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Our Company Blog
by Mike O'Mara | May 25, 2018 | Fireplaces
A great-looking fireplace can bring immense joy, comfort, and warmth to a household, especially throughout the holiday season, and at Weststar Chimney Sweeps, we want to help you keep your chimney and fireplace in the best shape possible. Our team of experts has the tools and expertise necessary for setting you up with the fireplace of your dreams, and we can keep it well-maintained for you throughout the years, so you don’t have to worry about a thing!
One thing we specialize in is stain removal. If smoke and debris are causing the front of your fireplace to look drab and unrefined, count on our team to get you back to where you need to be.
Addressing Draft Issues
First things first, you’ll want to ensure that, once your fireplace is restored, you won’t be facing the same problems again down the line. If smoke is damaging the aesthetic of your fireplace, then it’s important to address any smoking or drafting issues you may be experiencing. Let us fix you up before we apply our stain removal products, so that you can rest easy knowing your fireplace will look great for years to come!
A great way to start is by doing an inspection. By taking a thorough look at your fireplace and chimney, we can locate the source of any potential problems, then offer you the best possible solutions possible for solving them. Our CSIA certified team knows their stuff, and we are certain we’ll get your fireplace running normally again in no time!
There are more than a few reasons why your chimney may be pouring smoke into your living space, including structural problems, creosote accumulation, or issues with the damper. A smoky home isn’t only inconvenient… it’s dangerous, too! With the holidays well behind us, now is the perfect time to let us look things over. Give us a call today to set up your appointment!
Using Paint “N” Peel In Your Home
Once your chimney is repaired, restored, and swept, we’ll begin the stain removal process. We will tape off the area, apply our products to the masonry, then all we need to do is wait! Once it dries (in about 6-12 hours), we’ll peel it off and reveal a cleaner, more polished-looking fireplace. You’ll be shocked at the end results!
The great part about this product is that it works on most surfaces, so whether you have brick, stonework, marble, concrete, slate, or something else, we’re certain we can offer you exactly what you are looking for.
Springtime Is The Time To Call!
We know fireplace usage goes up in the fall and winter, so why not schedule your annual maintenance now? We’re less busy, so we’ll be able to easily fit you in at a time that works well for you and, when fall rolls back around, you’ll be all set and ready to go. Give us a call today, and we’ll help you out soon!
by Mike O'Mara | May 11, 2018 | Fireplaces
Have you been thinking of adding a screen to your fireplace? We encourage you to take that next step and have our expert team install your dream screen today! There are many benefits to having one installed, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Learn more about your options by visiting us online or by simply giving our staff a call right away!
A Safer Home For You & Your Family
It’s no secret that fireplaces are known to shoot stray sparks from time to time. This is where fireplace screens really come into play. These sparks could easily ignite if they land on something flammable, putting your entire household at risk and costing you thousands in potential damages. In other instances, these sparks could land on nearby pets or family members and cause pain or injury.
They also provide a barrier, ensuring playful children and curious pets don’t get too close to the fireplace itself. If you’ve got a lot going on in your home, these extra precautions could save you a lot of stress! We believe each and every one of our customers deserve peace of mind when enjoying their fireplace. Our screen door options offer just that!
Improving The Look Of Your Fireplace & Home
Fireplace screens themselves add a lot when it comes to the look and cosmetic appeal of your fireplace. Let’s now address the items throughout a home that have been saved by fireplace screens being in place! The aforementioned screens block sparks and keep them safely out of your home. Not every spark will cause injury or destruction, but even the smallest one can put a hole through a couch, curtain, or carpet. Ensure your furniture and decor stay in the best shape possible by having us install that screen as soon as possible.
The great part about working with us is that we offer a wide range of designs and style options, so you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for. We get that people have different tastes and preferences, so we want to offer various choices for our customers to choose from!
We even offer fireplace doors, giving you more options to consider and ensuring you achieve the perfect look and aesthetic you’re picturing. These doors, built here in Southern California, are hand-crafted to fit your fireplace opening exactly. When you work with our CSIA certified team, you get the results you deserve!
Count On Us For It All
You can also count on us for your annual inspections and regular sweepings! We do it all, from repairs to stain removal to installations, so you can count on us for anything. Springtime is a great time to call us in, so get on the phone today. We’re ready and excited to serve you!
by Mike O'Mara | May 1, 2018 | Chimney Sweeping
Every May 1st we like to remember and celebrate Chimney Sweep Day here at Weststar Chimney Sweeps, but you may be wondering why May 1st is designated as chimney sweep day.
Also known as May Day, May 1st has a long history and it heavily involves chimney sweeps. In the past, it was legal for chimney sweeps to use young children to sweep chimneys. This was due to the fact that they could easily fit into chimney flues and were able to scrub and sweep the chimneys clean. Children who were employed were as young as six and were usually boys. These young sweepers often did not have any kind of protection when cleaning chimneys and would breathe in much of the soot they were helping to remove. Due to this, many children who swept chimneys dealt with all kinds of respiratory issues and diseases.
May 1st was the only day these young sweeps had a day off from their sweeping duties. On this day sweeps would celebrate in their local towns where entertainment and other festivities took place. Because of the time off and the celebrations, May 1st came to be known as chimney sweep day. Even today this holiday is celebrated by chimneys sweeps throughout the world.
So join Weststar Chimney Sweeps in celebrating Chimney Sweep day and hug your favorite chimney sweep the next time you call us in for service.
by Mike O'Mara | Apr 13, 2018 | Chimney Liners
The chimney liner plays a major role in keeping your chimney functioning right. It protects your home in more ways than one, and using a chimney without a liner in place puts you at some serious risks! If you’re ready to learn more, read below. We’ll explain why liners are so important, then let you know what we can do to repair and restore yours.
Flue Liners Serve A Big Purpose
The liner in your chimney does a lot to ensure safer and proper functioning, so it’s important to keep it protected throughout the years. First things first, it keeps heat from traveling to other parts of your home and starting a house fire. This process occurs faster than you may think (just a few hours), and it puts you and your loved ones at serious risk!
Chimney liners also help protect your mortar from melting and deteriorating. If cracks and crumbling start to occur, gases and harmful fumes can easily enter your home and trigger sickness. Some of these gases, like carbon monoxide, can even be fatal and are extremely hard to detect! Play it safe – let us inspect your liner today!
Lastly, a chimney flue liner enhances efficiency of your appliance, but only when sized correctly. When measurements are out of whack, creosote and other debris will accumulate at a faster pace, causing damage and increasing your risk of chimney fires. In order to ensure proper air flow, your liner needs to be fitted just right, and our CSIA certified crew will make sure that happens!
Don’t Put It Off
With nicer temperatures and springtime sunshine here, now may be your best time to call us in for liner repair work! As you can imagine, we get pretty busy when fall comes back around, performing repairs, inspections, sweepings, and more all throughout our service area. While we do everything we can to accommodate each of our customers’ needs, sometimes finding that perfect appointment time is hard to do!
We would hate to see you forced to put off fireplace use due to damages and necessary maintenance work. Call us in now, while things are slower, so we can set you up right! Once temperatures drop, you’ll be ready to light up that first fire, with no problems in sight. You and your loved ones deserve that! Give us a call now!
by Mike O'Mara | Mar 13, 2018 | Chimney Maintenance
When water has easy access to your chimney, it can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Rusty flashing, cracked masonry, rot, clogs, and more can occur if your chimney isn’t properly protected, and the longer you put off corrective maintenance, the worse these issues will become. If you’re worried about the state of your fireplace system, our team at Weststar Chimney Sweeps has got you covered!
Learn more about how you can spot water damage by reading below, then call on us to provide the solutions you need to get the best performance possible from your chimney and fireplace.
Examine Your Masonry
If you’ve been noticing leaks or pools of water in your fireplace, your brickwork may be the culprit. Many don’t realize that, even though bricks are strong and sturdy, they can absorb water quite easily! When moisture gets absorbed, it triggers all types of deterioration throughout your system and causes your masonry to crumble.
If your masonry is looking worse for the wear, let us help you out. We can apply a strong, yet breathable, waterproofing sealant that will keep water out for good, so you can rest easy every time you put your fireplace to good use. If things are starting to break down, stop that excess moisture dead in its tracks – invest in our waterproofing services today!
Check For Rust
There are various metal components throughout your chimney and fireplace that if given the opportunity to rust, won’t be able to function properly. If rust goes unaddressed, it will form cracks and holes, allowing even more pathways for water to enter your system and cause damage. If you notice rust, call us in for the repairs and restoration work you need to get your chimney up and running efficiently again!
Whether your flashing is rusted, your chimney cap is damaged, or something else is going wrong with your metal chimney parts, count on us to get the job done right. We will get everything back to normal faster than you might expect and can handle any extra installation work you might need along the way. When it comes to your chimney, count on a professional from the very start. The crew at Weststar Chimney Sweeps has got your back!
How Is Your Crown?
Your chimney crown plays an integral role in keeping water away from your masonry. When built correctly, your crown will easily direct water out and away from the sides of your chimney, making a big impact on how much damage your system ends up facing over time. If your crown is broken down or wasn’t installed correctly from the start, count on our team to help you out! We can repair your crown, so you don’t have to stress any longer.
If you’re facing water damage, don’t let it bring you down. Give us a call today, so we can get your fireplace working great again!
