplace Safety

If you are the primary caregiver of a young child, then here’s a question for you: when was the last time you talked to your little one about fireplace safety? […]

By Tony|August 9th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

Does Your Chimney Need to Be Re-Lined?

When it comes to maintenance and recognition for chimney components, chimney liners often get the short end of the stick. Despite the critical role that they play in protecting our chimneys from damage, we tend to not pay much attention to them. And that’s bad because a “troubled” chimney liner can lead to some serious structural damage in your home.
[…]

By Tony|July 27th, 2017|Chimney|Comments Off

Climbing Vines and Chimneys: A Potentially Expensive Combination

What are your thoughts about ivy and climbing vines on the exteriors of houses and chimneys? While many homeowners are ambivalent about this particular aesthetic, others absolutely adore it. For some folks, there’s just something about a home covered in greenery that says “classic,” “antique,” and maybe even “storybook-esque.” […]

By Tony|July 20th, 2017|Chimney, Wildlife|Comments Off

We've been there and done that...read on for tips and tricks

We've been there and done that...
read on for tips and tricks