Many homeowners often ask when they need to call a chimney sweep. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends annual cleanings and inspections. However, if you are burning wood in the fireplace more frequently, you will need additional chimney cleanings. If it’s been more than a year since your last chimney cleaning or you notice any one or more of the […]

If you are having a new masonry chimney built to go along with a masonry fireplace, there are some things you may want to know before the building process begins. It’s good to take time and consider essential aspects of your investment so that you can make confident, informed decisions. The more you know about chimneys, the better equipped you […]

While the fireplace is keeping your family warm during a chilly winter, the chimney is battling howling winds, rain, sleet, and snow. The cumulative precipitation throughout the season can be damaging to masonry chimneys. The Freeze-Thaw Cycle When the chimney was built, the layer of bricks had a hard-outer shell to protect it from moisture intrusion. However, several years of […]

Maryland has many homes a century old or older, virtually all of which were originally built with no chimney liner. Thanks to the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), chimney liners have been mandated safety features since the 1940s. Many homeowners are unfamiliar with chimney liners, however, and question whether they need one at all or […]

Humans have been burning wood for heating and cooking for more than one million years. Today, over two billion people use wood heating as their primary source of heat. Wood is a sustainable and renewable energy source powering 6% of global energy needs. The Facts About Wood Energy A report by The University of Georgia […]

Building a new home can feel like stepping into quicksand and you get in deeper practically every time you take a breath. This feeling of being overwhelmed is, no doubt, why so many houses everywhere are built with a builder-grade fireplace. It’s one less decision to make and it helps to cut costs. Unfortunately, a […]

The chimney may appear to be a simple structure, but it is comprised of several components that are designed to work in unison. Together, these parts of the chimney contain the heat and vent the smoke and fumes while you sit back and enjoy the warmth of a wood-burning fireplace. We’ll help you to get […]

A wood stove can be a reliable and affordable source of home heating. Like any other type of heating appliance, it will eventually need replacement. If you have been keeping up with annual cleaning, routine maintenance, and making necessary repairs along the way, you have been able to prolong its useful life. How do you […]

A fireplace is often the best feature in a house, but why should it be limited to the main living are? Because modern, factory-made fireplaces can be placed within inches of combustible materials, they are safe to install in virtually any room of your home. When you consider the creative possibilities for fireplaces, it can […]

Chimneys are vulnerable to moisture all year round. But winter weather with its snow, freezing rain, ice, and damaging winds can have a devastating impact. And if the damage is severe, you may not be able to use your fireplace or heating stove to stay warm until it has been repaired. So, as the winter weather approaches, it is prudent to […]