(443) 992-5629

Services

Chimney Services

How safe is your chimney? Certified Chimney Inspections
Chimney inspections are best performed by individuals who carry the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential. The inspection and evaluation of chimneys is an important service offered by Swift Chimney Service. Chimney inspections come in many forms and you should be aware that not all inspections are alike. At Swift Chimney Service, we follow the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommended inspection procedures.

Annual chimney Inspections Help Prevent Fires and Carbon Monoxide Poisonings
(From the Chimney Safety Institute of America's website)
Storks nesting in chimneys were once believed to bring good luck, according to European folklore. But, in fact, nests in chimneys -or blockages of any kind -are nothing short of bad news. They can cause smoking problems, chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

In 1998, there were 18,300 residential fires in the United States originating in chimneys, fireplaces and solid fuel appliances, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. These fires resulted in 160 personal injuries, 40 deaths and $158.2 million in property damage.

Virtually all of these fires were preventable according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a non-profit institution dedicated to public and chimney professional education. Both CSIA and the National Fire Protection Association recommend yearly chimney inspections to help prevent these hazards.

Many American homeowners think their chimneys only need to be cleaned and inspected if they bum wood in their fireplaces or wood stoves. But almost all heating appliances, whether they bum gas, oil, wood or coal, rely on the chimney to safely carry toxic gases produced by the heating system of the house.

A carbon monoxide detector can warn homeowners of potential poisoning after the deadly gas has already entered the living area, but an annual chimney check can help prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home in the first place.

Each fall, homeowners shift into home-improvement mode. They clean gutters, garages and basements- -preparing homes for winter. But they usually don't inspect, repair or clean their chimneys, despite the potential for damage to their property or even to their lives.

An annual chimney inspection by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep is a modest investment that can reduce the danger of chimney fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps have earned the industry's most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimneys and venting systems. In fact, when chimney fires occur, many insurance investigators rely on CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps to determine whether a fIre originated in -or damaged -the chimney system. The CSIA, established in 1983, is a non-profit, educational institution, dedicated to educating the public about the prevention of chimney safety hazards.

Gas Heat? Your chimneys Still Need Safety Inspections

One of the biggest concerns, of course, is the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. A blocked or damaged chimney can cause carbon monoxide to seep into a home unnoticed. That's why the Chimney Safety Institute of America and The National Fire Protection Association both urge homeowners to have annual inspections of there chimney to make sure their gas heating systems -including both natural gas or propane -are venting properly.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that can kill. And, because there may be no smoke with gas appliances, the presence of carbon monoxide is virtually unseen. At Low Levels carbon monoxide can cause dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea and irregular breathing -common symptoms that can be misdiagnosed as a cold or the flu. Left undetected, carbon monoxide can lead to more serious health problems such as loss of consciousness, brain damage, heart irregularity, muscle weakness, miscarriage and even death.

Another way to protect against carbon monoxide is to make sure that a home is equipped with an UL-listed carbon monoxide detector. While a carbon monoxide detector can alert a homeowner to the presence of carbon monoxide, an annual inspection helps to prevent carbon monoxide and can detect other problems before they become a dangerous or costly situation.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2002, the most recent year for which complete data are available, there where 188 deaths and in 1999, the most recent year for which complete emergency room data are available, 5,100 injuries due to carbon monoxide poisonings caused by gas-burning appliances. That number does not include victims who were either misdiagnosed or did not seek medical attention. Virtually all of them could have been prevented with proper maintenance.

Frequency of Inspection

NFP A recommends that all chimneys, fireplaces and vents be inspected annually. In addition to this requirement, there are other times when chimney and venting systems should be inspected, such as:

     After any unusual, or sudden occurrence, such as a chimney fire, lightning strike, or earthquake.
     Prior to purchasing a home with an existing chimney.
     Whenever changes are made to a chimney or vent system, including replacement of connected appliances.
     Prior to major system repairs.

Summary
You should be aware that even the most thorough inspection will not reveal all problems. Some areas of a chimney simply are not accessible due to construction of the house. Be sure to discuss any specific concerns with your service technician. The recommended inspection technique will often be based on your comments and concerns. Our technicians are trained to perform the appropriate level of inspection based upon the use of the chimney and any performance problems or safety concerns using the NFPA 211 as our standard.

When was your chimney cleaned last? Chimney Cleanings
Our experience has shown us that under "noffilal burning conditions" it takes about one to one and a half cords of wood burned in a fireplace to produce enough of creosote build-up to warrant cleaning. This is only a rule of thumb and under certain burning conditions the need for sweeping could be much sooner.
When in doubt, call for a professional inspection!
To assure that you receive only the most highly qualified service available our chimney cleaning service is perfoffiled by technicians that are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Our equipment is specifically designed for the type of chimney we are servicing whether it be a large masonry fireplace, furnace flue or metal factory built chimney system. All brushable creosote and soot are removed without damage to the fireplace or chimney. The work is done both from the outside and inside the home and using proven methods to assure that no soot or creosote escapes into the room. Drop cloths, a high speed vacuum, and shoe covers allow us to guarantee mess-free cleaning! Our technicians will also examine the fireplace (or appliance) and chimney and provide you with infoffilation regarding any problems or concerns discovered during the cleaning process.

Chase tops for Pre-Fabricated Chimneys
Do you have rust running down the side of your chimney and wonder where is that stuff coming from?

Over the years most pre-fabricated chimneys metal covers start to rust due to rain, ice and snow that sits on the metal for extended periods. Along the way pine straw and leaves land on top as well. When this material starts to decay it creates a very acidic condition that eats the galvanized coating off the metal. It can take as little as 5 years of this condition before you very see rust running down the side of your chimney. Eventually the metal starts to pit allowing water to drip inside the chimney structure. You may hear the dripping sounds sometimes when its quiet in the horne, after a rain. When you see the rust stains; it's time to replace the top. Most chase tops are improperly installed from the start. They are made from thin galvanized sheet metal with no supports installed under the cover to hold up the large cap. This creates a instant pool for water and leaves to fall into, starting the rusting process at the fIrst rain.. We can replace the chase cover using stainless steel or copper, instead of the regular galvanized metal that will rust. We drill 2-3 holes in each long side flange about 18 inches from each end and install stainless steel screws to hold the cover in place. The holes are filled with high strength silicone to prevent leaks. The tops have cross breaking to create a dome effect preventing water from standing on the top. Overall this is a better system for a reasonable price. We recommend stainless steel because it's a more durable material for use in outdoor environments. The metal is stronger and over a long period of time, still looks like new. Stainless Steel and Copper chase covers have a lifetime warranty against rust, corrosion and defects.

A chimney liner may be the answer!

Chimney relining is often the most practical and affordable way to repair a deteriorated or damaged chimney. Chimneys can be damaged by a number of things; such as settling, heavy wind storms and lightning. However, the most common form of chimney damage is a chimney fire. In addition to chimney damage, older chimneys may be unlined or their liners may be deteriorated to the point where relining is warranted. Many of the older homes in the Greater Baltimore Area have been heated by burning oil. Before home heating oil, coal was the most popular choice (especially in urban surroundings). Both oil and coal leave sulfur as a byproduct of combustion. This sulfur becomes acidic and eats away at the clay bricks or terra cotta tiles which our chimneys are constructed of. This debris falls to the bottom of the chimney flue and creates blockages which prevent the proper ventilation of the heating appliances, causing carbon monoxide to enter the home.

Reasons to Reline:

To repair damage to the chimney, which may have been caused by a chimney fire, lightning strike, or settling, etc.
To upgrade old chimneys which were constructed without chimney liners.
To replace worn, deteriorated liners, which may be allowing smoke, carbon monoxide, or condensation to seep through the chimney walls.
To properly size the chimney for a new more efficient appliance; such as converting from oil to gas heat.
To prevent excessive creosote buildup (and risk of a chimney fire) when venting a woodstove through an existing fireplace.

Stainless Steel -This method of relining involves installing a round or oval stainless steel liner in the chimney. The liner can be either rigid or flexible; flexible liners are used for chimneys with offsets. Swift Chimney Service offers UL Listed stainless steel lining systems that corne with a Lifetime Warranty.

We Can Restore That Old Fireplace or Chimney
If you can dream it up, we can build it. Whether you are looking for a fireplace, chimney, retaining wall, walkway or even a mailbox or barbecue, if it's made of brick, block or stone we can help you design and construct a beautiful and functional lasting addition to your home.

Chimney restoration and reconstruction -whether the chimney is in need of minor repairs or complete reconstruction, Swift Chimney's technicians and masons are trained to help you determine the appropriate course of action. No job is too big or too small, and you'll appreciate our professional craftsmanship and care for your home.

Firebox repointing and rebuilding - The firebox of your fireplace takes a lot of heat and abuse. If any of the bricks are loose or if any of the mortar joints are eroded back more than 1/2 inch it may be time for a repair.

Mortar crown repair -The mortar crown is the concrete-like surface at the top of your chimney. Its job is to shed water away from the flue and also keep water from entering the chimney chase. Cracks or missing pieces in the mortar crown can lead to extensive water damage in your chimney. Mortar crowns may be repaired with traditional masonry products or a specialized waterproof product called FlexCrown.

Protect Your Investment with Waterproofing
There are approximately 40 million masonry chimneys in North America and the most common problems with these structures is water penetration. Water causes over 1 billion dollars in damage annually in the form of staining, loss of insulation value, freeze-thaw damage, deterioration, and ultimately structural failure. All new and existing masonry chimneys are susceptible to water damage and, even if repaired, chimneys will continue to deteriorate if they are not protected.

Water Damage Can Be Prevented
Chimneys are highly exposed to the elements and, if left unprotected, are susceptible to structural deterioration. It is important to address this problem before serious damage occurs.

Superior Technology
ChimneySaver@ comes with a 10 year warranty and is the fIrst water repellent specifically developed to protect chimneys from the severe weather conditions to which they are exposed. ChimneyS aver is a WATER REPELLENT -not a water sealer. The difference could save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in repairs because sealers can actually damage masonry. Unlike waterproofing sealers that remain on the surface and trap water vapors, ChimneyS aver penetrates deep enough to protect masonry from destructive water penetration. ChimneyS aver contains patented siloxanes small enollgh to penetrate most asonry pores up to Y4 inch or more. These special siloxanes form strong bonds with the silica in masonry and concrete. Because of this bonding process, one application of ChimneyS aver provides up to ten times the water repellent protection of typical sealers.

100% Breathable
Moisture from a variety of sources is always present in masonry and concrete. Sealers and silicone coatings form a water resistant surface film which traps water vapors. If these vapors cannot escape, they will contribute to spalling, scaling, deterioration, and freeze-thaw damage. ChimneyS aver is 100% vapor permeable -a non film-forming water repellent that penetrates and lines masonry pores. ChimneyS aver offers the best protection because it releases water vapors and effectively reduces water absorption.

Long-Term Protection
ChimneyS aver is an investment in long-term protection that will help prevent expensive reconstruction. No water repellent, however, is a substitute for good construction and workmanship. The first step in preventing water damage is to make necessary repairs to structural cracks, damaged crowns, flashings, deteriorated bricks, and mortar joints. The second step is to protect porous masonry from further water penetration by applying ChimneyS aver water repellent. Protection is especially needed when a new chimney liner has been installed. If repairs and preventive measures are not taken, the old chimney will continue to deteriorate around the new liner.

Use On All Masonry Surfaces
Not just for chimneys, ChimneySaver@ water repellent is the ideal choice for protecting all residential and commercial above-grade masonry. ChimneyS aver is the best solution for a variety of exterior masonry applications including, patios, walkways, pool decks, and wall systems.

Troubleshooting Chimney Problems: Smoking Chimneys
Sometimes you need to call a professional... and sometimes you don't. Here are a number of tips to help resolve common problems with chimneys.

Constant smoking problems
Constant smoking problems are often the easiest to diagnose while being the hardest to correct. Many constant smoking problems are the result of improper construction or design and may require extensive modification of the chimney system to correct. Below is a description of the common design problems which may lead to smoking problems. Damper is Closed Check to see if the damper is open or functioning properly. More people overlook this than you might think !

Inadequate Air Supply
Open a window or door as close to the fireplace as possible. If the smoking lessens or stops when the door or window is open, the problem is inadequate air supply. Homes today are designed to be as air tight as possible. The flow of air up the chimney cannot exceed the flow of air into the house. All air removed from the room during the burning process must be replaced by fresh outside air. This air would normally enter the house through small cracks in the doors and windows. Many fireplaces being
installed in apartments now come with an "outside air source". A lever or handle will usually be found in or near the fireplace. This can be opened to allow fresh air into the firebox to replace the room air being used. If your fireplace does not have an outside air source one can be installed in masonry fireplaces.

Fireplace Opening is too Large
This problem typically allows the fire to burn comfortably for a while, but the room will become smoky after a time. The fireplace opening should be sized based upon a relationship with the chimney flue. An ideal fireplace opening would be no more than ten times the cross sectional area of the chimney flue. For example if the inside dimensions of the flue are 10" x 10" equaling 100 square inches, th~n the fireplace opening should not exceed 10 times this or 1000 square inches. If a fireplace opening is to large it will allow more air into the fireplace than the flue can exhaust. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to fix. By installing a fireproof smoke guard at the top of the fireplace opening, the effective opening can be reduced. Glass doors could also be used.

The Chimney Flue is Obstructed
Extinguish the fire and look for obstructions. Birds and squirrels nests are commonly found in chimneys and may often be large enough to restrict flow. Soot and creosote can plug or restrict the airflow of others. If the chimney is older, fallen brick or mortar may be obstructing the flue. Any obstructions must be removed. A blocked chimney is a fire hazard and should never be used until completely cleaned and inspected. Chimneys blocked as a result of structural failure should be condemned and rebuilt.

Improper Construction or Design
It is possible that a masonry chimney was poorly designed. If your fireplace consistently smokes and none of the ideas presented above work, it may be that your chimney has design flaws. Please contact our office about this.

Occasional Smoking Problems

Occasional smoking problems are often the most difficult to diagnose, but most are simple to correct, if the problem can be tracked down! A brief description of the most common occasional smoking problems follows. With experimentation and patience we can discover the problem and you may finally enjoy the fire you've been waiting for!

Temperature
If the temperature outside is fairly close to the inside temperature and their is a high pressure cell in the area, you probably do not have enough air pressure in the house to maintain a draft. The only solution here is to wait for the weather to change.

Competing Vents from other Appliances
Check for the existence of competing vents. Kitchen and bathroom fans, or chimneys for other fireplaces or stoves may overpower your chimneys draft by drawing the air they need through the "smoking" chimney. This problem can be solved by ensuring each vent has adequate air flow. If the house is two or more stories, hot air rising and escaping from the top story can reduce the air pressure of the ground floor, and pull air in from the outside, even down the chimney.

Wood Supply
Check your wood. Excess moisture in the wood can be a problem. Dense woods which are hard to light can cause an initially cool fife which can result in poor draft and excessive smoke.

Chimney Height
Measure the effective height of your chimney. This includes only the part of the chimney that is above the point the oodstove is vented into the chimney or the point above the firebox of a fireplace. Any chimney with an effective height of less then 10 feet will generally cause problems. The chimney or flue pipe must extend out of the top of the roof 3 feet as well as being 2 feet higher than anything within 10 feet.

Chimney Caps
Check for obstructions that might form as downdraft. Roof lines, trees, hills, or nearby structures can all cause downdraft problems. When the wind blows over and down around them, the downdraft simply blows down the flue, sending the smoke into the house. A chimney cap will reduce the effects of those near vertical blasts of wind.

Troubleshooting Chimney Problems: Leaking Chimneys

Beginning late each fall and throughout the rainy season we field dozens of calls from homeowners experiencing a tremendous amount of water coming in down and around their chimneys and fireplaces or stoves. We've had clients in newer homes literally ollecting pans of water in the fireplace or wood stove alcove. There are a number of things we look at in diagnosing the source of this annoying and damaging phenomena.

The first thing we evaluate is where the water is showing up. This gives us an indication of where to begin looking for the water entry point. We examine the flashing, the roof around the chimney, the chimney cap and of course the condition of the chimney itself. We can even examine the resistance to water of the brick and mortar itself. This type of comprehensive approach allows us to make intelligent recommendations rather than just trying to make a quick sale and be on our way. Our technicians will go over with you their findings and make appropriate recommendations based on those findings.

Water penetration can lead to damage costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair. Don't let this problem go unresolved.

Every chimney needs a cap. Here's why:
Rain, snow and weather in general are the greatest causes of damages to chimneys. Keep out the weather -as well as uninvited birds and animals -with a chimney cap. We have sizes and designs to fit any chimney and any home style. We offer a variety of chimney guards in copper and stainless steel to fit any need and any architectural style.

Stop Rain
A chimney cap prevents rain from entering the chimney, causing damper and firebox rust leading to expenSIve repaIrs.

Stop Birds
Most chimney guards will not allow birds, bats, squirrels, raccoons or other animals to enter the chimney to nest.

Discourage Backdraft
Where certain wind conditions exist, a chimney guard will discourage downdrafts. Some caps are specifically designed to prevent wind from blowing across the chimney, others actually create an updraft when wind blows through them!

Arrest Sparks
Many chimney caps include 18 gauge wire mesh to reduce the amount of sparks and large ash that is noffilally blown into the air and onto rooftops.

Rely on our Experts!
Where the standard chimney cap does not fit the chimney or is not appropriate, Swift Chimney Service has the expertise to recommend and install the appropriate chimney cap for any chimney or vent. Special caps (for large or unusual sizes), copper caps, wind directional and draft inducing caps and UL Listed caps for manufactured fireplaces are all available. We even can install damper caps that help prevent heat loss and will reduce your heating bills!

top..