Preventing a Chimney Fire

Chimney fires are more common than you may think. A quick internet search will result in many news stories of house fires that started in the chimney. Chimney fires can burn explosively with flames shooting out the top of the chimney and spreading to nearby homes, or they can be slow-burning and hardly noticeable until they've gotten hot enough to cause severe damage. The good news is that almost all house fires originating in the chimney are preventable. By following these steps, you can help keep your chimney and your home safe:

Chimney Maintenance

•Have your chimney checked every year by a chimney sweep. You will be able to find chimney repair problems and solve them before they become more serious safety hazards
•Have a chimney cleaning as often as needed to keep your chimney free of sooty build-up
•Make sure you are burning only well-seasoned hardwoods (split and dried for six months to one year)
•Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks or embers from flying into the room
•Ask your chimney sweep to ensure that your chimney is properly lined
•After a violent storm, earthquake, or flood, have your chimney thoroughly checked for damage on both the inside and outside

Prevention

•Keep the area in front of the fireplace clear of rugs, wood or anything combustible. If keeping the area clear is not an option, find a flame retardant rug
•Get a chimney cap. While this does not replace the need to have your chimney cleaned, it will prevent debris and animals from getting inside
•Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home

Be Prepared

•Knowing what to do in case of a fire is important! Evacuate your home and call 911 immediately!

Get More Information

If you live in Washington State and are interested in learning more about chimney safety or getting your chimney inspected, contact Powers Chimney and Masonry!

206.718.8532 - Eastside
206.909.0166 - Seattle
360.691.9828 - Northend

Fun Facts about Masonry

The art of Masonry is the creation of structures that are bound together from individual pieces stone, brick or other materials. Masonry also refers to a finished structure like a patio, fire pit or driveway that results from the combined building components. Common masonry materials include brick, stone, marble, granite, limestone, concrete blocks, or even stamped concrete. The most distinctive part of masonry is the handcrafted patterns on the materials.

Interesting Facts About Masonry

·         Many of the world’s significant architectural achievements were built with masonry

·         Masonry is resistant to fire, earthquakes and sound

·         The skill and precision of masonry can never be replaced by machines

·         Architects and builders choose masonry for its beauty, originality, versatility and durability

·         Brick is man’s oldest manufactured product. Sun-baked clay bricks were used in buildings over 6,000 years ago.

·         When exposed to fire, masonry does not burn, melt, twist or warp

·         Masonry is the most environmentally-friendly building system available

·         Because it is a natural insulator, masonry requires less insulation than other building systems

·         Masonry materials come in hundreds of colors and decorative finishes.

·         Over 70% of the buildings in the world are built of masonry

·         Masonry will not decay or rot if exposed to mold

·         The Great Pyramid of Giza is over 5,000 years old and uses 2,300,000 blocks of stone

Masonry Examples

To see actual examples of masonry work, visit our portfolio of chimney and masonry work.

Get More Information

If you live in Washington State and you are interested in learning how masonry can make your home more beautiful, contact Powers Chimney and Masonry!

206.718.8532 - Eastside
206.909.0166 - Seattle
360.691.9828 - Northend

Article Source: Masonry Facts

Cleaning your Chimney: Preparing for Winter Months

How often your chimney needs cleaning depends on how often you use the fireplace, the kinds of fires you build in the fireplace and the type of wood you use for your fires. Generally, a chimney cleaning is recommended at least once per year. During the winter months, if you are burning a fire every day or for several hours per day, then you might need a chimney sweep as often as once per month.

Signs your chimney needs to be cleaned

• Burned wood odors come from the fire place even when it’s not being used 
• Fires burn poorly   
•  Fires dump smoke into the room. Smoke back drafts can also be caused by poor chimney construction—it's best to have a chimney repair or masonry professional take a look at your chimney if this is happening
• While a fire is burning, step outside and look at the smoke coming from the outside of the chimney, if it’s black this is also means it’s time for a cleaning   
•  The damper is located right above the firebox, and it's is easy to see and reach. If it’s black or has a buildup of creosote or soot on it, both indicate that it’s time to have your chimney cleaned 
• Prior to getting your chimney cleaned, there must be no fire for a minimum of 12 hours

Facts about Chimney Cleaning

•  Freshly cut woods tend to build up creosote faster than hardwoods  
•  Creosote is a carcinogen that can be deadly 
• Creosote can form when wood is burned incompletely  
•  As soot builds up over time, it can narrow or block the chimney 
• Creosote is incredibly flammable, which is why a dirty chimney is a fire hazard
• A stove fireplace chimney, woodstove chimney and wood-burning fireplaces require cleaning more often than regular fireplaces, usually more than once per year 
• The location of your chimney on your house makes a difference on how often it needs to be cleaned also   
•  Even if you don’t burn wood or coal, oil or gas-burning stoves and fireplaces still need to be swept regularly too

If you are in Washington State and would like to have your chimney cleaned or inspected, please contact Powers Chimney and Masonry!

206.718.8532 - Eastside
206.909.0166 - Seattle
360.691.9828 - Northend

What to Consider for a Custom Masonry Fireplace Design

The days of boring, standard brick fireplaces are out and creative, original, custom looks are in style. With winter around the corner, it's time to curl up on the couch by the fire and design your dream fireplace. Here are a few things to consider as you go about designing your new fireplace; it’s as easy as 1,2,3!

Location

If you currently have a fireplace in your home and are looking to restore or update it, first decide if you want to keep the current size or expand it. When considering the size of the fireplace, think about the size and shape of the room, also consider how much heat is going to be radiated into the room. This can help to determine the fireplace size. A U.S. Department of Agriculture publication says a fireplace 30-36 inches wide is generally suitable for a room having 300 square feet of floor. Local zoning regulations, building codes and wind direction will also dictate the location and acceptable chimney height.

Materials and Design

When designing your new fireplace also consider the material choice. An inefficient material choice can mean more heat goes up and out, instead of warming your house. It’s also important to consider the materials for design and matching the rest of the décor in your house. Different types of masonry can create unique looks using materials like brick, stone, stucco, veneer, rock, tile and decorative concrete.

Style

Here are a few different style samples to gain inspiration from, including: Southwestern, Mediterranean, Modern and Traditional and varying mixtures of materials.

 

If you are in Washington State and would like to start building your dream fireplace today, please contact Power Chimney and Masonry! 

Seattle Chimney Sweep, Seattle Masonry Contractor

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Photo courtesy (from top to bottom) of: Stand Out Fireplace Designs, Modern Fireplace Design, HGTV, Home Design Decor Plan, Fernwood Farm House, Interior Decoration Site, vangafireplaces.com, Better Homes and Gardens

Traditions

"In the days when enormous fires were lighted, and great yule-logs blazed upon hearths, it was usual to have all chimneys swept before the festive season, in case of fires." - Mairtin O' Griofa, A Celctic Christmas. 

Here at Powers Chimney & Masonry, we believe in providing full-service cleanings that include 20-point safety inspections (the inspections are free with any cleaning purchased), and we don't think that it's a tradition of the past to have your chimney swept this time of year.

In fact, for the best practices in safety and clean burning, we recommend that you have your chimney cleaned once annually. This should be done regardless of frequency of use, as hidden dangers can be lurking in any chimney.

This is the reason we provide our 20-point safety inspections free of charge when you schedule and pay for any cleaning. Our thorough, professional technicians will go over everything from the hearth to the chimney cap, and provide you with a copy of the safety inspection when they're finished, as well as explain verbally the results of their inspection. Should there be a need for any repairs or replacements, the inspection will be the path to discovering such needs, and the technician will go over this in depth with our customers.

Remember, now is the time to schedule your annual chimney cleaning & safety inspection - before the weather turns, and the holiday season is upon us!

Call today to set up an appointment (360) 691-9828.

Chimney Inspection and Repair

Chimney Inspections

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends a chimney inspection once a year, and for good reason. A dirty or clogged chimney could fill your home with acrid smoke or even cause a chimney fire when you start a fire this winter.

A Chimney Cap Protects Your Chimney

Over time, soot can build up in the inside of your chimney, restricting proper airflow. Regular chimney cleaning keeps air flowing and can even prevent chimney fires. If your chimney doesn't have a protective weather cap, it could become clogged even more easily, because wind and rain can push leaves or other debris into the mouth, blocking smoke from leaving your chimney.

The professional chimney sweeps at Powers Chimney & Masonry can make sure your chimney is in peak condition, while also checking for other dangers, like a broken or cracked liner.

How Chimney Liners Can Help

Chimney liners expel hot flue gases into the atmosphere, and a damaged one could potentially endanger the structural integrity of your chimney and even threaten your home.

The Seattle chimney repair experts at Powers Chimney and Masonry can fix a broken liner in no time, and ensure the safety of your home.

We also offer Seattle chimney restoration services.

Need some help with your chimney? Just give us a call at 206.718.8532 

or, visit us at our website, here.

Restorations

Do you ever walk outside and look at the front of your home, look up at your roofline, and notice that everything looks great - except your chimney?

This is not an area of your home to neglect. Rather, this is a focal point which draws the eyes up. Especially if you are buying or selling a home, the chimney will need attention.

Here are some before and after pictures of a recent restoration we did:

Before 1

Before 2

Before 3

Before 4

After 1

After 2

After 3

After 4

As you can see, here at Powers Chimney & Masonry, our priority is to leave you satisfied. We take pride in our quality work by the best the business can offer.

Call us today! (360) 691-9828