Most homeowners know that many things around their house need annual inspections and maintenance. With help from a professional, you can ensure your household stays in tip-top shape all year long, and you’ll get the most from all of your appliances, too.
Now, if you’ve worked with the team here at Weststar Chimney Sweeps in the past, you know that you can count on us to handle all of your fireplace and chimney care, ensuring a safer burning season, no matter what. But did you know that we can clean your dryer vents, too? Count on our CSIA certified technicians to get the job done right.
A More Efficient Appliance
If your dryer has not been giving you the fast, efficient results you expect, your first assumption might be that the appliance itself is at fault. Well, if longer than normal drying times is the problem, then there is a good chance the issue lies with the vents. Clogged and dirty vents can hinder airflow, causing your clothes to take abnormally long to dry.
No one wants to spend all day waiting on one load of laundry, so schedule that vent cleaning today to get the what you need from your appliance. You will also notice less lint in and around the dryer, and those musty odors should go away, too.
A Safer Appliance
Another major reason why dryer vent cleanings are important is because they keep your home safer. Did you know that thousands of house fires are caused by dirty dryer vents? When they clog up, your appliance overheats making your more prone to fires. Since the lint your dryer produces is extremely flammable, this puts you and your family members in quite a dangerous scenario!
A simple cleaning could save you hundreds, or possibly thousands in repair costs and it keeps your family safer. If you notice excess heat in your laundry room, or if the appliance itself seems extra hot, get your vents checked as soon as possible. It’s not worth taking any chances!
Along with this, backed up vents can cause carbon monoxide to enter your home. Carbon monoxide is one of the deadliest gases, and it is colorless and odorless — making it that much more threatening. Avoiding it at all costs is vital for staying healthy, which is why annual maintenance is so important for all gas appliances.
It is also a good idea to invest in carbon monoxide detectors for your home. They are affordable and efficient, when properly maintained, and they could save a life should harmful fumes enter the property.
Ready To Get Started?
Ready to ensure your dryer runs well for the long haul? Count on our team to help you out. Call now to set up your appointment.
Do you enjoy sitting by a nice, crackling fire with your family in the evenings? Wood-burning fireplaces are a great and popular addition to any home, but it is important to invest in regular upkeep to ensure things run well year after year. One thing homeowners need to be wary of is creosote accumulation.
Creosote is what forms in your chimney as you use your fireplace. As the fires burn, various fumes and particles escape up through the chimney, causing condensation to form along the brickwork on their way out. This then turns into creosote, which sticks to your interior walls and can be dangerous in larger quantities.
Creosote & Chimney Fires
Now, there are a few different types of creosote you can have in your chimney, but no matter which type it is, it is flammable. If the creosote inside of your chimney or flue ignites, it could easily trigger a chimney fire, which is detrimental to the health and stability of your structure. In no time, your masonry will be run down and you won’t be getting the warmth you deserve from your system.
Chimney fires are known for causing brickwork to crack and crumble, and eventually this type of damage can lead to a settlement or collapse. Your chimney simply isn’t built to withstand those high temperatures, and the materials that make it up suffer immensely because of it.
Unfortunately, a chimney collapse isn’t the only thing to be concerned about when it comes to chimney fires. As cracks, holes, and other openings form throughout your system, gas and flames could easily escape into your home. Stray flames could quickly lead to a house fire, and if poisonous fumes, like carbon monoxide, enter the space your family will face some serious health risks.
If you have experienced a chimney fire, you should not put your system to use until a certified team of experts has had the opportunity to fix everything up. Just keep in mind that chimney fires are not always loud, obvious events. In fact, quite often they are unnoticed by anyone, meaning the homeowners won’t have even realized one occurred. This is why annual chimney inspections are such a necessity.
Set Up An Inspection With Us Today
If you are concerned about the health of your chimney, set up a time for our CSIA certified experts to come and help you out. The team at Weststar Chimney Sweeps is trained to perform a thorough chimney inspection, guaranteed to uncover any issues that may be putting your system at risk.
Give us a call now, so we can set you up right for the rest of winter. All fireplace owners should invest in at least one inspection per year, so if you have yet to get yours in, then now is the time. A simple and affordable service like this could save you from some costly repair work down the line! Get in touch with us today to get started.
The start of a new year encourages many folks to think of goals and resolutions for bettering their lives. If you feel inspired to improve your household and get your appliances in tip-top shape for the new year ahead, then why not start with your chimney flue? The holidays are over, but there’s bound to be some chilly nights ahead, so stay on top of it by having your flue relined as soon as possible.
What To Expect From Our Crew
If you’ve made the decision of repairing your chimney liner, then our team here to help. We use the best product on the market called HeatShield to guarantee the best results possible for your chimney flue. HeatShield works by sealing your liner and smoothing the surface, so you don’t need to worry about cracks, holes, or damage messing things up and putting you and your loved ones in a dangerous situation.
HeatShield has a Joint Repair system and a Resurfacing System, so whatever problems you’re facing – big or small – there’s a product that will work for your chimney. They also provide a Sleeve Relining System that works well in systems that are more severely damaged or missing a liner altogether.
No matter which type of HeatShield product you need, our crew is more than qualified to apply them in a timely and efficient manner to get your fireplace back to working condition. Not sure which is best for you? We can start off by thoroughly inspecting your flue, pinpointing potential issues you may be facing, and help you figure out which HeatsShield is best for you. Once we’ve completed our assessment, we’ll let you know what exactly need to be done to get your fireplace back to safety and ready for use!
More About HeatShield
When you look at the technology behind HeatShield products, you will realize the wonder of it. Developers have worked hard to guarantee these products provide homeowners with a safer and more effective solution for your chimney. HeatShield has been put to use for two decades now, and many trusted chimney have been using it. Homeowners and sweeps continue to trust this product today. At Weststar Chimney Sweeps, we can’t wait to show you what HeatShield can do for your chimney and continue to use it for years to come!
Why Wait?
Your chimney liner does a lot to protect your home from the high temperatures of your fireplace. Without a liner in place, your risk of house fires and carbon monoxide exposure increase dramatically. It also affects the overall inefficiency of your system as well. If your liner is missing or in bad shape, then it’s time to call in the professionals. Contact our expert sweeps right now, we’re ready to provide you with the best care!
If a sweeping is in order for your chimney this winter, then you want to be sure the job is done by a team of qualified experts. Missing even the most minor details of a chimney sweeping can lead to big problems like creosote accumulation and clogs, both of which lead to fire hazards and smoke or fume back-up. Avoid dangerous situations this winter by working with the CSIA certified team at Weststar Chimney Sweeps from the very start!
So, what can you expect when you hire our crew for the job? Nothing less than the best! Learn more about our sweeping process below.
We Are Detailed & Thorough
In order for you to get the most from your chimney in terms of heat, efficiency, and safety, every nook and cranny needs to be examined and cleaned by a qualified team of experts. That’s why we work hard to never miss a thing! We have the tools, technology, and know-how to get the job done right, so you don’t need to stress about a thing over Christmas, New Years, and the countless cold nights throughout the winter season.
Along with this, a thorough and in-depth cleaning will lower your risk of fires and gas leaks significantly, allowing you peace of mind when lighting fires throughout the upcoming holiday. We work hard to keep you and your loved ones as safe as possible, which is why we never quit investing in extra training and educational opportunities, all of which help us better serve you year after year.
We Provide A Professional Analysis
We’re not like some companies that come in, do the job, then quickly leave without letting you know what’s going on in your own chimney. We keep you in the loop, so you know what services we’re providing and what steps we recommend for the future. If we find something concerning, we’ll let you know, so you can decide what to do next. After all, safety is our number one concern!
Our staff will also provide you with a written document, listing all of the things we performed, so you have proof that every inch of your chimney was properly addressed. We don’t cut corners, and we feel that all of our customers deserve the very best.
We Keep Your Home Cleaner
We work hard before, during, and after a sweeping to ensure your home stays clean and better protected. By using dropcloths and specialized vacuums, and by taking our time to ensure you get the best service possible, we guarantee you won’t be left with horrible stains or a dirty carpet. We are trained to keep the messy aspects of chimney cleaning under control and well-contained, so you don’t need to stress about a thing!
For the care and attention you deserve, there is truly no better team to trust. Count on Weststar Chimney Sweeps for your sweepings, inspections, and more, so you can enjoy this upcoming holiday to the fullest! We’ve always got your back.
Have a wood-burning fireplace in your home? The atmosphere that accompanies these units is incomparable, and the smells and sounds associated with them often play a big role in setting a festive mood throughout the holiday season. But with these fuel types comes a bit of extra work, and one thing we like to remind homeowners of is the importance of safely clearing out your fireplace ash.
Clearing out ash helps keep your fireplace grate in better shape and it leaves you with adequate room for putting in more fuel down the line. Too much ash could eventually block the flow of air, as well, and you definitely don’t want it spilling out into your living space! That being said, it’s beneficial to leave behind a small layer, around one or two inches thick, as this encourages future fires to light up easier. A small layer of ash also helps to protect your firebox floor.
Staying Safer When Clearing Ash
When your ash pile gets too high and the time comes to clear it out, it’s vital that you take the proper safety precautions when removing it. Why? Well, ash can stay hot for days at a time, and many times stray embers get trapped inside. Ash that isn’t properly disposed off could easily ignite, triggering a fire within your home!
So, here’s what you can do to feel more at ease when scooping ash out of your fireplace. First of all, use a metal scoop when removing it, then transfer it into a metal bucket. A bucket with a handle and a slightly raised bottom is ideal. Also, the bucket should have a tight-fitting lid that will seal the container securely once filled.
Once the ash is safely out of the fireplace, it’s wise to store it for a few days to give any embers the chance to die out. Store it outside of your home on a non-flammable surface, such as concrete or brick. After enough time has passed, you may dispose of them.
What To Do With Old Ash
If you’re looking for ways to recycle your ash, there are many options! A lot of people use them in their gardens for a way to enrich their plant life. Certain plants, like tomatoes, will benefit greatly from some ash in their soil, so do some research and see which items would do well with this little extra boost!
Others sprinkle ash around their gardens to keep out pests, like snails and slugs. This provides an easy and effective barrier for keeping your veggies and flowers safer! Other uses for fireplace ash include shining silver, making soap, washing stinky smells off pets, melting ice, washing fireplace doors, and more. There are tons of ideas out there, so consider saving your ashes this burning season!
Call On Us For Advice
Have questions about your fireplace? Give us a call! We’re here to assist and educate the public however we can, so that our customer base can enjoy their holidays worry-free year after year. Also, be sure to invest in your annual inspection and sweeping this fall, so you know everything is ready to go for any festivities you have planned. The time to give our team a call is now!
If you’ve made the decision of repairing your chimney liner, then our team here to help. We use the best product on the market called HeatShield to guarantee the best results possible for your chimney flue. 
