A roaring fire in your fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere in your home. But the fireplace itself can also provide an opportunity for you to express your unique style in your home. Your fireplace features many elements that allow you to spruce up your home’s aesthetic. This fixture serves as a focal point in a room, so make sure you feel happy with the way it looks. Find style ideas from fireplace and chimney experts when you read on. Dress Up Your Mantel The mantel refers to a shelf-like ledge that sits atop the hearth of your fireplace. Originally, it was intended to serve as a hood for the ..read more

When you use your fireplace, you likely look forward to a warm and cozy atmosphere. But if your fire creates a great deal of smoke that enters your home, you might feel stressed at the mess and health risks it can pose. Smoke from a fire should travel up and out of your chimney without issue. But some factors may make the smoke spread into your house instead. If this happens on a chronic basis, you should consult with a chimney specialist about the problem. But you can also read on to find tips from your local chimney sweeps that will help you reduce the amount of smoke generated from your fir ..read more

You can picture each of these wood-burning fixtures clearly. A roaring fire within a hearth of the luxurious masonry of a fireplace and the glow of embers encased in an iron stove. A fireplace and a stove each burn wood for warmth and a cozy aesthetic, but which will best suit your home? These fixtures each carry their own benefits, so you should consider your personal goals when it comes to building fires in your home. Your local chimney sweep can help you explore your needs to determine the ideal option for you. You can also learn details about the pros and cons of fireplaces as well as wood ..read more

Your home’s exterior is built strong enough to withstand outdoor elements, including harsh weather conditions. But freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and ice that accompany the winter season can pose a major threat to your house’s structure, including your chimney. If your chimney sustains damage, smoke from your fireplace cannot flow properly out of your home. And drafts and other external threats could enter your home as well. Both situations can endanger your property and the people within your home. You cannot control the weather, but there are steps you can take to keep your home safe ..read more

With winter in full swing, you likely relish the opportunity that cold temperatures bring to use the fireplace in your home. The contrast of chilly weather with the cozy warmth of a fire can make your home extremely comfortable. But is winter the only time you can use your fireplace? If you own a fireplace, you are free to use it at any time of day or point in the year as long as it is safe. But some conditions make for a better fire than others. Read on to find tips to get the best results when you use your fireplace this year. Cold Weather Is Ideal for Fireplace Use A roaring fireplace coin ..read more

You likely know to clean lint from the filter in your dryer after each use. But did you know that lint accrues in the dryer vent as well? The dryer vent is a type of exhaust pipe that runs from your dryer to the exterior of your home. It allows moisture from the drying clothes to escape safely. The tube collects lint as it transmits moisture out of your home as well. Then this lint can form a blockage in the pipe over time. This could lead to a number of consequences for your home if you do not address the problem with regular cleaning of the dryer vent. Learn more about the importance of chec ..read more

Fall weather is here, and you likely look forward to cozy times spent at home with your warm and beautiful fireplace. But thousands of seriously dangerous fires develop in chimneys which could lead to major damage to property and to people. Keep you and your loved ones safe when you use your fireplace this year by staying vigilant when it comes to maintaining a fire in your fireplace. This means understanding the basics of how to build a fire in a safe and controlled manner. Read on to learn steps to using your fireplace in a way that maximizes safety. Inspect Your Fireplace Before Each Use B ..read more

Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in dark, damp places. You might not realize that if you are not careful, your chimney flue can make a prime breeding ground for mold. Mold can cause major structural damage to your chimney and the rest of your home. And if you and other residents of your home breathe in mold, you could face respiratory issues and other medical concerns. Mold removal in your chimney will involve an intense cleaning process. Ideally, you should take measures to prevent mold growth in the first place. Read on to find advice from expert chimney sweeps to help you stop mold fro ..read more

A fire screen, sometimes referred to as a fireguard, is a feature of your fireplace that serves as a shield between the fire in the grate and the rest of your home. While this screen often provides a decorative enhancement to a room, it can also provide safety benefits too. An open flame can produce sparks that may endanger nearby people and property. Plus, children and pets might wander too close to a fire in your hearth, which could pose a serious safety hazard. If you would like to enjoy the advantages of a fireplace screen, you might feel overwhelmed by the many styles available to choose ..read more

A fireplace grate refers to a steel or cast-iron device in the center of the hearth of your fireplace designed to hold the logs of a fire. As your fire burns, this small basket-like platform will elevate the logs or coals within the fireplace. This may seem like a minor detail, but it can provide several crucial benefits when it comes to fire safety and fireplace maintenance. It is possible to build a fire without a grate. But you can avoid risks and enhance your experience if you do have one. And it will not be an expensive addition to your home. Read on to find three advantages to using a gr ..read more