At Best Cincinnati Chimney, our chimney sweeps are certified by the CCP (Certified Chimney Professionals) and are fully trained in all aspects of Chimney care and safety. Chimneys should be cleaned every 36 fires or at least once a year, even gas appliances.

The chimney uses the force of a hot flame to generate a downdraft and draw in air over the wood or coals allowing continued combustion. Many chimneys may be straight either vertical or have many bends of the chimney. Our chimney sweeps use a power sweeper with fiber glass tentacles to remove debris such as creosote, bird droppings, dry leaves, and small insects and animals that may be nesting in the chimney. They also assist in making sure that there are no obstructions such as bricks, creosote, or ash, all of which can cause serious damage to a chimney over time.

We use a camera with a 360 degree surround head inside the flue to catch every crack and we use a drone to get to those high places that sometimes you just can’t see without them.

Our certified chimney sweep and his crew should inspect the inside and outside of your chimneys on a periodic basis. This inspection will involve the interior of the flue as well as the roof and exterior. These inspections are critical to the safe operation of a home and property. Most insurance companies require periodic inspections and general maintenance of homes and commercial structures. These inspections and general maintenance repairs are done by certified technicians and are followed by a quote for any additional chimney care needed.

Our experience has shown us that frequent chimney cleanings and inspections delay or eliminate future damages that can cost you a great deal not to mention the fire risks that dirty chimneys create. We often find masonry repairs that can stop or delay future deterioration.

Call Best Cincinnati Chimney today at 513-474-1158 to get us on your schedule. Warm weather is the best time to call in case there are masonry repairs to be done.

Many homeowners choose to use a fireplace to add style and comfort to their homes. Many like the open crackle and pop of the open wood flame while others like the simplicity of the gas units. It’s a common dilemma for homeowners when they’re comparing gas fireplaces or log sets with traditional wood burning fireplaces. Best Cincinnati Chimney has cleaned many of both, so let’s take a look at the differences between them and compare atmosphere, safety features, ease of use, efficiency and more.

Atmosphere

Many customers want roaring flames and crackling sounds and you will mostly get this from wood burning units. Different colors, different aromas, and different sounds are a constant with wood burning fireplaces. Gas fireplaces can have variable flames and some can even come with color selection but once they are set, they are pretty constant and pretty quiet.

Safety Features

In terms of safety features, gas fireplaces out perform traditional fireplaces. Modern gas fireplaces have sensors that can detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide or other gases in the air. They also include safety shut-off switches that will turn off the flame if it gets too hot.

Traditional fireplaces lack these features but do come with screens that can help prevent sparks from flying out into your living space. The best choice for wood burning are the inserts. These are higher efficiency and have closed systems that have no danger of sparks.

Ease of use

When talking about convenience, gas fireplaces are much easier to use than traditional ones. You don’t need to chop wood or purchase logs to fuel your gas fireplace. All you need to do is turn on the switch or press a button on the remote control. Plus, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up ashes after you’re done using it because there are no logs or embers left behind like in a traditional fireplace. You still have to have them serviced and cleaned because gas fires draw many impurities from your home (Think hair, skin, carpet fabric) into the fireplace and form soot that can clog the unit and cover the walls and furniture.

Efficiency

Measuring the efficiency of fireplaces is all up to the user. For example, modern gas fireplaces are much more efficient than their predecessors, as they burn cleaner and produce fewer emissions into the air. On the flip side, traditional fireplaces are still not as efficient as modern gas fireplaces, but they are an efficient source of heat when used correctly. There are now many models of wood burning inserts that have catalytic converters that have very high efficiency ratings. Many of these come with a 30% government tax credit as well.

We have seen them all

As you can tell, whether or not you use gas fireplaces vs. traditional fireplaces is up to you. Both come with benefits and room for improvement. Still, choosing the right one for your lifestyle and use is important. But, no matter which one you choose, you’ll still need a reliable chimney sweep and inspector in your corner. That’s why so many homeowners in Greater Cincinnati call Best Cincinnati Chimney. Call at 513-474-1158

Hiring a chimney company that you can trust can be a tough task. After all, getting your chimney regularly inspected and swept is essential to the safety of your family and home. Whether it is for chimney sweeping, chimney caps, chimney crowns, or fireplace maintenance, choosing a trustworthy company is important and often challenging to navigate. Besides asking friends and neighbors for recommendations and checking out companies’ reviews online, we recommend checking to see if the company employs CCP certified chimney professionals.

Today, we’ll explain what a CCP certified chimney professional is and why this certification is a good indicator of a chimney company’s competence and trustworthiness. Are you seeking a chimney company that you can trust in the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky market? Best Cincinnati Chimney  is a CCP certified chimney professional  company and has been serving the community with honors for years. Call 513-474-1158 to book a chimney sweep or to ask your chimney-related questions.

What is a CCP Certified Chimney Professional?

CCP, or Certified Chimney Professionals is associated with the National Chimney Guild and makes it easier for homeowners to find reliable, experienced, highly-trained chimney and liner professionals. This nonprofit organization has been in business for over forty years, and has created a standard of excellence in the industry by providing expert-led education and training to industry professionals.

More specifically, a CCP Certified chimney professional is a credential that chimney professionals earn through this institute. It ensures that a specific chimney technician has a high level of knowledge regarding the evaluation and maintenance of chimney and lining systems. Chimney technicians need to prepare for and pass a challenging and detailed exam in order to gain this credential. After companies earn this credential, homeowners can easily find local certified chimney sweeps through CCP’s certified provider search tool. 

Why You Should Hire a CCP Certified Chimney Professional

Keep Your Home and Family Safe

CCP certified chimney technicians are not only highly trained and made to pass a difficult exam, but they also sign a code of conduct, stating that they will follow all outlined safety standards. By hiring a certified chimney professional to ensure that your chimney is clean and safe, you are placing your trust in someone who is committed to integrity. Best Cincinnati chimney prides themselves in hiring highly ethical professionals.

Avoid Expensive Chimney Issues

Chimney issues can be expensive. By ensuring that your chimney is properly maintained, you can avoid a host of dangerous or expensive issues such as creosote build up, especially glazed creosote, and animals nesting in your chimney.

Peace of Mind

If your chimney is swept by someone who is trustworthy, you can relax and enjoy your fireplace during the cold months without having to worry about the state of your chimney. Get the assurance that you deserve by hiring a CCP certified chimney professional for all of your Cincinnati chimney care.

Are You Looking for a Cincinnati Area Chimney Professional?

If you’re looking for a certified Chimney Professional, look no further than Best Cincinnati Chimney. Not only does Best Cincinnati Chimney offer chimney sweeps, but we also offer chimney repairs, masonry work, chimney installations, and Gas log replacement.  Click here or call 513-474-1158 to get in touch today!

Having your chimney cleaned by a certified chimney professional is a serious matter. There are a few signals that will alert you to the time to schedule a cleaning.The four signs you need a chimney sweep are odors, changing

seasons, the quality of your fire, and visual clues.

First, let’s talk about odors

Smells from your chimney can come in several forms.The most common is creosote, which is unburned carbons,  a sticky tar-like substance that can be extremely dangerous when allowed to build up. If the smell is acidic or bitter, a layer of creosote buildup may be to blame and may need a creosote treatment to remove it. If you clean on a regular basis, you can save money on not having to do expensive creosote treatments.

Another cause of odor is trapped debris or the presence of animals or insects. When you don’t have a chimney cap installed (or it is damaged), things can find their way into your chimney. They then decompose, make their nest, or block the exit of smoke and gases. These can all lead to odors in your home as well. A certified chimney sweep is the best way to remove the source of the odor.

Change of Seasons

My chimney looks fine from the outside and I haven’t used for a long while, so I can probably skip my chimney cleaning, right? Wrong! Actually an unused chimney can deteriorate faster than one that is used, The moisture that comes from your home is never burned off and begins to soak into the masonry. Ideally, you should schedule a chimney sweep at least once a year whether you use it or not.

In as early as one season, animals can take up residence inside (as we mentioned in the previous section). Other things, like leaves and debris, can be blown in and get stuck, forming a block that you wouldn’t discover until your next fire.

Additionally, if you’ve recently bought your home and don’t know when it was last swept, schedule an appointment for cleaning and a complete inspection. This will give you a starting point of where your fireplace is. Proactive maintenance is a necessary step and scheduling a regular chimney sweep will help ensure you catch potential problems early.

Changes in fire quality

Occasionally, you might notice a change in the quality of your burn. Your fires may burn less efficiently, or you may notice a larger amount of smoke. This could be a draft issue caused by several things but let’s start with the simplest. This issue can be due to a problem with your damper (the piece of your chimney that regulates airflow). Dampers should be open when you’re using your fireplace and closed otherwise. If your damper won’t fully open or fully close, it can lead to a significant decrease in fire quality.

A chimney sweep will be able to identify the source of this problem.

Visual clues

Changes in fire quality can also be caused by too much creosote buildup inside the flue. Creosote is dangerous, both leading to blockages and potential fires. If you’re able to visually see creosote buildup forming, it needs to be removed before continued use of your fireplace.

Schedule a sweep as soon as possible!

Call the Certified Professionals

If you haven’t had your chimney cleaned recently or you have a concern about your chimney and want us to take a look, give the team at Best Cincinnati Chimney a call. They are trained to efficiently clean your chimney and get it ready for the winter while also spotting any potential issues before they have a chance to put your home and family in danger.

Call us at 513-474-1148

 Spring and Summer in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are lovely seasons when plants and animals flourish. While this is wonderful to experience in a majority of cases, it can also cause some annoyances. Just ask anyone with allergies how much they love spring. 

Extra pollen in the air isn’t the only issue that might come from this time of year. All of those little critters may be looking for a nice place to call home and some of them may mistake your chimney for a great piece of real estate. It’s warm, dry, and safe–at least until you start up the fireplace! Racoons, possums, chimney swifts, squirrels and many other friends of the wild can set up residence in your home, and cause damage to your chimney and they don’t pay taxes. 

Animals getting into your chimney isn’t something that we advise trying to address yourself. Let the experts at Best Cincinnati Chimney walk through the process of getting those unwelcomed guests removed from your chimney. 

Step 1Warning signs of invaders 

Knowing what warning signs to watch is the first step in identifying unwelcomed guests, and we are not talking about your mother-in-law. If you aren’t sure about whether there is an animal in your chimney, make sure to check for these warning signs: 

• • Bad aromas: It may smell musty or dirty or, in a worst-case scenario, you may even be smelling decay from an animal that passed while in your chimney. If something smells weird in your chimney it is always best to call Best Cincinnati Chimney to check it out. 
• • You can hear something in the chimney: Animals, even small ones, go about their business eating, sleeping, moving around. They love clean chimneys but they don’t stay clean for long. This is why it is a good idea to listen for those little squeaks and squawks. The sooner you detect them, the better. 
• • You can see them. Sometimes the animals use your chimney as a pathway to your kitchen, so if you see them or evidence in your home, check the chimney. 

• • There is visible debris: Maybe it is fur or droppings or dirt or something else. Whatever form it takes, animal debris is going to be one of the more obvious signs that there is an unwanted guest in your chimney. 

Step 2. Getting them out of there 

If you discover that there is indeed an animal or animals in your chimney, We would recommend first, that you contact an animal removal agency. Animal removal requires emergency equipment and gear that most chimney companies do not have. We can then clean and inspect your chimney for damage that they might have done. 

Step 3. Talk to a Chimney Technician About Ways to Keep Critters Out 

And the big AHA moment is: Close up their entry way. Many houses are equipped with galvanized caps and screens that racoons and other critters can chew right through. We can help install stainless steel chimney screens and caps to keep animals and other debris out of your chimney, that have a lifetime warranty. 

Animal entry is no joke. Animals can cause many diseases and can cause much physical damage to your property. Call Best Cincinnati Chimney today if you suspect that you have an animal in your chimney. 

If you have a masonry chimney or walls made with mortar and materials such as brick, stone, or cement, Your chimney was designed to absorb water. That is not a good thing, but it is a fact. Water repellent sealants can help greatly.

The Enemy Inside

 Masonry chimneys are more susceptible to moisture. The mortar and bricks, stone, or cement are porous, somewhat like a sponge. Porous materials have a higher capillary action, meaning they can absorb moisture without the aid of external forces such as gravity. The action is also known as “wicking.” When a masonry chimney has wicked moisture, winter weather and rainy seasons like we have in Cincinnati becomes an issue. 

Moisture inside can do extensive damage to your chimney during the freeze-thaw cycle and can loosen the mortar around the bricks, stones, or cement blocks and cause your chimney to crumble and collapse. Once the mortar opens cracks for the water to seep in, it creates even more opportunity for moisture to get in. If it gets behind the brick, the face of the brick will pop off, this is known as spalling. You can see how moisture can be a significant problem for masonry chimneys; that is where a chimney sealant becomes a solution.

What is a Water-Resistant Sealant?

A water-resistant sealant is a coating designed to keep moisture out while being vapor permeable, meaning it won’t trap moisture inside your chimney. A chimney sealant is made primarily from polyurethane or silicone and can be sprayed, brushed, or troweled. It is best to let a qualified chimney sweep apply a chimney sealant rather than attempt to do it yourself. A chimney sweep will know how many coats to apply to the chimney and what type of chimney sealant will work best.

Is My Masonry Chimney Moisture Damaged?

If you have been considering using a water repellant sealant, you probably already suspect your masonry chimney already has some degree of moisture damage, but you need to be sure. Here are a few common signs of moisture damage from the team at Best Cincinnati Chimney.

• White powdery deposits on the exterior of your chimney.
• Hairline or larger cracks.
• Bricks, stone, or cement that has chips or flakes coming loose.
• Eroded or absent mortar joints.
• Loose or missing bricks, stones, or blocks.

If you have noticed one or more of the last three problems on your chimney, it may be too late for a sealant to work and may need to be repaired by a qualified chimney sweep.

Is a Water Repellant Sealant needed on a new chimney?

A chimney sealant on a new masonry chimney is an excellent way to perform preventative maintenance. A chimney sealant can protect a chimney anywhere from five to fifteen years which extends the life of your chimney by the same amount of time. Apply coats of chimney sealer about every five years will keep your chimney in good shape.

Suppose your chimney is just starting to show signs of moisture damage; it’s probably not too late for a chimney sealant to be effective. Hairline cracks and slightly eroded mortar can still be coated with a sealer to slow or stop the progression of the damage. However, if your chimney has bricks, stones or blocks missing and the mortar is nearly gone, it is more likely that your chimney will need to be repaired. As we stated earlier, if your chimney is starting to crumble, then it’s a matter of when it will collapse, not if it will collapse. Once a masonry chimney has been repaired or replaced, it can then be sealed with a water repellent to keep those repairs for years to come.

Get A Chimney Inspection

To really know if your chimney should be sealed or repaired, an examination by a certified chimney inspector will be required. A chimney inspector can detect problems with your chimney the untrained eye will miss.

When it comes to the safety of your home and the well-being of your chimney, an inspection should be done annually. There are other issues in addition to moisture damage that may need to be addressed.

Best Cincinnati Chimney to the Rescue

If you think your masonry chimney has moisture damage, or you just want to seal your chimney for its long-term benefit, Best Cincinnati Chimney can help. Call us today or fill out our contact form, and one of our knowledgeable and friendly staff will reach out to you. We can schedule a time convenient for you to have your chimney inspected. At the time of the inspection, we can seal your chimney to help preserve it for the life of your home.

Chimney fires can cause thousands of dollars of damages in your home and are caused by the flames migrating upward, melting, warping, or negatively affecting the masonry or chimney walls. This sudden combustion, in the majority of cases, can ruin houses and risk lives. These tragedies are normally preventable because you can have your chimney inspected, repaired, or cleaned. This way, the chimney will not be prone to malfunction or collect build-ups that can damage your roof and burn down your home.

A chimney inspection service from Best Cincinnati Chimney can prevent any of this from happening, and can keep you from losing person or property.

What is it?

Combustibles that you burn in the chimney only burn partially. It is hard to avoid incomplete combustion, but you can minimize the impact by properly burning seasoned wood if you have a clean chimney. The residue that comes from incomplete combustion builds up over time that lines the flue with creosote.

Creosote is combustible if it is at the right temperature. When the airflow is blocked or there is a damaged flue, it leads to poor airflow. If there is poor heat flow in your flue, it can cause  trapped heat, the chimney heats up more than intended, and this ignites creosote. It burns up that fuel and seeks for more and that fuel may be your home. This chimney fire can be extremely dangerous.

Debris Causes Chimney Fires

Dust build up in your chimney can also cause fires. Leaves, animal carcasses, and other debris can cause flue fires as well. If you have not used your fireplace for a while, you should have it cleaned first.

Chimney fires creates a popping noise and loud cracking, with a lot of dense smoke, and an intense and hot smell. Chimney fires burn explosively that is noisy and dramatic enough that can be detected by people or neighbors around you. Dense smoke or flames shoots from the chimney. Homeowners get startled by rumbling sounds that remind them of a low-flying airplane or freight train.

Flue Tiles Get Damaged

A lot of homes use clay flue tiles to line their chimney. This is rated to be able to withstand high temperatures. However, there are chimney fires that burn over 2,000 degrees that can be too hot for tiles causes damages such as cracking. A vertical crack is a true sign of a previous flue fire.

A crack in your flue liner is a big concern. It increases the possibility for combustibles nearby in the construction in your home. The cracked tiles allow a new pathway for the fire to get out of the flue, which potentially causes a house fire.

Exterior Masonry Cracks

Similar to flue tiles, the brick masonry of the chimney can be damaged by heat. If there is a chimney fire, the brick or mortar joints can open and crack new pathways for fire or heat. These types of cracks are repaired by filling in or “tuck pointing” the crack with new mortar. This is a reason why yearly chimney inspections become critical. These cracks are hard to notice and can cause disaster if it is not repaired before another chimney fire happens.

Most of them are Undetected

Slow-burning chimney fires do not have enough air or have fuel that becomes dramatic or visible and they normally go undetected until there is a chimney inspection. However, the temperatures they reach are high and cause a lot of damage to the chimney’s structure. In addition, the nearby combustible house parts are connected to this.

Scorched Areas

The chimney fire because of high heat can also scorch away the deposits in certain parts of the chimney. This is called glazing and leaves behind areas that only look clean, but are surrounded by combustible deposits.

You can go to Bestcincinnatichimney.com to set an appointment for a chimney inspection.

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