What You Should Know about a New Chimney Liner

If you just found out that you need a new chimney liner at your Hackensack home, you might be wondering what a chimney liner is and what is so important about it. Here are a few bits of information you should know about a chimney liner and the purposes it serves.

A chimney liner goes into your chimney and is usually made out of metal, ceramic or clay. It needs to be installed by a professional chimney sweep because it is not something you can do by yourself if you are unsure of what you are doing.

A chimney liner contains the combustion byproducts that result every time you light a fire in your fireplace. It helps direct the gases and fumes caused by the fire to the outside air where it can safely vent without causing a fire or causing any problems to the inside of your home, like high levels of carbon monoxide. The walls of your chimney will also be protected from the heat, which means they will be protected from corrosion and other issues that could result.

Depending on what your new chimney liner is made out of, it could last you up to about 50 years. Each type of chimney liner life span varies though, so talk to your chimney liner installation company to learn about the specific type of chimney liner you are going to have installed.

Your chimney liner also needs to be properly and accurately sized to ensure it will work for your chimney. If your new chimney liner is too small, it will not vent properly and that could cause plenty of problems for you, your family and your home.

When we come to install your new chimney liner, we are happy to answer any questions you have about it, how long it should last you and the other things you should have done to your chimney to ensure it is as safe to use as possible. For example, we usually recommend that you have your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year (right before or right after winter) to help keep your chimney and house safe from the threat of a chimney fire.

Would you like to learn more about a new chimney liner for your Hackensack home? Call us at Guardian Chimney at 888-688-1388 or you can Contact Us.

The Importance of a Chimney Inspection

With winter right around the corner, homeowners should be thinking about chimney inspections at their Hackensack homes. These inspections are incredibly important and are one of the best ways to ensure your chimney and fireplace are safe to use and enjoy during the cold winter months.

There are three basic types of chimney inspections and the type you need mostly depends on your chimney, if it has sustained any major damage recently and if the fuel source has changed recently.

A level one is pretty basic. This type of chimney inspection includes a visual inspection of the chimney and any crawl spaces around it. The chimney sweep will look for any needed repairs and he or she will check to see how much creosote has built up in it. It is generally followed by a thorough cleaning.

A level two chimney inspection is done when there are any big changes made to the chimney system. Some of these types of changes include if the flue has been changed or if the type of fuel used (for example, going from wood to gas) has been changed. A level two chimney inspection is also required when you are selling your home to ensure the buyer is getting a chimney and fireplace that are in good condition and safe to use.

A level three chimney inspection is usually done after there has been significant damage done to the chimney. For example: a house fire or very severe weather has come through.

So why should you have a chimney inspection done, especially if you haven't had anything significant change about your chimney? Well, for one thing, dangerous levels of creosote can build up inside of your chimney. Creosote is a byproduct of the burning process and it is incredibly flammable. Plus, it can lead to a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide, which can cause you and your family to get sick. In extreme cases, it can even result in fatalities.

For another thing, a chimney inspection gives you invaluable peace of mind that you have done everything in your power to keep your family and your house safe from the threat of a chimney fire. Just be sure you go to a licensed, insured and certified chimney inspection company, like Guardian Chimney.

Are you interested in learning more about getting a chimney inspection at your Hackensack home? Call Guardian Chimney at 888-388-1388 or Contact Us.

The Necessity of Chimney Caps

Chimney caps are one of the most important parts of keeping your home safe from the threat of a fire. They are made out of several different materials, but no matter what type you choose, the end results will be the same: keeping your loved ones safe. We specialize in installing and repairing chimney caps in Fort Lee and the surrounding areas, so here are a few of the biggest reasons you should look into getting a new chimney cap for your home.

During the cold winter months, many animals are looking for a warm and safe spot to nest in. Your chimney is an attractive option to them because it is warm and protected from the outdoor elements. But if an animal builds a nest in your chimney, that can block smoke and other harmful toxins, which means they have nowhere to go but back into your home, causing a host of health issues for you and your family. Plus, the leaves, stems and twigs that the nests are usually made out of are incredibly flammable.

Chimney caps keep animals out of your chimney, and that means you will not have to worry about any pesky critters causing problems for you.

Chimney caps are also a great way to prevent water from getting into your chimney. If water gets in there, it can cause problems with the masonry. Water will get into the cracks and expand and contract, causing problems with the bricks or stones and the mortar in between. Masonry repairs can get expensive depending on the extent of them, but chimney caps can help with this problem before it becomes a huge issue and expense.

Chimneys often experience a problem known as a downdraft. This is when wind from the outside blows in such a way that the smoke that is trying to escape out of your chimney is actually blown back into your home. Chimney caps help prevent this from happening.

Last but not least, chimney caps keep sparks and embers from flying out of your chimney and possibly igniting your roof and sparking a fire. Chimney caps come with spark guards, so you get added peace of mind knowing there is one more level of protection for you and your loved ones.

Do you want more information on chimney caps in Fort Lee? Call us at Guardian Chimney at 1-888-688-1388 or you can Contact Us.

Reasons You Might Need a Chimney Sweep

Most people know what a chimney sweep is, but do you know the reasons you should call one to clean your chimney on a regular basis? We are a certified chimney sweep serving Bergen County and the surrounding areas, and here are a few reasons you should call us to come out and clean your chimney.

For one thing, a chimney sweep can help prevent a fire from breaking out in your chimney. Every time you burn something in your fireplace, creosote forms on the inside of your chimney. Not only does this make your chimney dirty, but the build up of creosote can also ignite and cause a fire to spread, endangering the lives of you and your loved ones and anyone who is visiting your home. The flaming debris from your home can spread to your neighbors' homes. You can avoid this tragedy by calling in a chimney sweep from Guardian Chimney.

Calling a chimney sweep can also help prevent the build up of carbon monoxide, which is a colorless and odorless gas. Sure, there are carbon monoxide detectors you can buy, but there is no sense in taking a chance when one of the best ways to prevent a dangerous level of carbon monoxide is by having your chimney cleaned on a regular basis by a certified chimney sweep, like the ones here at Guardian Chimney.

Finally, a clean chimney burns better and more efficiently. This can help the environment, and it could also save you some money in the long run. So calling in a chimney sweep now could help save lives, assets, precious belongings and even a few bucks!

If you would like more information about how to hire a chimney sweep in Bergen County, call Guardian Chimney at 1-888-688-1388 or you can Contact Us.

Get Your Chimney Ready for Spring

You might think of getting your chimney cleaned and inspected as fall and winter chores, but did you know that spring is also a great time of year for this type of work? We specialize in chimney repair in Bergen County, and we can think of several different chimney-related chores you should get crossed off your list during the warm months.

The first thing you will need to do is find out if you need chimney repair in the first place. In order to get a thorough and detailed look at your chimney, even the parts that are invisible to the naked eye, we will need to do a level 2 video inspection. We can insert a camera into your chimney to look inside of it, as well as any nearby crawl spaces. This way, we can see if any part of your chimney is in need of chimney repair and we can make the necessary recommendations and fixes to make sure it is in good working order for you and your family.

Another popular chimney repair service that we get a lot of calls about is repairing the deteriorated mortar between the bricks of your chimney. Known as tuckpointing, this helps keep water and moisture out of your chimney and can help to increase the life span of your chimney. Tuckpointing can also help keep the mortar from cracking and becoming a safety risk for your family and your home.

Waterproofing is another popular type of chimney repair. This is when we come to your home and apply Chimney Saver, which can reduce the amount of water that enters your chimney by about 99%. This helps protect chimneys from water penetration. Water in your chimney can cause the metal parts to rust, among other potential issues.

So if you would like to learn more about chimney repair in Bergen County, call Guardian Chimney at 1-888-688-1388 or you can Contact Us.

Benefits of Gas Logs

There are many different reasons you should consider gas logs for your Bergen County home. Not only are they a cost-effective way to heat specific rooms in your home, but they also allow you to safely enjoy the warmth and comfort of a fire. Here are a few of our favorite reasons you should look into gas logs.

Gas logs are more convenient than wood. All it takes to start and put out the fire is the flick of a switch or turn of a knob. You will never have to worry about chopping firewood, cleaning up ash or having a chimney cleaned. Gas logs burn cleanly, so you also don’t have to worry about sparks shooting up out your chimney and possibly igniting your roof.

As one of the most efficient ways to zone-heat your home, gas logs outlast conventional wood, and the expenses associated with buying and stocking firewood are a thing of the past! Gas logs are also great for the eco-friendly consumer, and they can help you decrease your carbon footprint. And when your power goes out, you don’t have to worry! Your gas logs will provide a source of light and heat while you wait for the power company to fix your electricity.

And if you are worried about any renovations you might need to have gas logs installed, you don’t have to be concerned. They can be installed in the fireplace you already have, and you will get to enjoy all of the perks of having a fireplace but without the mess and hassle! 

Plus, when you have to worry about stacking and storing firewood, you also have to worry about bringing pests into or near your home. Insects like termites and rodents like mice like to nest in wood. Bringing firewood into your home could also mean you bring those types of pests into your home too.

Do you want to learn more about gas logs in Bergen County? Call us here at Guardian Chimney at 888-688-1388 or Contact Us.