Weststar Chimney Sweeps of San Diego News and Events

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. It’s the season when nature comes back to life after a long and cold winter. It’s the season when trees grow and begin to sprout leaves, flowers bloom all around, and birds migrate and fill our neighborhoods with beautiful sights and sounds.

Birds migrate because they are looking for warm weather where they can breed, nest and help their hatchlings grow, learn to fly and be ready for the next cold season. They tend to build their nests in closed, hidden spaces, so they can keep their chicks warm and protected from animal preys.

If you were a bird, where would you build your nest? Maybe your first choice wouldn’t be a chimney, but guess what? Birds love them. For starters, the material used to build chimneys absorbs the warmth of the sun during the day and maintains it during the night. Chimneys are high up, out of the reach of many predators, thus keeping their hatchlings protected.

Now the bad part about that is that nests damage chimneys and are very serious fire hazard. So what can you do?

First of all, you need to have your chimney inspected by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Professional. If during the inspection we find an abandoned birds nest in your chimney, we’ll remove it. On the other hand, if birds are still nesting there, then we will take special care of them. We’ll carefully, and without harming the birds, remove the nest and relocate it.

Once the nest has been removed, or if none was found in the first place, we can install a Chimney Cap used to prevent birds from entering your chimney ever again.

Just in case you feel bad about this, keep in mind that nature never intended for birds to nests in chimneys. There are many other places in nature better suited for that. So act now, and call Weststar Chimney Sweeps today. We can help you keep nature and fire in their proper places.

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The spring season is just around the corner, and that means one thing… spring cleaning! Time to get your home cleaned, clear out the garage and make your backyard look nice. But, don’t forget one very important thing… your chimney!

Yes, this is the perfect time to have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a CSIA Certified Professional. Remember that an unserviced chimney can be a big fire hazard, so make sure that your home is not only clean, but also safe.

Even though winter is almost gone, the nights are still cold here in San Diego, so make sure your fireplace is in good condition and ready for your family to use it. Give us a call today to setup an appointment.

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Love is in the air, and that can only mean one thing… February is here, and along with it, Valentine’s Day! The perfect day to celebrate love, friendship or whatever else you want to celebrate.

There are some things that go hand and hand with Valentine’s Day, like flowers, chocolate, romantic dinners, perfume sprayed letters and much more. Of course, most of us will get to buying all of these gifts a day before, if not the same, but that’s ok, you’ll find something.

But, you know what you just can’t leave for the last day? Getting your chimney swept and inspected by a CSIA Certified Professional! I bet you didn’t even think about that one! Just imagine… romantic dinner, bottle of champagne, lit candles at the table, flowers all around, and of course, the fire crackling romantically in the fireplace. Everything is just right, the perfect Valentine’s Day… but wait, what’s that? do you smell smoke? Instead of going out thru the chimney, the smoke is coming right back into the house! What a way of ruining the perfect night. Now it smells like something burnt. And hopefully it’s just the smell, because if the chimney has not been properly cleaned, there is also the risk of fire!

So, better be safe than sorry. Get that chimney of yours inspected and cleaned ASAP, so you can concentrate on enjoying the perfect valentine’s day with your special someone.

From all of us at Weststar Chimney Sweeps, have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

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We are proud to share the following video that was featured on NBC 7 San Diego about Weststar Chimney Sweeps!

Source: Odd Job: Chimney Sweep in San Diego.

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Oh the holidays! Christmas trees, lights, songs, gifts, dinners, mistletoes, reindeers and santas. Definitely one of the best times of the year! Unfortunately the holiday season, like most everything in life, had to came to an end. But don’t worry, not everything is lost. The cold winter season is still here, and it will still be with us for a little bit longer.

Ok, that may not be the greatest thing, especially now that we are hitting record breaking low temperatures all over San Diego County. But, if you’re reading this, there is a good chance you have a chimney at your home, and we’re pretty sure you used it during the holidays. Well, this is the perfect time to have it inspected and swept by a CSIA Certified Professional. At Weststar Chimney Sweeps we can make sure that your chimney is in good condition so you can keep using it during this cold new year.

The gift giving season may be over, but you can still give your family the gift of a warm home. And the best part, no wrapping required!

From all of us at Weststar Chimney Sweeps, we hope you had a great holiday season, and we wish you the very best for this new year. May you you reach all your goals and dreams!

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Christmas is almost here, and you know what that means… Santa Claus!! He’s coming down your chimney with a bag full of toys! Ok, he’s not, but you should still have your chimney ready anyway for all those guests that will be coming to your home, hopefully thru the front door.

There’s nothing better for a christmas family reunion than the warmth and crackling sound of a fireplace. Your chimney is ready for Christmas, right? Don’t take chances on the safety of your home, your family and your guests. Have your chimney inspected by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Professional. Call Weststar Chimney Sweeps today. Santa may not be coming, but we will. We’ll go to your home and do a thorough inspection of every single part of your chimney, and will clean and fix anything that is needed to insure your chimney is ready and safe for the holidays.

By the way, better keep this blog post away from the little ones. We don’t want them to know that Santa Claus is not really coming down the chimney. Merry Christmas!

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Autumn is finally here. The scenery changes its colors, leafs are flying everywhere, and of course, winter is closer than ever. Being autumn the transition from summer into winter, the weather gets colder.

Although we all miss the sunny summer days, cold days also have their magical moments. They are perfect for staying home with your loved ones for a family evening, or for snuggling with a blanket, a good book and hot cup of apple cider. Of course, it gets even better if you do any these in front of your cozy and warm fireplace.

But, wait. Your fireplace is ready for the season, right? If not, call Weststar Chimney Sweeps right now, and have your chimney inspected and cleaned. Not everyone may have the good fortune of enjoying the warmth of a fireplace on these cold days, but if you do, make sure your chimney is ready and safe for your entire family to enjoy!

And just in case you need it, here’s a nice video to get you in the mood of the season.

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What is a Chim-Scan? It is a closed circuit video camera system designed to view the interior of your chimney. The Chim-Scan allows us to identify problems or damage in your chimney that we would not be able to detect in visual inspections, thus preventing serious complications later on.

The Chim-Scan is the best solution to determine  the integrity of the flue liner. If you would like to have your chimney professionally inspected, using the best and latest technology available, call Weststar Chimney Sweeps today!

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So now comes that moment when we have to talk about the birds and the bees. Whoo there, hold on, not those birds and bees. I mean about the birds that build their nests and the bees that build their beehives inside your chimney!

We can’t really blame the birds and the bees here. It turns out that your chimney is a really comfy place for them. It’s hi up, warm, and with no one to bother them. So what’s the problem? We all love nature, right? Aren’t the birds and the bees part of nature? Well of course they are, but those bird nests and beehives put your family in danger. They are health and fire hazards, and as you know, safety is always first. So, what can you do?

First of all, get CSIA Certified Professional Weststar Chimney Sweeps to do a chimney inspection. If you chimney turns out to be the residence of a family of birds or bees, they will be removed and relocated. After that, a chimney cap and chase cover will be installed, just in case they try to come back.

So the next time you kids ask you about the birds and the bees, remember to call Weststar Chimney Sweeps. We won’t talk to your children about it, but you can be sure that we’ll keep your chimney, your family and your home, safe.

Before:

After:

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We all love the feeling of a warm home, and the smell and crackling noise of firewood burning. But, we also love to be and feel safe. So in the spirit of keeping both of this loves together, let’s go over some tips that will help you stay warm and safe this coming season.

First of all, it’s very important to have your chimney inspected and cleaned every year by a qualified professional chimney service technician. By doing this you help reduce the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Keep an eye out for the exterior of your chimney. Make sure you have a chimney cap installed, in order to keep debris, animals and nests out of the chimney. If you don’t have one, get one now! Also make sure no tree branches and leaves are close to the top of the chimney.

When you burn firewood, make sure you choose the right type. Only use wood that has been split for at least 6 months to one year, and stored in a covered and elevated location. Also important, never use flammable liquids to start a fire. Instead use small pieces of wood and twigs or use a commercial firelighter.

By the way, do you have a fireplace screen? Well, you should! This will catch flying sparks that could burn holes in the carpet or flooring, or even worse, ignite a fire! You should also have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the house, and of course, remember to check the batteries at least once a year.

Finally, remember to never leave a fire unattended, especially if you have children and pets in the house.

So in order to be safe and warm, get your chimney inspected by a CSIA Professional. Give Weststar Chimney Sweeps a call today.

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