Many homeowners see water in their fireplace after a huge rain storm. The winter freezes, expands bricks and causes openings for rain entering the chimney. The milder weather melts the ice locked in the masonry. The mortar has expanded and left a void for rain water to enter.
The brick and mortar is cleaned before sealing the chimney
Firstly, the chimney cap and the bricks with mortar are cleaned and scrapped for loose particles and debris. Any holes and openings found are patched with sealant designed for this exact purpose. Secondly, the entire structure is water sealed to prevent further decay after the holes and cracks are sealed.
The chimney will last for at least 10 years once sealed. However, the leaking started years ago and when left under served created the water in the fireplace.
Many happy customers tell us their problems were solved after we sealed and secured their chimney. Water in the fireplace will destroy gas log burners, dampers and interior flooring quickly.
Also, is the chimney cap leaking?
Some builders cut corners on the quality of chimney caps. For instance, the good ones are made from stainless steel and coated to prevent rust and leaks. Over time, the chimney cap not sealed can leak. Caps are blown off in a high wind because they were not secured properly. This will lead to instant leaks from a heavy rain storm.
Before installation of a wood stove hearth pad, here is why it is critical to properly size and lay down a hearth pad. This protects from embers and fire. Even with an enclosed fire cabinet, hot glowing embers will pop out of the stove when new wood is added or adjusted. For all of our wood burning stoves Clear Chimney installs, we provide these hearth pads as part of our service.
These embers will ignite carpet or wooded floors if not caught in time. Your family’s safety depends on keeping these embers off of combustible surfaces. Let’s explore the various wood stove hearth pad installations available.
Hearth pads come in many sizes and shapes for your room
Your chosen wood stove and chimney service company provides options for different types of pads. The code requires at least 18″ from every side of the opening be protected. If you are installing a wood stove on a wood floor, the pad will protect the floor. For carpeting, we suggest going farther out, just in case a wild ember pops. It is worth the extra money to protect a room of carpet. You have a significant investment in your wood stove. Don’t go cheap here.
What configurations are available in hearth pads?
Hearth pads come in many different sizes and shapes. The standard shape is square. Remember, one and 1/2 feet from the opening is required. The other sizes often have an edge cut off for looks. Corner units are often used as the stove is out of the way. The material is stone or slate or a concrete material. The outer rim is wood or metal. The bottom has a soft pad for protection. Therefore, before you order with us, consider the design aspect, too.
Flagstone and slate are the common materials used on hearth pads. The top is either a flat shine or a shine buffed to stand out more. The highest cost are Venetian inlay black patina hearth pads. These are beautiful and are the top of the cost of hearth pads.
What do wood stove hearth pads cost?
The cost depends on the size, shape and materials of the hearth pads. We provide many different looks for your wood stove. The bottom end of a pad installed starts around $500. Most of the pads we install are around $1800 out the door complete. We do install a few that run $2500 on the high end. With so many options, we will help you blend cost with functionality.
Cameras used in chimney inspections are often cited as the reason the price for a chimney sweep is so high. Here is the truth about cameras. The technology is absolutely amazing. Marry up the old plumber camera with the new wi-fi cloud storage systems and this is a vital addition to your chimney’s analysis.
Now, home buyers demand a complete chimney cleaning to sell a home. The next level in peace of mind is a camera view into the chimney system. Better yet, the pictures and video are saved to a file for email or cloud storage. Tip – ask your insurance company if this inspection lowers the rate for homeowner insurance.
Here are the advantages to using a chimney camera as part of a platinum chimney cleaning service. First, you will avoid the fly-by-night folks that offer a chimney sweep scam. These companies will not invest the money for a high quality camera to use in the inspection. These cameras are several thousands of dollars in cost. So, yes, there are folks that are using the camera to boost the prices of their sweep. The fact is an honest, reliable chimney sweep company will simply use a camera as another tool to a better service to their customers.
The second advantage is the tight spaces these cameras can see. They will identify small gaps in the bricks and transitions. Therefore, this allows for a fix before the problem gets out of control.
What do fire professionals think about chimney inspections?
Recently, we discussed the chimney inspections with a member of the Roane County TN fire department in our home area. He pointed out that several houses just recently burned down due to a build up in creosote. These homeowners had no idea that the chimneys were in critical need of an inspection.
Finally, many homes can be saved if we can get the word out about the Platinum Chimney Sweep Service using a camera for inspection. Call us today and ask about the sweep service with our camera. Peace of mind is simply a phone or text message away.
