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With access to so much information on the Internet, many homeowners are doing more DIY projects at home to save money. And the do-it-yourself market is enormous, with more than $400B in retail sales in 2018, according to the HIRI/IHI Markit Forecast. But some projects, like chimney cleaning and repair, are far too dangerous for […] Read more

When a chimney or its components have fallen into disrepair or begin to function inefficiently, there usually are signs that tell you something needs to be addressed. Here are five signs of chimney damage for you to watch for so you can have problems fixed before they become expensive or hazardous. Crumbling/loose bricks When bricks […] Read more

With smoke billowing out of the chimney on a chilly night, it must be winter. And with shorter periods of daylight, many homeowners are lighting the fireplace to stay warm and cozy in the evening. And to increase the warmth, many choose to keep their fireplaces open with nothing more than a mesh screen to […] Read more

New Hampshire winters can be foreboding, and while the weather outside is frightful, the fire is so delightful – so get the family together and maybe invite a few friends over to enjoy some special holiday activities around the fireplace. Here are ideas to get you started. Read a Christmas story Everybody loves a Christmas […] Read more

The chances of an actual Santa Claus visiting your home and sliding down your chimney on Christmas Eve this year are pretty slim. But if you take care of your chimney with the idea that Santa will, in fact, visit, you’ll be doing the exact things necessary to ensure a very safe and high-performing chimney. […] Read more

Here are a few quick tips on getting the most out of your fireplace, stove or fireplace insert.  Open Masonry Fireplaces Traditional masonry fireplaces bring wonderful ambience to a home, but they’re not high-powered heat producers. If you have one of these fireplaces and want to increase its heat production, you have a few options. […] Read more

The fact that there’s such a product as chimney-cleaning logs tells you that cleaning built-up creosote out of chimneys is an important job. Chimney-cleaning logs are burned like any other logs but have special ingredients that are said to remove creosote. Sounds easy and simple. But do the logs actually work? Look for CSIA-approval Just […] Read more

If you’ve just had a new fireplace built or installed, or if you’ve just moved into a home with a fireplace already in it, you’re in for some enjoyable times in the years ahead. Make them more enjoyable by following these tips for first-time fireplace use and use from then on. Ensure that the chimney […] Read more

Just to look at it, you wouldn’t think a chimney is all that complicated. It’s just a brick-housed channel for smoke to go up, right? Well, partially right. The fact is, a chimney system contains many parts and components that must work properly to prevent water and other types of damage including fires. Here are […] Read more

A CSIA-certified chimney sweep is your best friend when it comes to keeping your chimney safe and ensuring that it operates the way it’s supposed to. Next time you have a chimney cleaning visit scheduled, here are a few things you can do ahead of time to make the job as simple, mess-free and productive […] Read more