My fireplace Damper doesn't work right, Can you fix or replace it?
Many times a fireplace damper doesn't operate properly because it has become unseated due to soot or debris in the damper track, which is knocked it out of alignment . This is easily fixed with a cleaning. Other times a chimney damper may have become rusted or warped due to the lack of a chimney cap. This is easily fixed with a a top sealing damper

How do I keep Birds and Bats out of my chimney?
The best cure is a good quality cap, keep in mind price and quality you generally get what you pay for. A good quality galvanized cap is not going to last forever. The heat of the fire will take the galvanization out of the metal eventually the cap will rust and fall apart if not painted every year. your other option is a stainless steel chimney cap these generally have a lifetime warrantee . As a professional chimney sweep, I generally prefer the stainless myself. Once installed its done!

A note on chimney swifts better known as barn swallows...
These are a protected species they should not be disturbed until they have left the nest at which time it is best to cap the chimney so they did not return.

A note on bats, the bats found in our country are beneficial and harmless they eat large amounts of mosquitoes and flying insects that are generally the pests that we all hate. If you can't share your home with them and wish them removed, please call your local county extension service I'm sure they will be able to tell you who the local bat society is. I’ve had many customers indicate that if we had any bats looking for a new home they would build a bat house for them.(yes I'm serious)

How can I clean my glass doors?
There are many commercial cleaners available on the market today the we recommend speedy white cleaner. Personally I use a trick taught to me years ago by a little old lady who grew up on the wagon trains, the wood-ash and a damp paper towel. Hey I went HUH? Too! But I found it works, and as she said (what do you think lye soap was made out of?)

How do I care for the spark screen in front of my fireplace?
There are two types of screens a solid sit in front type and the pull chain type. The pull chain type should be oiled along the length of the chain, and along the length of the bars that the hog rings slide on. At least three days before your first fire with WD 40, this allows the screen to move smoothly without binding and pulling. we recommend three days ahead because WD40 is flammable. Oil again at the end of the season a along with closing the damper till next burning season.

A short description of the chimney fire
Well folks it kind of sounds like a freight train rolling through your living room. If it doesn't burn your house down it will probably destroy your chimney and scare you half to death.

Take a fireplace that hasn't been cleaned in a few years, the chimney is full of creosote-saturated soot. It doesn't take much to set off a creoste fire a piece of burning newspaper that has floated up to the damper is enough to start it. Once started it feeds itself by spreading up the flue creating a stronger draft that just helps it along this is where you get the sound of the freight train rumbling and roaring. At this point most people run! (Bad move! Now you really get a show!) As the creosote fire builds and intensifies the heat melts the mortar between the bricks and flue liner. The molten mortar then drips into the flue, only to be caught in the up draft of the fire. This spays the red-hot molten stone on to the roof. Now if you're lucky and the chimney falls apart it will only of destroying one end of your building if not the miniature volcano will bring the whole house down. Which we don't consider this to be good, especially if you're not an actor!

Two ways to deal with this problem...
1. The first is relatively easy and you can order it through us. It's called chim-fex - a fire extinguisher for your fireplace that looks like a road flair and is lit the same way. This is the easiest and first step, then call your local fire department

2. The second way is a little bit more work, and you need a lot more preparation. You’ll need 1 bucket of sand or a small fire extinguisher kept handy to put out the fire in the fireplace then cover the opening with a wet blanket and call the fire department and cross your fingers.

Wouldn't it have been easier to have just called your
local chimney sweep!

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HAVING YOUR CHIMNEY SWEPT IS SURE A LOT EASIER ON YOUR NERVES AND PROPERTY.