3 Facts About Efflorescence

June 16, 2021 | Chimney Basics

Are you starting to see a white powder form on the exterior of your chimney? This residue is called efflorescence, and it’s not uncommon for homeowners to think that this is just a sign of an aging chimney. However, it’s a sign that your chimney needs an inspection, and the professionals at Chimney Champions want you to know that efflorescence should not be ignored. In fact, it could be a sign of a larger issue with your chimney, and definitely should be inspected. Here are several facts you need to know about this white, powdery substance appearing on your stack.

Top 3 Causes of Chimney Odors

February 12, 2021 | Chimney Basics

We rely on our chimneys to provide us with warm and cozy living quarters. One thing we never expect is for them to give off a foul odor. However, chimney odors are fairly common and have various causes. The good news is that most of these foul odors can be eliminated by calling the chimney sweeps at Chimney Champions. Here are the most common odor complaints for homeowners in the Jacksonville area.

3 Signs of a Chimney Fire

November 10, 2020 | Chimney Inspections

On average, there are roughly 25,000 chimney fires every year, causing more than $125 million in damage. Still, many homeowners don’t realize that they need to have chimney inspections performed regularly. It’s very likely that you’ve had a chimney fire and haven’t even noticed. That’s where the team at Chimney Champions comes in. We can inspect the entire structure of your chimney and tell you whether or not you’ve experienced a fire in your chimney.

3 FAQs About Chimney Sweeps

August 15, 2020 | *Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

At Chimney Champions, we get a lot of questions about fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney sweeps. While safety is our number one priority, so is providing additional education and resources. If you have a fireplace in your home, educating yourself on features and safety precautions is essential. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive as trusted chimney sweeps.

A Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Chimney

March 17, 2020 | Chimney Basics

There’s no better time to get your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional chimney sweep than right now. Spring is here, which means more rain, more pests, and probably some much needed deep cleaning. So, why not have your chimney cleaned and inspected as well? Although doing a complete spring clean is a lot of work, it can end up being a great payoff. With the help from the team at Chimney Champions, you can rest easily, knowing your flue and stack are moisture damage free and sealed up tightly for the hot summer months ahead.

Chimney Care – Masonry Smoke Chambers

March 25, 2019 | Technically Speaking

Just above the visible area of your fireplace is a smoke chamber that aids in efficiently removing smoke from your home. While newer homes typically have smooth (parged) smoke chambers which are much more efficient, older fireplaces have a stair step pattern and are more likely to build up creosote. This informational video from HeatShield explains the differences and how they impact the performance of your fireplace and chimney system: If you need to have your smoke chamber parged, be sure to contact a CSIA Certified Chimney Professional to ensure proper repairs. Parging your smoke chamber is a simple fix and will not only produce a more efficient system, but will also bring your fireplace up to current IRC and NFPA211 standards.

Stages of Wood Combustion

February 19, 2019 | Technically Speaking

Stage 1: The Evaporation of Moisture Anyone who has ever tried to burn wet or unseasoned wood will find this stage very frustrating. During the moisture evaporation stage, instead of producing heat, heat is absorbed. Water trapped inside of the wood is turned into steam and removed from the wood. Once this process is complete, it leads to Stage 2. Stage 2: The Vaporization of Hydrocarbon Compounds Stage 2 we still are not into the heat producing phase (maybe a tiny bit) but we are close! At this point, we are over five hundred degrees and temperatures are on the rise. The chemical structure of the wood starts to break down and the process of pyrolysis begins. Pyrolysis “liberates organic gases and leaves carbon rich charcoal”. This process also creates a mixture of hydrocarbons in the form of liquid tar droplets and combustibles gases, and digging in is very complex. … Continued

How often should I remove ash from my fireplace?

January 21, 2019 | Training and tips

This is a question that comes up a lot when talking to homeowners about fireplace maintenance. The first assumption would be to remove the ash between each fire, but the this is actually not the optimum timeframe. A one inch layer of ash on the floor during heating season is actually what is recommended by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. The layer of ash works with the hot coals and creates more heat to fuel the fire, helping in a cleaner burn. While around one inch is a good number to stick with, if the ash starts building up too much, it can trap hot coals between the fireplace grate and the ash, causing premature deterioration of the grate. It is also the important that if you have a ash dump that it has been inspected and is free of combustibles. Also, do not dump your ash until it … Continued

The daily battle for a chimney sweep, staying clean

January 20, 2019 | A Day in the Life

Daily and Long-Term Hazards Staying safe is a constant concern for a chimney sweep. Not only are we on roofs, in attics, and crawl spaces, we also have to worry about the hazardous long-term effects of creosote to our bodies and prevent inhalation and interaction as much as possible. Creosote is a natural byproduct of combustion but it comes with a nasty side effect for humans with long-term exposure to it, cancer. Skin cancer, lung cancer, and testicular cancer are the most common for a chimney Sweep to content with. Skin cancer from constant cleaning and repairing systems covered in creosote and let’s not forget clothing. Lung cancer from inhaling creosote while sweeping a system or even after the service with soot floating around in the work vehicle. Testicular cancer you would think would be the strange one but take into consideration the amount of creosote that can get trapped … Continued

A day in the life – Can’t beat the views

January 12, 2019 | A Day in the Life

A Chimney Sweep in Jacksonville has a dirty and sometimes dangerous job but you really can’t beat the views. It can be easy to get caught up in the everyday hustle and bustle and forget what is truly important in life. Sometimes it is necessary to take five minutes and just sit back and reflect and in my opinion a rooftop can be the best place to do that (just don not fall off)! Sometimes the only unfortunate thing is the beautiful view on the way home is observed in exhaustion from a hard days work! View or no view it may sound corny, but I have been lucky enough to find something in life that I truly enjoy and I appreciate every single customer that has hired and trusted me to make sure their fireplace was safe for their family to use. My repeat customers will notice that during … Continued

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