Clean Sweep Chimney Service

Friday, June 21, 2013

Milwaukee Chimney Repairs

Many Milwaukee homeowners are under the impression a simple chimney sweep is all they need to get their fireplace up and running.  Yes, your certified chimney sweep should be performing a detailed inspection of all the vital components of the fireplace interior and make chimney repair recommendations to the exterior.  What if you are the homeowner who doesn’t use their fireplace? Or maybe you have switched to a gas insert so you no longer require and annual chimney sweep, how do you know if you need chimney repair.   Here are 5 things you can check on your own to determine the state of your masonry chimney condition and structure.

1. Check for a Chimney Cap

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You don’t even need a ladder for this one, step outside and take a look. The chimney cap’s #1 purpose is keeping rain out of the chimney flue. Yes, it is not a masonry portion of your chimney, but its presence is vital to the survival of your chimney’s interior and exterior.  In 95% of cases needing chimney repair that I find in the Seattle and Bellevue
area, a chimney cap is not present.  Why is this a problem?  Water.  We all know water is the #1 source of deterioration of all home components, rot, mold, mildew, moss, freeze-thaw, etc, etc. Water in your chimney, or in your masonry is always bad news.  If your chimney does not have a chimney cap, its time for a chimney inspection, possibly some repair, and most definitely time to install a chimney cap.

2. Is your Chimney Crown in Good Condition?

IMG_0225The chimney crown is the chimney’s second line of defense against… you guessed it, water.  The crown is the 2″-3″ concrete or mortar slab that has been poured on the very top of the chimney. This covers the top course of bricks of your chimney and surrounds the top flue tiles of each appliance.  Why is this needed? Besides for the aesthetic appeal, chimneys are constructed with a hollow interior surrounding the flue tiles.  This hollow space around your fireplace, and flue liners is very important (but will be left for another blog post). Other than covering the hollow opening of the chimney the brick also much be covered. Most bricks have a somewhat water resistant facing on their front and sides, however, on the top and bottom they are extremely porous. This is vital during brick construction so the mortar can achieve the best bond to the brick top and bottom as possible.  However, when left exposed to the weather the brick becomes saturated with moisture and is exposed to freeze-thaw, moss and mildew.  Wet bricks and mortar joints =  deterioration.  Check your chimney crown for proper construction, proper thickness, cracks or receding edges or corners.  Just like chimney caps, when a chimney has an improper or damaged crown 95% of the time there is deterioration to the chimney structure, and you will need a chimney repair.

3. Do you need Chimney Tuckpointing?

failing mortar joints that need tuck pointingChimney tuckpointing is commonly misused to describe “mortar joints”. “Tuckpointing” is actually a verb and describes the process of repairing mortar joints, this is a common chimney repair service and usually needs to be done on all chimney masonry every 30-50 years.  So how do we know when we need our mortar repaired?  Well, since chimneys are half above the roof and half below the roof, they always deteriorate at different rates. Above the roof the chimney is exposed to harsher weather conditions, colder temperatures, wind, rain, ice, snow.  Below the roof the chimney is much more protected. Not to mention if the chimney is missing a cap or has a damaged crown, the damage will start at the top and slowly progress downward.  Check your mortar joints above the roofline first.  Check for cracks, separations between the mortar and the brick, and finally take a screwdriver and scrape the mortar to see if it is soft or begins to flake a fall away.  Good mortar will barely leave a mark when running your screwdriver across it. Bad mortar will fall away and leave a gouge.  Make your way down the chimney below the roofline and check the mortar there as well.  Any areas where the mortar is soft should be repaired. Chimney tuckpointing can only be done to partially damaged mortar however.  If the mortar joint is left unchecked for long enough it will fail completely through the joint and the bricks will be loose.  Once your bricks are loose, they have to be rebuilt.  Take a hammer or the palm of your hand and tap on some bricks near the top, moving down.  If any of the bricks are loose, those will need to be torn down and re-mortared.

4. Do you have Efflorescence or White Staining?

efflorescenceWhite discoloration on a chimney is a sure sign of a moisture problem and a good indicator of some possible chimney repair.  This is called efflorescence, it is the natural salts in the brick and mortar that are brought to the surface by moisture and then left behind when the moisture evaporates.  This can be removed easily with warm soapy water, however, this w0n’t solve the problem.  The most common causes of this is a missing chimney cap, a damaged or missing crown, and/or damaged mortar joints.  Let your chimney repair technician know where you are noticing the white staining on your chimney for a more accurate diagnosis.

5. Is There Firebox Damage?

firebox damaged, signs you need chimney repairAre there missing mortar joints in your fireplace bricks? Are the bricks loose? or covered in white efflorescence?  These are very common signs of once again, water leaks into the chimney. Your fireplace firebox is constructed of a very fragile type of brick called firebrick. This type of bricks is designed to be porous to provide adequate insulation to prevent heat transfer.  It also is not constructed with just plain old mortar. It requires a special refractory cement to hold the bricks together throughout the high temperatures of your open fire.  This refractory cement however, is water soluble. When these firebox mortar joints get wet, they turn to powder and fall apart.  Loose bricks, missing mortar joints and crumbling firebrick are all sure signs that chimney repair is in your near future.



Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.com

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Milwaukee Chimney Repairs | Clean Sweep Chimney Service

 Summer is here and now is the time to take care of your chimney repairs.  Winter can cause problems with your chimney.  Get it cleaned and inspected before winter comes back.
 Because so many people wait until the weather starts to turn to even think about getting their chimney cleaned, when you call and make that appointment, you will be one of the first people of the season. There’s no waiting for someone to get out to you and most time slots are available so the sweeps come out at your convenience and not when they have an opening in their schedule.


When the heat of summer mixes with creosote, soot and ash it can cause a terrible odor in your home. Add that to down drafts that can come down the chimney appliance and you have a mix for some very uncomfortable, smelly days that sprays and other arousals won’t cover up or eliminate. The short and right answer is to eliminate the creosote, soot and ash as soon as the freeze/thaw cycle is over.
If you add a chimney leak or water of any kind the odor becomes even worse. If this damp mix is left for long periods of time, mold can develop, which can potentially lead to upper respiratory issues.


Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.com

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Warning Signs of Chimney Fire from Clean Sweep Chimney Service Milwaukee

The combustion process when wood is burned is never complete. The smoke from a wood fire usually contains a dark brown or black substance which has an unpleasant odor. This tar-like substance is called creosote and is found almost anywhere in a wood heating system.

At temperatures below 250 degrees F creosote will condense on the surfaces of stove pipes or chimney flues. When the temperature gets below 150 degrees F the creosote deposit will be thick, sticky and similar to tar. This tends to trap carbon from smoke which dries and bakes inside pipes and flues. This flaky substance is very flammable.

Creosote is more of a problem with wood stoves than fireplaces since the exhaust gases from stoves are cooler than those from the fireplaces.

The amount of creosote condensing on the surfaces of the system varies according to the density of the smoke and vapor from the fire (less smoke means less creosote),the temperature of the surface on which it is condensing (higher temperatures reduce chance of creosote condensation) and the type and dryness of wood being burned.


Creosote may build up to a considerable thickness on the interior surface of the chimney and the draft opening may subsequently be reduced. A serious fire may be ignited if creosote is allowed to build up. Most problems with creosote are due to poor chimneys with a low draft and cold walls.

You can reduce the creosote problem several ways. Smoke density can be lowered somewhat in an airtight stove by using small amounts of wood and stoking more often or by using larger pieces of wood. Creosote formation can be limited by leaving the air inlet or stove door slightly open after adding wood to promote more rapid burning until the wood is mostly reduced to charcoal. Then close the inlet as desired.

Allowing this extra air causes more complete combustion lowers the potential creosote-forming gases and generates additional heat to the surrounding area. Vapor in the flue gases may be controlled by using the driest wood possible and using only small pieces of wood during mild weather when combustion is relatively slow. The stack  temperature can be raised by insulating the stove pipe connection so that it cools as little as possible before reaching the chimney. Using an insulated pipe also aids in increasing the stack temperature.

Draft can be increased by having as few bends as possible between the appliance and the chimney, having the proper height and diameter, keeping the chimney in good repair and by having a separate flue for each appliance. Also use proper sized stove pipe. In a large chimney, draft can be increased by decreasing the flue size. This can be done by installing a new smaller flue or a stainless steel stove pipe liner.

In many airtight stoves, a sealed overnight fire will deposit creosote even with dry hardwood. To dry the creosote always open the draft caps and let the fire burn hot for at least 5 minutes every morning and again before bedtime.

Opening the direct draft damper 20 to 30 minutes to dry the creosote in chimneys is a questionable practice. This should only be done in a new or clean chimney and should be done daily or every time you use the wood stove.Allowing hot flame in the chimney at intermittent times can result in a small chimney fire. The heat generated from these hot flames also may cause deterioration of the metal or crack mortar in the chimneys.

Be Prepared for A Chimney Fire

No wood burning system is 100% safe and fire-proof. A safe installation and extra care help prevent fire, but accept the idea that there could be a fire, and be prepared to handle it. Chimney fires are most likely to occur during a very hot fire, as when cardboard or Christmas tree branches are burned or even when a stove burns normal wood but at a higher than normal rate.

Make certain everyone in the house is familiar with the warning signs of a chimney fire --- sucking sounds, a loud roar and shaking pipes. Instruct everyone on what to do in case of fire. Practice fire drills and instruct all adults on how and when to use a fire extinguisher. Put the fire department phone number in an obvious place near the phone.

If you have a chimney fire:

a) Call the fire department immediately.

b) If all the stove pipe joints are tight and no other appliance is connected to the same flue, close all openings and draft controls if you have an air-tight stove. Close the stove pipe damper in a non-air-tight stove.

c) You can attempt to cut off the air supply to a fireplace by using a wet blanket or sheet metal to seal off the fireplace opening. Be careful since a strong draft can make this difficult and dangerous. Use only non combustible materials.

d) If you have a leaky stove or fireplace you may have to wait for the fire to burn out.

e) Get everyone out of the house, and put them to work watching for sparks or signs of fire on the roof or nearby. One adult should stay in the house to check the attic and upper floors for signs of fire.

f) Discharge a class ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher or throw baking soda into the stove or fireplace if the chimney is not sound or there is a danger of the house or surroundings catching on fire. The chemical travels up the chimney and often extinguishes the flame.

g) Throwing water in a stove will cause the metal to warp, but if it's a choice between the house or the stove, use water.

h) Check the chimney after a fire. A chimney fire can range from 2000 to 3000 degrees F which is hot enough to cause deterioration of metal or cause masonry to weaken. Metal chimneys can deteriorate after 2 or 3 fires.

i) If a chimney fire occurs once, chances are that it will occur again. Find the cause.

A problem with frequent chimney fires is the possibility of the framing catching on fire. The ignition temperature of new house framing is about 500 degrees F Over a period of years, as this wood is repeatedly heated by chimney fires, the wood will ignite at a much lower temperature.

Chimney Cleaning

Chimneys need to be cleaned to remove creosote and soot deposits. This will prevent chimney fires and improve the draft as well. How often the chimney is cleaned depends on how frequently the wood burning appliance is used, how it is operated and the type of installation. Some authorities recommend cleaning the chimney after every third cord of wood is burned and most recommend at least once a year. Any time you observe excessive soot and creosote, the chimney should be cleaned. After you once have cleaned the chimney, you may want to check it after 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, etc., to determine how often your chimney needs to be cleaned.
ln addition to cleaning your chimney, a good chimney sweep can act as a inspector for your installation.


Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.comhttp://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.com

Clean Sweep Chimney Service

Clean Sweep Chimney Service specializes in Chimney Cleaning and Chimney Repair. We are located in Southeastern Wisconsin and service Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996.

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