We are often asked for answers to the many questions that folks have regarding fireplaces, gas grills and how to get the best results out of their use.  We hope that you find this FAQ page useful. If you have ANY questions that are not answered here, just go to our Ask the Experts page and we'll get you an answer.  (Just click on the question to be taken to the answer.)

1. Q: Why should I have my chimney cleaned/swept?
    

2. Q: How often should I have my chimney cleaned/swept?
    

3. Q: What is a cord of wood?
    

4. Q: What is seasoned wood and why is it necessary to be seasoned?
    

5. Q: What is creosote and why is it dangerous?
    

6. Q: Why does my fireplace smoke?
    

7. Q: What can be done to stop my fireplace from smoking?
    

8. Q: How do birds get into my chimney and how do you get them out?
    

9. Q: Why is it that sometimes after periods of heavy rain my chimney smells?
    

10. Q: Is it OK to use chimney cleaning logs instead of paying someone to sweep my chimney?
     

11. Q: I’ve heard that dryer vents need regular cleaning just like chimneys, is this true?
     

12. Q: How can I get more heat out of my fireplace?
     

13. Q: What do I look for in a good quality BBQ grill?
     

14. Q: Why should I buy a gas BBQ grill from a specialty store like Chimney King?
     

15. Q: What do I need to know about lighting and operation of gas fireplaces?

1.Q: Why should I have my chimney cleaned/swept?

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission there were some 23,600 residential fires in the 50 states were related to solid fuel appliances and equipment in 1996. An additional 5,500 fires were attributed to chimneys and chimney connectors serving heating systems burning liquid and other fuels. As a result of these fires, 130 people died, 230 people were injured, and total property losses were set at more than $184.4 million.

In addition there were a minimum of 119 deaths from carbon monoxide and at least 4,700 "injuries" reported for the same time frame, though most estimates range much higher.

The root cause of most of these losses is that most U.S. homeowners are unaware that chimneys are an integral part of a home heating system and that they require regular evaluation and maintenance.

The threat of chimney fires and unsafe indoor air quality conditions can be greatly reduced, perhaps even eliminated, if homeowners only understood that chimneys are active home operation systems which require regular maintenance.  

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2.Q: How often should I have my chimney cleaned/swept?

This depends upon the kind of wood you burn and how well it’s seasoned.  In general terms a chimney should be swept for every cord of wood burnt.  If you only burn well-seasoned hardwood and your fireplace/chimney system is designed and working properly, then you may only need your chimney swept every two cords of wood burnt.

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3.Q: What is a cord of wood?

A cord of wood is a stack 4’ high by 4’ wide by 8’ long (128 cubic feet).  A “face” cord is split wood stacked the same as a full cord but the log lengths are generally in the neighborhood of 16” - 20” long (rather than 24” as in the case of a full cord).  This is due to the fact that smaller fireplaces and many wood-burning stoves cannot accommodate logs 24” long.

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4.Q: What is seasoned wood and why is it necessary to be seasoned?

Seasoned wood is wood that has been cut and split and has been sitting outside in a dry area (preferably covered, off of the ground and stacked so there is a lot of air flow), for a full year.  Dry wood burns hot, emits less smoke and creates less creosote.  Wet wood, when burned, must release water stored within the wood.  This cools the fire, creates creosote, and hampers a complete burn.  Ask any experienced wood burner and they will agree: dry wood is crucial to good performance.  Seasoned wood normally has about a 20% moisture content.  There are moisture meters to test wood but generally knocking two pieces of seasoned wood together will sound like a clear “knock”, not a “thud”.  Properly seasoned wood will normally have cracks on the ends of the split logs and will be much lighter in weight than wet (“green”) wood.

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5.Q: What is creosote and why is it dangerous?

Creosote is a highly flammable, oily substance produced by tars during the burning of wood.  When burning wood, especially wet or overly dry wood, some of the unburnt wood particles will go up the chimney and accumulate on the sides of the chimney along with the carbon contained in the smoke.  Water vapor is a by-product of fire and the combination of carbon, unburnt wood particles, and water vapor, create creosote.    Creosote is highly flammable and that is why it is important to have your chimney cleaned regularly. 

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6.Q: Why does my fireplace smoke?

There are numerous reasons why a fireplace smokes: the chimney system is not high enough; the chimney is too small; there is a blockage or restriction in the chimney; the wood is too wet, not properly seasoned; the chimney is on an exterior wall and presents a cooling effect which will reduce the draft; trees or buildings surrounding the chimney can affect the wind, so backdrafting can occur; tightly sealed and well-insulted homes can create a negative pressure within the home causing smoke problems due to insufficient “make up” air supply. 

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7.Q: What can be done to stop my fireplace from smoking?

There is only one guaranteed fix for a fireplace smoking problem: a chimney exhaust fan.  This type of device sits on top of your chimney and when turned on creates a negative pressure within the chimney chamber pulling smoke out of the fireplace and up the chimney.  Other possible solutions are: raising the height of a chimney; installing a smoke guard of the upper-front of your fireplace opening; opening a door or window to allow more air into the home; using a gas fire starter pipe for a few minutes to heat up the chimney; or installing a set of gas logs or a modern, highly efficient fireplace insert that is similar to a wood-burning stove (which will also provide a great deal more heat).

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8.Q: How do birds get into my chimney and how do you get them out?

Some birds like to make their nests in chimneys.  The best solution is to have a chimney cap installed that will not allow birds to get into the chimney.  Some birds, mainly Chimney Swifts, choose the inside of chimneys to build nests and hatch their eggs.  This generally occurs in the June-August timeframe.  Once the babies hatch they get very noisy and sometimes can fall out of the nest into your fireplace.  To have birds removed from your chimney it’s best to call a chimney professional.

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9.Q: Why is it that sometimes after periods of heavy rain my chimney smells?

Water coming into a chimney will be absorbed into the bricks.  More water coming into the chimney will then continue to soak further down creating a very humid condition inside of the chimney.  This can stimulate the growth of mold that will smell musty or like mildew, called “Chimney Breath“.  The best solution is twofold: Have your chimney cleaned early in the spring to make the humid summer days less odiferous; Have a chimney cap installed that will stop the majority of the rain coming into the chimney.  Without a chimney cap, there is no real cure for this problem other than fireplace deodorants that can eliminate or “cover up” the odor.

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10.Q: Is it OK to use chimney cleaning logs instead of paying someone to sweep my chimney?

The following is a section from Chimney Cleaning Logs Position Paper with support from Hearth Education Foundation.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a non-profit, educational institution focused on the prevention of chimney and venting hazards, is concerned about the consumer use of chemical chimney cleaning products to the exclusion of conventional chimney inspections and cleaning. These products often are promoted for their ability to remove a portion of the creosote from a masonry or metal chimney interior through catalytic action when burned in a fireplace or wood stove. The CSIA believes that the use of these products alone is not an adequate substitute for mechanical chimney cleaning and inspection because it does not provide the same level of protection to the chimney system. Current promotional claims for some of the products may be creating a false sense of security among consumers.

It is the consensus of qualified experts that chimney maintenance is best achieved through annual inspections, and mechanical sweeping, by trained professional chimney sweeps as frequently as needed. Chimney inspections often reveal hidden problems with a chimney structure that could be potentially hazardous. Mechanical sweeping of chimneys not only removes layers of creosote from the chimney surface, it removes the resulting loose soot and creosote from the chimney, fireplace, or wood stove.
CSIA believes that the optimal method for cleaning a chimney is by a mechanical brushing of the chimney in conjunction with a complete evaluation of the system by a qualified chimney professional. The CSIA and the National Fire Protection Association recommend annual inspections.

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11.Q: I’ve heard that dryer vents need regular cleaning just like chimneys, is this true?

Yes, dryer vents need regular cleaning to be safe and perform properly.  They should be cleaned yearly and there are two primary reasons why. 

Reason number one: According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission there are an average of 16,700 dryer vent fires a year.  And the number continues to rise.  Why?  Most people don’t know their dryer vents need to be cleaned.  They clean out their lint filter now and then and think that’s it.  But the dryer vent duct is where lint can really build up and get clogged.  And lint is highly flammable, accounting for most dryer vent fires. 

In addition to lint buildup, improper installation of your dryer vent system can also pose a serious danger to you.  A dryer vent cleaning professional will detect potential hazards such as the presence of flammable vinyl duct or a duct run that is improperly routed.  So, ensure  your family’s safety with a professional inspection. 

Reason number two: Lint buildup takes more energy (and money) to dry your clothes.  If your dryer isn’t drying your clothes like it used to, you may not need a new dryer!  A dryer vent clogged with lint reduces airflow so your dryer doesn’t dry as efficiently as it used to.  An inefficient dryer also uses more energy, thereby costing you more money. 

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12.Q: How can I get more heat out of my fireplace?

There are several options to get more heat out of a fireplace.

One of these is an original Pennsylvania fire back.  This is a heavy plate of cast iron, often decorated on the front side, that sits in the back of your fireplace.  The fire back gets hot and radiates more heat out of a fireplace.

Another option is called a Cozy Grate heater.  There is one for wood-burning fires and another for gas logs.  These units have a blower that turns on automatically bringing cool air in from the front of the fireplace, pushing it through a heat exchange system and then blowing warm air back out into the room.  These are very efficient units but require an AC cord coming out from the front of the fireplace to plug into an AC outlet.

One of the best solutions to get a tremendous amount of heat is a fireplace insert.  There are wood-burning and gas units.  These are highly efficient airtight heaters that fit into an existing fireplace.  They have an efficiency rating of around 80% (versus approximately 10% efficiency for an open, natural vent fireplace).  They all have a glass panel, or a door with a window, behind which the fire occurs.  Some of the wood-burning units can burn up to 12 hours on one load of wood and are capable of heating up to 2,500 square feet.  There are also gas units capable of heating up to 3,000 square feet.  The majority of these inserts have the capability of adding a fan for additional heat distribution.

There are also pellet stove inserts that have an overall efficiency of up to 82% and capable of heating up to 2,250 square feet.

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13.Q: What do I look for in a good quality BBQ grill?

There are several factors involved in analyzing a quality grill versus a cheap grill.  One of the primary factors is the warranty.  Does the warranty include the burners, cooking grids, ignitor and heat diffuser plates or rock grate, or just the grill housing?  Does the warranty include the cart, the shelves or any other components?  How long is the warranty period for the different components?

Of course one of the most important factors are the materials and overall construction of the grill.  Are the seams fully welded or just spot welded?  Is the interior of the grill housing a one-piece metal or casting, or is it several pieces somehow joined together?  Are the burners stainless steel, cast brass or chrome steel?  Are the cooking grates enamel coated, porcelain coated or simply chrome steel?  Another important issue is parts.  Are parts and service available from the retailer?

These are all important issues and we can help clarify these in person at our store by showing you the various high quality grills we carry.

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14.Q: Why should I buy a gas BBQ grill from a specialty store like Chimney King?

There are several reasons: warranty, service, parts, various makes and models, quality units, and availability for obtaining grills for LP or natural gas.

Let’s start with the warranty.  Most of the grills Chimney King offers have superior warranties, and we can assist the owner with warranty issues. 

A very important issue: service.  Chimney King has trained sales staff and technicians who are familiar with many makes of grills. 

Parts; Chimney King stocks parts for many types of grills and has the ability to special order many more. 

Try getting any of the above from a “big box” store.

Chimney King also offers grills from various manufacturers to ensure there is a grill that’s just right for you.  The right size, the capabilities you want, and the right price.

Chimney King also carries BBQ grills to work on natural gas, as well as LP, which you generally won’t find at the “big box” stores.

Lastly, our highly knowledgeable and experienced staff are available to answer your questions, regardless if you purchase a grill from us or not.

When you’re in the market for a grill, you owe it to yourself to stop in and talk with us and experience the friendly expertise available at Chimney King.  We haven’t been in business for more than 20 years by just being lucky.

15.Q:  What do I need to know about lighting and operation of gas fireplaces?

IMPORTANT: If your fireplace has a glass panel on the front, remove the glass panel before attempting to light the pilot light!

To light:

First you need to find the gas valve. Generally it's behind a panel, located below the fireplace opening, which folds down when you pull on the top side of the panel. In some cases it might be underneath a removable door in the floor of the fireplace.

You should see a gas valve that has a knob that has three markings on it: "OFF", "PILOT" and "ON".

Turn the control knob to the "OFF" position and wait about 2 minutes. Then turn the knob to the “PILOT” position. (Note: You may have to push the button in slightly to get it to turn to the “PILOT” position.)

Locate the igniter which is generally a button that when pushed generates a spark against the pilot head assembly.

With the control knob in the “PILOT” position, push on the control knob fully (about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch) and then repeatedly push in on the igniter button until the pilot light lights. (Sometimes this make take several seconds if the unit has been turned off for some time).

Continue pushing in on the control knob for 60 seconds, then release. The pilot light should stay lit. If not, repeat the procedure above.

Once the pilot light is lit and has been on for about 2 minutes, you can then turn the control knob to the “ON” position which should start the burner, or allow a wall switch or remote control to turn the fireplace on. (Note: Again, you may have to push in slightly on the control knob to turn it from the pilot position to the on position.)

If the pilot does not light, or won't stay lit, or you are unsure of ANYTHING, turn the control knob to the "OFF" position and call Chimney King or your local NFI certified gas technician for service. Don't take chance with gas if you're not sure what to do.

To Turn Off:

If you are not going to use the fireplace for an extended period of time (during the summer for example), you can turn the control knob to the “OFF” position. Then use the procedures above to re-light the pilot light next Fall.
 

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