Lower Temps, Higher Risk!

January 22, 2019 | Information

When it’s chilly outside, it’s nice to make your home warm inside. This is the time of year when everyone looks to use their fireplaces for quick warmth and relaxing ambience. Unfortunately, however, this is also the most common time of year for house fires caused by dirty fireplaces. Just this past weekend, Savannah Fire Rescue had to cut holes in a Tatem Street home to put out a chimney fire. The fireplace was dirty, and long overdue for a professional cleaning and inspection; however, it was used anyway.Firefighters everywhere see this sort of problem more than you may realize – even in Florida!This is a common danger that can be easily prevented by having your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected by a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep, and making sure it is safe BEFORE using it. Call Chimney Champions® at 904-268-7200, or book online to schedule your service today!

Chimney Champions: How Do I Sweep My Chimney? A Jacksonville Homeowner’s Guide

October 10, 2018 | Information

Chimney Champions is a Jacksonville, FL chimney service company staffed by CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® technicians who are members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. The company performs annual chimney sweeps, inspections and repairs for Jacksonville homeowners and trains its technicians annually through CSIA, CVC Coaching and All Star Relining. Chimney Champions is also IAC2 certified and operates in compliance with NFPA 211. This guide explains what Jacksonville homeowners can do between professional cleanings and where a DIY approach must stop. These supplemental tips are not a substitute for a professional chimney sweep. Do not attempt any self-cleaning if your fireplace has never been professionally inspected and confirmed safe for use. Why does a chimney need regular cleaning? Creosote, soot and debris collect inside a flue every time a fire burns, and leaving that buildup in place makes it harder to remove over time. The Chimney Safety Institute of America … Continued

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SAFETY WEEK 2018

September 12, 2018 | Information

SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 6, 2018 IS NATIONAL CHIMNEY SAFETY WEEK!According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are over 20,000 residential chimney fires each year, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs… AND PREVENTABLE INJURIES AND DEATHS!Keep your dryer vents clean, always make sure your home has Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors, and change their batteries regularly! You should always keep fire extinguishers in your home, but be sure to check them periodically for recalls! While fire is an obvious danger that we should all take seriously, it is not the only hazard to our fireplaces. Click here to check out one of our recent blog posts, and see for yourselves just how bad a system can get when vulnerable to animal intrusion.These are some of the reasons Chimney Champions® wants to help you protect your home and family. Be sure that your fireplace is CLEAN AND SAFE before using it this … Continued

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

Chimney Champions: When Do Chimney Swifts Leave in Jacksonville?

July 5, 2018 | Inspections

Chimney Champions is a Jacksonville, FL chimney service company staffed by CSIA certified technicians and a National Chimney Sweep Guild member. This page explains when chimney swifts leave, what federal law requires of homeowners while the birds are present, and what chimney service steps to take once they are gone. What are chimney swifts and why do they nest in chimneys? Chimney swifts (Chaetura pelagica) are migratory birds that travel from Peru to North America each spring and commonly build nests inside chimney flues. Chimney swifts use a glue-like saliva to attach small, cup-shaped twig nests directly to the interior wall of a chimney flue. The species is federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to remove or disturb the birds or their active nests during breeding season without a Federal Migratory Bird Depredation Permit. When do chimney swifts leave the nest? Chimney swift hatchlings … 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!

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