We Can Build Your Dream Outdoor Fireplace!
This spring, consider an outdoor fireplace to complete your dream space. The perfect space will be exactly what you need for all of your summer festivities. Holidays, barbecues, family get-togethers, and pool parties can be so much better with a beautiful outdoor fireplace as a focal point! Luckily, we can build it!
Let The Professionals Build Your Fireplace
Can you build your outdoor fireplace yourself? Yes. You can build anything with enough money and enough time on Youtube. However, that doesn’t mean you should, and it doesn’t mean it’s safe! As you’re planning, you’ll likely decide that what you want in a fireplace. Let our professional staff handle all the construction needs!
What Do You Want?
First, decide what you want in a fireplace. Do you want to use it for cooking, for outdoor entertaining, for warmth, or merely the look? Whatever your intentions are for your fireplace, it may determine the best (and the safest) way to construct it.
What Material Do You Want?
Outdoor fireplaces may be constructed of brick or stone. You may want a stone fireplace with a special pattern or certain colors. An experienced mason knows the benefits of certain stone, brick, appropriate mortar and how to build a lasting fireplace.
Location?
Do you know where you’d like your fireplace? The place where you envision your outdoor space may be unsafe for the type of fireplace you’d like. The area may not be stable enough for the type of fireplace you’d like without certain foundational supports. There is a lot to consider when deciding on a location for your outdoor fireplace. Call the professionals to get the most out of your investment and to make the most of your space.
Safety First!
Only the professionals make safety a priority. When you choose a licensed and certified chimney sweep company to build your fireplace, you can rest assured that the entire process is safe, construction is within code, and that structure will be long-lasting. Do not leave your safety up to an amateur. You can find out more about certifications by speaking with your city’s code enforcement office.
At New Buck Chimney Services, your safety is our first priority, and your satisfaction is second. We will not stop until you are happy with your finished product. Call us this spring, so that you can have the outdoor fireplace of your dreams this summer.
Call 318-674-2825 or make an appointment online!
Common Wood Stove Repairs
Not all fire appliances are created equally, and neither are the repairs for them. When it comes to the chimney industry, you probably don’t hear too much about wood stoves, and there is a good reason! Many wood stoves in need of repairs are old and less efficient than new models. Most homeowners would rather just replace a damaged, old wood stove instead of repairing it. However, if your wood stove is still as much a part of your home, repairing would be a wonderful option. At New Buck Chimney Services, we’re experienced and trained in stove repairs, and we can fix yours too!
Common Repairs
At New Buck Chimney Services, we has the expertise and tools to repair your wood stove, whether it’s the glass, motor, blower, gaskets, or vent. The most common issues we see are associated with the blowers, gaskets, and glass, and we’re happy to repair them and get your wood stove back to its full function.
Issues with Blowers
When your blower stops working, your fire will still burn and the chimney will still vent, however, the efficiency of your stove drop significantly as a heat source. The blower pushes the heat out into your living space, turning your fire into a heat machine. Your wood stove needs a specific blower, and it should be ordered and installed by a professional. Make sure you call a certified chimney sweep for all of your fire appliance and chimney repairs!
Gaskets Problems
A gasket is often overlook since it’s not high on the priority list, but it can affect the overall efficiency of your stove. The gasket keeps the door of your stove closed tightly. If your gasket is damaged, loose, or missing, you are probably using more energy than necessary to heat your house, and you may be exposing yourself and your family to carbon monoxide. Do you use your wood stove everyday? If you use your stove daily, you will likely need to replace the gasket annually.
Glass Concerns
Whether your glass is stained or broken, we can fix it. We replace broken and damaged glass, and we also clean clouded and stained glass. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have a problem with your glass. We will return your stove back to its former glory in no time so you can sit and watch your fire clearly.
Do you remember the last time you had your wood stove serviced? Along with the rest of your chimney system, the wood stove should be cleaned and inspected regularly. Schedule your cleaning, repair, or inspection today with us. Give us a call or start an appointment online right now.
Why Schedule a Dryer Vent Cleaning
Did you have your dryer vent professionally installed? Most homeowners do not. Most homeowners purchase the clothes dryer and schedule a store delivery—but this is not a professional installation! Dryer vents have specific safety guidelines, many of which are included in residential fire codes. For instance, did you know:
- Dryer ducts must be 4” in diameter (as large as the dryer outlet)
- Dryer vent ducts should not exceed 25 feet (every 90-degree turn counts for 5 feet)
- Dryer vents are independent systems that do not terminate into other systems, crawlspaces, basements, or attics
- The outside termination hood should have a backdraft damper
- Metal transition ducts should be installed between the dryer and exhaust duct
- Flexible transition ducts should never be used in attics, crawl spaces, or inside walls
Clothes Dryer Fires in the U.S.
In the U.S., there are 2,900 home clothes dryer fires reported each year. These fires have resulted in 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss each year thus far. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the leading cause of these devastating fires is failure to clean them.
However, cleaning the vent trap alone is not enough. Microscopic particles get through the lint trap, can fill the ductwork, back up into the dryer, and result in a fire that puts your home and family at risk.
Signs You Need a Dryer Vent Cleaning
You may need a dryer vent cleaning and not even know about it. Like many, you may assume the problems are due to a worn-out dryer. In most cases, a dryer’s performance problem is due to a maintenance problem. Some of the problems could be:
- The dryer takes more than one cycle – This should never occur in dryers that are less than three years old. Your new clothes dryer should last ten years, according to manufacturers, and if it has a performance problem, it’s likely due to a clogged duct.
- The dryer is hot to the touch – If the dryer, laundry room, or clothes are extremely hot during the cycle and after, your dryer has a ventilation problem. This excess heat should be leaving the dryer by way of the vent duct.
- The laundry room is covered in condensation – Again, the water vapors should be leaving the dryer by way of the dryer vent. If it is backing up into the house, it is a dangerous problem!
What You Can Do
The first thing you should do is check the outlet to ensure the hood is opening and closing while the dryer runs. If it isn’t, discontinue use of your dryer until maintenance is complete. Next, schedule a dryer vent cleaning with a professional. This is a job that some people choose to do themselves, but when you hire a professional to clean the dryer vents, the system is checked properly for damage and safety. This is an important service, especially if it’s never been performed. A clean dryer vent will not only save you money, but it will also prevent clothes dryer fires. When you stop running the dryer for two or three cycles for one load, you will save two or three times the money in utilities, and two or three times the life of your dryer!
Call New Buck today at 318-674-2825 or click here and include your dryer in your spring cleaning as well.
Video Inspections After a Chimney Fire
Many homeowners are surprised by the findings of a chimney inspection. Without the eye and expertise of a trained and experienced professional, some issues may go unnoticed for months or years. Since a large part of the chimney system remains unseen, many homeowners won’t recognize a fire hazard!
Flue Fires Explained
A fire needs oxygen, fuel, and ignition in order to light and to burn. In a chimney, the sides of the flue become covered in soot and creosote which serves as a fuel. With adequate oxygen and ignition from the heat or sparks of the fire, the creosote can ignite fairly easily. However, you’d be surprised how little oxygen is available to the accidental chimney fire. Flue fires often burn out on their own due to lack of oxygen. You may have fire damage without ever knowing there was a fire!
Chimney Fire Damage
Many chimney fires happen quickly and burn out before a homeowner knows it happened. Creosote is made up mostly of tar, so it burns fast and feverishly. A flue fire of any size often results in broken and cracked flue liner and displaced, missing, or damaged mortar. Commonly, the first flue fire causes this type of unseen damage, then the next flue fire may utilize this damage to ignite other materials from the home, resulting in a catastrophic house fire.
Signs of a Fire
It can be difficult to recognize a flue fire, but it’s important to have it assessed and repaired.
There are two types of flue fires:
Free burning fires- Free burning fires are loud as a roaring train or airplane. They are a loud blaze that is obvious and flames or billowing smoke comes out the top of your chimney with dense smoke and a noticeable smell.
Slow burning fires- Slow burning fires often go undetected, burn slowly, and quieter. Signs are dense smoke from the chimney and a hot smell.
What to Do
If you detect a fire in your flue, you can smother it by cutting off the oxygen supply. Close the damper and vents that allow air into your fireplace or appliance. The lack of oxygen will smother the fire and allow you to have the damage assessed before lighting another fire. If you close the damper and your fire is burning in an open hearth, you must leave the house in order to avoid smoke inhalation. It is important to leave the house and call 911 to avoid loss of property or life. If you can do so safely, you can also spray water onto the roof around the chimney. Do not put yourself in harm’s way.
If your chimney has experienced a fire it’s important to call professionals to inspect the damage. A level 2 CSIA inspection will assess the entire chimney system, reporting on damage, big or small. This damage will have to be repaired before you use your fireplace again.
Spring is a great time to schedule your inspection and give yourself time for repairs before burn season. New Buck Chimney Services is happy to do a video inspection if you’re concerned about a fire.
Call New Buck today or make an appointment online.
The Importance of Covering Your Firewood
It takes a lot of hard work to use wood for home heating fuel. Whether you’re cutting, hauling, and splitting the wood yourself, or buying from a local supplier, you are using your time, money, or both, to prepare for winter each year. The last thing you want is for your wood to take longer to season, due to exposure to snow and rain, or for your seasoned wood to become too wet to light a fire and to burn properly when you need a fire!
Wet Wood
There are two types of wet wood—wood that has been rained or snowed on, and the surface hasn’t dried enough to burn properly, and freshly cut wood that hasn’t dried enough (from the inside) to burn properly. Moisture in and on your wood can keep a fire from burning as hot as desired, can cause fuel to burn incompletely, can increase the amount of creosote produced by the fire, and can be a pain in general. It’s best to cut wood, allow it to season, and to keep it dry so that it’s ready when you need it.
Seasoning Your Firewood
You should leave your wood exposed to air and sunlight while allowing it to properly season, but once it’s dry, it should be covered. You should not pack unseasoned firewood into a tight space or shed to dry. Not only will the airflow not be adequate for drying, but the sunlight will not be able to reach the wood either. If you are concerned about precipitation while your wood is drying, you can use a gravel bed for your stack of wood, to keep it out of standing water, and stack it bark side up to allow the water to runoff instead of penetrating the fleshy wood. Once the wood is ready to burn, you can move it into a woodshed or shelter without worrying about air circulation.
Types of Wood Coverings
Many homeowners still prefer the traditional woodshed, but this isn’t a requirement. If you have a tarp or other plastic covering, you can adequately cover your wood pile so that it’s dry when you need it. You can also stack your wood on your porch. Still, others store up to a week’s supply inside the house (though this isn’t recommended due to the possibility of bugs and rodents that a large pile of wood may bring to your living space). There are many ways to build a shelter that is just the right size for a woodpile. A lean-to is a great option for homeowners who have limited space or who may want to avoid the code stipulations of their city for building a structure. A lean-to generally protects the woodpile on three sides, while leaving an open side to allow easy access when necessary. Find more interesting options for storing wood online and even ask your wood supplier.
If you think your wood is the cause of your chimney woes, call New Buck Chimney Services and ask the professionals. Schedule an appointment with the fireplace experts today.
Having Issues With Your Chimney Damper?
Your chimney is a complicated system of parts, pressure, and temperatures that work together for a purpose. If any part of the chimney system stops working, the system fails to vent your fire properly. One important part of the chimney system that sustains damage over time is the damper. It often goes unnoticed until it stops working altogether, because it’s hidden from view. What causes a damper wear-down, and what prevents erosion?
How the Damper Works
The damper is an important part of the system that generally sits at the throat of the chimney. However, top-mount dampers sit at the top of the flue. It opens and closes in order to allow for easy lighting, and to allow airflow up and out of the flue. The damper will ideally have a tight seal when closed, and a firm position of both open and closed. When the damper is worn down due to environmental exposure, use, or physical damage, it may become less effective (with a faulty seal), or stop working altogether (when rusted and stuck in one position).
The Danger of a Damaged Damper
A damaged or faulty damper prevents the fire from venting out the chimney. Even if the damper is stuck in a partial position of open, the fire and ventilation will be less effective because air will not flow smoothly up and out. A damper stuck in the closed position will obstruct airflow completely, causing your fire to struggle to stay lit, and pushing all the smoke and hazardous gases directly into your home! This is a recipe for disaster–and a hospital bill.
Prevent Damper Damage
Most damper problems occur due to neglect. When the chimney isn’t cleaned regularly, the damper becomes coated in chemical byproducts of the fire, which corrode the damper assembly over time. It also clogs, which keeps it from opening and closing fully. Other chimney problems affect the damper as well. A chimney leak can allow your damper to rust and weaken. Spalling masonry or falling clay tiles can damage it physically as well. Just like with the rest of the chimney system, routine maintenance can prevent most of the costs and damage that can occur during the life of your chimney.
Schedule a chimney sweep and inspection and you can rest assured that all of the parts of your chimney system are in good shape. A comprehensive chimney care company like New Buck Chimney Services can gauge your damper wear-down and pinpoint a cause as well.
Have your damper replaced before it causes a major issue for your household. If you are experiencing a smoky fireplace, and troubleshooting hasn’t resolved it, you need to stop using it and call a professional today. If you or a family member has inhaled smoke, seek medical attention.
A faulty damper can be a serious thing–for your chimney and your health. Don’t neglect either one! Let New Buck Chimney Services have a look. Call us today!
Why Mortar Gaps Can Be Dangerous
Do you have gaps in your mortar? This type of occurrence is a common issue over time, even in well-made chimneys. Spalling is a broad term used to describe masonry damage. Cracks in concrete, potholes on roadways—these are examples of spalling. Your chimney is affected by weather in the same way. Masonry is porous, but this makes it susceptible to damage over time, and this damage can put your home in danger if it isn’t corrected.
How the Chimney Works
Your chimney works because of the science of airflow. Heated air rises up the chimney and escapes any way that it can. The porous properties of masonry allow for the gases to escape easily, allowing vapors to pass through the masonry. These vapors and gases are harmful, so it’s important that they’re vented out of the house, and the chimney is designed in a specific way to allow this. Each part of the chimney system has a job to do. The damper can help light a fire, control a flame, and open or close the flue. The cap prevents weather and animals from entering the top of the flue. The flashing and crown protect the rest of the chimney exterior from water penetration. The most overlooked part of the chimney system is the flue liner because it is hidden from view.
The Flue Liner
The flue liner is like your skin. It is an important layer of protection within the chimney system. Besides the masonry itself, it is the largest part of the system, and it also affects everything. The liner’s smooth surface promotes airflow through the chimney system. Its durability protects the masonry from corrosive chemical byproducts that cling to its surface. It prevents heat from transferring to building materials and flammables in the home. The liner also keeps the toxic gases in their place—venting up and out of the house, protecting from smoke inhalation, respiratory distress, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mortar Gaps and Your Liner
If your chimney has spalling masonry including mortar gaps and cracks, your family may be exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning. There is no way for you to tell if your family is exposed unless you call a professional to check out your flue liner. Why does your liner matter? Your chimney may have a clay tile liner, which means that every tile is laid next to the other. The space between the clay tiles can allow toxic gases and high temperatures through the space left by the damaged mortar, creating a carbon monoxide or fire risk. Clay tile liners are safe and effective. Masonry is safe and effective. When the two aren’t maintained properly or repaired promptly, the result can be dangerous and costly.
Prevention is Key
When you schedule your annual chimney inspections, as recommended by industry professionals, homeowners insurance providers, and the national fire safety standards, you will not be surprised by chimney damage or dangers. The best way to prevent a problem such as spalling masonry or chimney liner issues is to have an inspection by a qualified professional.
New Buck Chimney Services inspects chimneys, relines chimneys, repairs masonry, and more. Call us today and find out what we can do for you.
It’s Not Too Late for Your Chimney Sweep
Have you been enjoying a fire in your fireplace since autumn with no problem? It’s quite possible for homeowners to use a fireplace for months or years without maintenance to the chimney system. This is because the chimney will continue to work (with decreased efficiency), and the homeowner may not notice. Eventually, the chimney will become too damaged to use, or result in a devastating flue fire. In mild climates, like here in Louisiana, homeowners may think they use the fireplace too little to worry about a fire. This couldn’t be more wrong. All it takes to ignite a flue fire is a fire (heat), a dirty chimney (fuel), and airflow (oxygen)—and it only needs one chance. You can bring down the risk of fire substantially by taking away one of the requirements of the fire. Clean the chimney, and there will be no fuel to ignite in the flue.
Cleaning Away Creosote
You may not know that you have fuel in your chimney flue. The fact is that every wood-burning fire produces creosote, which rises up the flue with the smoke, and then coats the entire flue system as it goes. Creosote is made up primarily of tar (a highly flammable substance). It is sticky and will continue to accumulate on the flue walls until it becomes a serious obstruction. Furthermore, creosote can heat to a type of boiling point, causing the water to evaporate, leaving only an extremely flammable fuel in your flue called glazed creosote. Glazed creosote is more difficult to remove than ordinary creosote and soot. It is also a problem because a creosote buildup will obstruct airflow, dropping efficiency, causing the heated air to stall in the flue, leading to fire.
What to Expect
When you schedule a chimney sweep with a professional, you can expect the entire chimney system to be cleaned, from chimney cap to firebox—including creosote removal. Also included in a standard New Buck chimney sweep:
- A thorough scraping of the chimney cap
- A thorough brushing and scraping of the firebox
- A thorough brushing of the damper and smoke shelf
- A thorough brushing of the chimney liner
- A vacuuming of the smoke shelf
- A complete level 1 inspection
Trusted Chimney Experts
Best of all, when you schedule a chimney sweep with New Buck Chimney Services, you establish care with the trusted chimney expert. New Buck offers installations, repairs, maintenance, and more. We want to be your comprehensive chimney care experts year-round. Your chimney system will be cleaned, and you can rest assured that it is safe for another year of use. Depending on how you like to use your fireplace, you may have four or five months of fireplace use before the off-season.
Make an appointment with New Buck chimney Services today, or call 318-674-2825.
Protect Your Family from Carbon Monoxide
Signs and Symptoms
The reason carbon monoxide poisoning often goes unnoticed is because the symptoms mimic those of a common cold or flu: a dull headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision, and loss of consciousness. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a life-threatening medical emergency. A slow exposure can cause permanent organ damage, and a fast case can cause death and brain damage quickly. As soon as you suspect a carbon monoxide exposure, seek medical help immediately.
Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
You can prevent carbon monoxide exposure in your home and protect your family from devastating injury or death.
- Schedule routine chimney maintenance so that your chimney system works correctly, venting these hazardous gases out of your house. Routine chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections keep your system working properly.
- Never light a fire in a fireplace that has not been inspected for safety. If you own a new home, do not assume that it was inspected during the home inspection. Realtors and sellers may install a new gas appliance to spruce the place up before a sale, and it was never properly installed or inspected.
- Keep the damper open while a fire is burning in your fireplace. The damper will block airflow through the chimney and prevent proper ventilation of the fire. If your damper is open and your fireplace is still pushing smoke into your living space, it should be assessed by a professional.
- Have your chimney system repaired by professionals only. Do not attempt to make your own repairs or installations.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and check them monthly. Change the batteries twice a year when the time changes or if they need replacing during one of your monthly checks.
It is up to you to protect your family from carbon monoxide exposure. Maintaining the heat systems in your home is half the battle. When you have a carbon monoxide detector installed, you can give your family precious time to evacuate the house before poisoning takes place. Leave the house and seek medical care to be sure, and do not return until the house has been assessed and necessary repairs have been made.
If you have concerns about carbon monoxide exposure or you’re uncertain of the last time your chimney system was inspected for safety, call the professionals today. New Buck Chimney Services can handle all of your chimney needs in Shreveport and surrounding areas. Make your appointment today.
Stainless Steel Vs. Clay Tile Liners
All of the parts of your chimney system are important for safe and efficient chimney function year after year. Your chimney liner is like a human’s skin. It’s one of the largest parts of the system, has an important purpose, and is often neglected and mistreated.
Why Line Your Chimney?
No matter what type of chimney liner you use, it is essential that it is maintained so that it’s in good shape. Chimney liners line your chimney from top to bottom. It can change the size of your flue so that it’s appropriately-sized for new appliances. It also keeps your family safe.
- Your liner protects your masonry from corrosive gases.
The byproducts of a fire are corrosive to masonry. Without a liner, your masonry is in constant contact with corrosive creosote which can lead to damaged masonry and leaks. - Your liner contains the heat from your fire.
As the chimney vents the fire, it also holds heat that can affect the materials of your house. Over time, constant or periodic heat applied to beams can weaken them, leading to a structural issue or fire hazard. - Your liner keeps carbon monoxide from affecting your air.
An appropriately installed chimney lining system keeps the carbon monoxide inside the flue. Without a liner, carbon monoxide can escape through the porous masonry and poison your family.
Types of Liners and Their Use
Homes with old masonry chimneys probably have clay tile liners. These are appropriate for use with wood fires only because they cannot withstand the moisture produced by a gas fire. They are cheap and easily installed but do not last. Clay tile liners need periodic maintenance such as re-lining and joint repairs in order to keep working safely.
Newer structures and systems that have been re-lined may have stainless steel liners. Stainless steel liners are a popular option because they should last 80 years with proper maintenance. They are also appropriate for use with all fuel types, so they’re a great option if you’ll likely convert in the future.
HeatShield® Cerfractory Flue Sealant
HeatShield proprietary Cerfractory® technology is a combination of ceramic and refractory material which can be applied to a damaged flue liner to restore it completely. In fact, HeatShield® can fully restore a clay tile liner, and it will afterward be safe for all fuel types. HeatShield® Cerfractory Flue Sealant can repair joints in a lining system, resurface it, or line it completely through an easy process by a certified technician. If you need a liner repair or installation, give us a call.
Signs You Need a Repair
If your masonry chimney feels hot to the touch or if you find flakes or pieces of clay tile liner, you may need liner repair. If your chimney doesn’t have a liner, you need a liner installation. Your chimney system is not safe to operate without one.
New Buck Chimney Services is experienced and trained in HeatShield® product use and installations as well as installing stainless steel liners. Whether you want a repair, a replacement, or installation, New Buck Chimney Services can be your chimney solution. Call us today to schedule your lining services!
