This is Your Chimney on Dookie!…

August 20, 2018 | Information

At Chimney Champions®, we frequently get calls about things not working properly. During one of our recent calls, a client indicated that for some reason, they couldn’t get their damper to open.⊗ WARNING! ⊗ The pictures below are not for the faint-of-heart!During the course of our inspection, we found that our client’s damper was wedged shut due to the amount of “debris” left behind by Chimney Swifts. That’s right, folks! “POOP.” “DOOKIE.” “NUMBER TWO.”Call it whatever you want – either way, it’s nasty stuff!The picture on the bottom-right shows some of the chunks that came out from the client’s smoke chamber and damper area. A total of THREE trash bags and SIX vacuum bags were used to clean up after the little guys.This excrement is extremely hazardous to your home AND your health!Birds aren’t the only things that can make their way into your chimney; Raccoons, Rodents, Bees, and plenty more environmental elements … Continued

CHOP and SHOP: Tips for Choosing the Best Firewood, Tinder & Kindling for The Most Efficient Fire

July 18, 2018 | Efficiency

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIREWOOD: Does it Really Matter? Yes, it really does. Choosing the right type of wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove involves many factors. When the firewood was cut, for instance, can play a role in whether or not it is the right wood for you. The more recently the wood has been cut, the more water it contains. Well-seasoned wood is dryer and is therefore easier to get started, and produces a hotter, cleaner burn. Firewood should always be stored outdoors, off the ground, and with some type of overhead covering to prevent direct contact with rain or snow. This area should be well-ventilated to allow the air to circulate and dry the wood out. Firewood that has been stored properly and cut at least six months before burning will produce a much better burn.Many think the most important factor to consider when selecting firewood is what … Continued

It’s Breeding Season for Federally-Protected Chimney Swifts!

July 5, 2018 | Inspections

Thinking of Removing Birds from Your Chimney? …Not So Fast!!Every year, the appropriately-named Chimney Swifts migrate to North America from Peru during springtime, and commonly build their nests inside of chimneys. Their glue-like saliva allows them to attach their nests onto the inside wall of your chimney. This species of birds (Chaetura pelagica) is federally-protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, therefore it is against federal law to remove or disturb them – or their active nests – during their breeding season without a Federal Migratory Bird Depredation Permit. Breeding season typically lasts until around the end of the summer, but you can check out this interactive migration map to learn more about their migration habits!Though their chirping can be loud and bothersome, Chimney Swift hatchlings typically leave their nests around 30 days after hatching. To help prevent the youngsters from falling down your chimney shaft, you should make sure your … Continued

The debate continues… are ventless fireplaces safe?

February 20, 2018 | News

We recently did a Level 2 Cleaning and Inspection for a buyer of a beautiful new home – at least new to the buyer! Unfortunately, they were very concerned about the fact that the home had a fireplace, yet had no chimney. No chimney, you ask? Yes, no chimney.One of our favorite things to do is educate clients about fireplaces and chimneys, so we were glad to have this opportunity to share what we know about ventless fireplaces, which are becoming more common in the Jacksonville area only recently despite having been sold in the United States since 1980.

Fire Extinguisher Recall – do you have a Kidde in your Home?

November 5, 2017 | News

In a voluntary agreement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, fire extinguisher manufacturer Kidde has recalled more than 40 million fire extinguishers due to a defective plastic handle. The extinguishers can become clogged or require excessive force to activate, posing a risk of failure. There have been 391 reports of Kidde extinguishers failing to function which have resulted in one death, 16 injuries, and 91 reports of property damage. This may not seem like much, and it’s true that you seldom have a problem that requires need of a fire extinguisher… but when needed, they must work!