The Chimney Inspection Process

For homes that use a chimney to push out exhaust heat, it's important to have regular inspections done on the chimney to make sure it is both structurally sound, and also to make sure that the airway is not obstructed in any way. Issues with either can raise safety concerns and increase the chance of a chimney fire in your home.

In some cases, a visual inspection will be sufficient. An inspection specialist can come in, take a look at and in your chimney, and conclude that things are working properly, and that your chimney can continue being used. There are other cases where a more thorough inspection needs to be completed. In these, a camera is used to look at the inside of the chimney and survey its interior for any potential issues. Areas that are great for video inspections include the smoke chamber, as well as the flue -- two areas that are responsible for many chimney fires that take place.

Interested in having New Jersey chimney inspection performed at your home? Get in touch with Guardian Chimney today. You can read us toll-free at (888) 688-1388.

Importance of Chimney Inspections

Not only is it important to have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis, but it's also a very good idea to have your chimney inspected. If you make a major change to your home, or you experience one that's out of your control, an inspection, such as a Level 2 chimney inspection, should be one of the first things you schedule.

One of the situations you should schedule a chimney inspection for is when you make a change to your heating system. This can be change from a wood-burning fireplace to a gas fireplace, or some other change that results in your chimney acting as an exhaust for a completely different type of heating system. It's important that your chimney is inspected to make sure it's safe to work with your new system.

Another situation is when your chimney flue is relined. Should this occur, you'll want to make sure nothing about your chimney was compromised during the process.

If you add or replace an appliance in your home that makes use of the chimney, this is another good time to have your chimney more thoroughly checked out.

Finally, if your home endures a heavy storm, whether it's wind, rain, snow, or hail, it's a good idea to have your chimney inspected by a professional once the storm has passed. It could have shifted or sustained damage during the storm that isn't visible to the naked eye, and operating your chimney in this condition could put you and your home in danger.

Schedule your New Jersey chimney inspection today by making a call to Guardian Chimney. You can reach us by phone, toll-free, at (888) 688-1388.

The White House Chimney Sweep

Photo credit: ericspitznagel.com

Did you know that the White House has a chimney sweep? For the past 19 years, through three presidential administrations (two terms of Bill Clinton, two terms of George W. Bush and one term so far of Barack Obama), Jeff Schmittinger of Waukesha, Wisconsin has cleaned the White House's 35 chimneys. The best part? Schmittinger has done it for free.

His job started in 1993, when he volunteered to clean the chimneys after hearing how bad the country's federal deficit problem was. President Bill Clinton took him up on his offer, and Schmittinger has been handling the duties ever since.

Does your home need a chimney cleaning of its own? Get in touch with Bergen County chimney sweeps Guardian Chimney today by calling (888) 688-1388.

Chimney Sweeps Celebrate in England

A 400-year tradition, the Sweeps Festival, was revived in 1980 and has been running strong for 32 years in Rochester, England. The festival, which harkens back to the Victorian chimney sweep days of old, includes Morris dancers and a Jack-in-the-Green ceremony that helps it stick to tradition. Here are a few photos from the festival (photo credit: Huffington Post).







The profession of the chimney sweep is a proud, storied tradition and we're always happy to see its roots celebrated. Need a chimney sweep of your own? Contact Bergen County chimney sweeps Guardian Chimney today at (888) 688-1388.

100-Year-Old Letter to Santa Found in a Chimney

When a home goes a long time without a chimney inspection or cleaning, it tends to build up quite a bit of soot and dirt. It can also hold some mysteries that are a century old -- at least, that was the case for a homeowner in Dublin, Ireland.

During the installation of a central heating system in his home, John Byrne found this letter on a shelf inside his chimney.



The letter, written in 1911, was left for Santa Claus, and was written by two children who had lived in the home over 100 years ago. It asks for very simple things; a waterproof hood, a baby doll, and a long toffee, to name a few. One thing is for certain -- with a routine chimney inspection, this letter would have found much sooner!

Get in touch with Guardian Chimney today to schedule a Level 2 chimney inspection. You can reach us by phone at (888) 688-1388, or complete our contact form online.

Fun Chimney Sweep Facts

The chimney sweep trade traces back several centuries. Here are a few fun facts about chimney sweeps that we've collected.

• It is apparently good luck to see a chimney sweep on the day of your wedding. This story can be traced back to one lucky chimney sweep who fell off the roof while working, but fortunately became caught on the gutter. A young woman pulled him in through a window, and the two fell in love and later married.
• The town chimney sweep used to walk the streets on New Year's Day with a pig in tow. Why? Pigs are supposedly good luck charms, and chimney sweeps are as well (see the above fact).
• Chimney sweeps are often depicted as fellows who wear suits and top hats. They did not try to dress in such a fancy manner on purpose, however. Originally, chimney sweeps started to wear suits and hats because they were passed down to them by far more wealthy undertakers.
• The term "light a fire under you," is thought to have originated from the use of small children as chimney cleaners. Many of the children understandably did not enjoy being forced to clean chimneys, and some sweep masters would force the children into the chimney flue and then light a fire to "help" them reach the top of the chimney. It was a cruel practice that did not stand the test of time, thankfully.

Does your chimney need a good cleaning? Get in touch with the team at Guardian Chimney today! You can call toll-free (888) 688-1388, or complete our online contact request form.

A Brief Chimney Sweep History

The profession known as "chimney sweeping" really took off in England in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this time, the fireplace was catching on as a great way to keep homes heated in cold temperatures. In fact, the English were such big fans of fireplaces that they started having them installed in every room of the home for optimal heating. The multiple fireplaces often connected via a maze of pipes to one chimney, and these pipes became dirty and clogged with soot very quickly.

Thus, the chimney cleaning industry was born.

Chimney sweeps initially swept chimneys at no cost to the homeowner. Instead, the chimney sweep sold the soot from the cleaning to farmers as fertilizer, and profited that way. When chemical fertilizers started to become popular, chimney sweeps were forced to begin charging for their services. They did quite well, too -- it's said that over 1,000 chimney sweeps served Victorian London.

Times are obviously a bit different now. We have multiple sources of heat, such as gas and electricity, that are more popular, but the chimney sweep trade still survives, and keeping your chimney clean is just as important in 2012 as it was in the 1700s. If you're interested in having your chimney inspected and cleaned, be sure to contact Guardian Chimney today at 1-888-688-1388.