DIY
Improve Fireplace Energy Efficiency
Posted by Jim Hessenauer on
Don't Lose Heat Up the Chimney You've probably heard the paradox more than once. A traditional masonry fireplace drains more heat from your home than it produces. The design and efficiency of fireplaces has improved over the years, but the fact still remains. A fireplace is often not a cost-efficient way to heat your home. In fact, only 10 to 20 percent of the heat produced in a traditional fireplace goes toward heating your home. The rest goes straight up the chimney. That means that for every $100 worth of firewood you purchase, $80 to $90 of the heat produced...
How to Install a Chimney Flue Damper
Posted by Jim Hessenauer on
7 Easy Steps to Drastically Improve Efficiency In Your Home Stop your drafty chimney from stealing perfectly good indoor air. Heating and cooling gets expensive; a top lock chimney damper can pay for itself in no time. Installing a lock top chimney damper can be a great way to prevent any energy leakage from your home caused by a chimney. Open chimneys can be a major factor in losing heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. Even if you currently have a throat damper in your chimney, which many homes do, it still leaks energy. Throat dampers do not...
Seven Reasons to Install a Chimney Liner
Posted by Jim Hessenauer on
Do I Need A Chimney Liner? Here are 7 Reasons Why You Need to Line your Flue. A chimney liner is a metal pipe which is inserted inside the entire length of the chimney. A liner is an important element of safety in your home whether you burn wood, coal, or pellets. Listed below are some of the reasons you must have a chimney liner installed. Also check out our Chimney Checklist. Prevents Overheating of the Masonry Chimney and Lengthens Its LifespanA chimney liner protects the chimney's masonry and joints from the heat of the exhaust. It also protects the chimney from acidic...
Is Hiring a Chimney Sweep Worth It?
Posted by Jim Hessenauer on
Do you really need a Chimney Sweep? If a scene from Disney's 'Mary Poppins' is what comes to mind when you think if hiring a chimney sweep, think again. Today's chimney sweeps come packed with new technology for old problems. Experts say you'll want to hire a certified company at least once a year to clean your chimney. An inspection and cleaning can cost you more than $200. That price tag might have you wondering, 'Is it worth it?'According to the National Fire Protection Associate, dirty chimneys are a leading cause of structure fires. A 2016 report from the NFPA shows...
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Put A New Face On Your Fireplace
Posted by Jim Hessenauer on
A small change can have a big effect on the look of a room. One change to consider is refacing your fireplace. It’s a fairly straight forward process, and with today’s natural thin stone veneers you get a durable and versatile option, that can be a surprisingly affordable choice, which can help to raise the resale value of your home without much investment. From the Pyramids to the Parthenon, natural stone has long provided inspirational design and durability. Now, natural thin stone veneer can be cut from 100 percent natural quarried stone... so even a thin slice offers some of the same...