by Marisa Bell | Chimney Maintenance
Before you know it, winter will be here, and families will be gathering beside the warm glow of a wood-burning fireplace. A functioning chimney damper is a vital component necessary whether you are using the fireplace or not. The chimney damper is a metal or iron...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Maintenance
Newly constructed chimneys today are required by law to have a flue liner. They’re not, however, required to also have a chimney cap to protect the chimney. Many chimneys are operated without any kind of covering over the top of the flue, and in every case, trouble is...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Maintenance
Neglected masonry chimneys present a lot of problems for homeowners. They can become unsafe to use, pose a fire risk, cause damage to adjacent home building materials and send dangerous gases into your home while the fireplace is in use. Fortunately, there are ways to...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Maintenance
Gas fireplaces have become increasingly popular in homes throughout the Kansas City KS/MO area. It’s not just a feature found in newer homes. Many homeowners residing in older homes are converting to gas fireplaces for their cleaner-burning, energy-efficiency,...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Maintenance
Tuckpointing is a process that removes deteriorated mortar between the bricks of a chimney and replaces it with a strong new mortar compound. While tuckpointing isn’t something that’s needed on a regular basis, it will almost surely be needed at certain times...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Maintenance
With cold weather expected to arrive in the Kansas City KS/MO and Southern Plains region earlier than usual, many residents are scheduling their annual chimney inspection and cleaning to make sure their fireplace will be safe to operate. However, depending on how...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Services
As anybody who’s lived for very long in the Kansas City, KS/Kansas City, MO region knows, we get our share of extreme weather. We learn to adapt and get used to it, but your chimney isn’t quite as adaptable. Severe weather events can cause significant damage to...
by Marisa Bell | Leaky Chimney
Under the right conditions, chimney flues can be ideal places to harbor mold growth. Mold thrives in dark, poorly vented and damp areas. Your chimney is already dark and poorly vented (compared with an open room in your home, for example). Add moisture from a leak...
by Marisa Bell | Leaky Chimney
Summer storms that dump huge amounts of rain in short periods of time can be problematic for a home causing damage to your chimney system. In fact, if the system isn’t properly maintained, any rain any time can lead to serious issues. Here are some things you need to...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Repairs
Many homes in the Kansas City area have masonry chimneys built with corbeled brick, and homeowners may need to parge their smoke chamber this summer. While your wood-burning fireplace was keeping your family warm and cozy in the winter, the smoke and fumes were...
