Billy’s Little Blog

Keeping your home cool during Texas’ hot summers can force your AC to work overtime. Adding a solar attic fan can make its job easier and reduce your energy costs. Do you realize that your attic can get up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer? Even if you don’t use your attic, these uncomfortably high temperatures can affect you by increase the overall Read more…

According to every home-safety and fire-prevention organization, chimneys connected to wood-burning fireplaces should be inspected at least once a year.  This is not erring on the side of caution, but rather going with statistics.  Among the thousands of house fires every year in the U.S., a high percentage of them start as fires in chimneys. What takes place during an annual chimney inspection? A Read more…

If your chimney was factory-built (as opposed to constructed on-site), chances are it has a chimney chase cover.  If you’ve been operating your fireplace/chimney for many years, there’s also a good chance that the chase cover is showing signs of damage and needs to be replaced.  How can you know if this is the case? Because the chase cover sits at the Read more…

Have you noticed that your chimney seems to be leaning off center? If you take a closer look and notice that there is a gap between the chimney and the siding of your house, it is a clear indicator that your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you: your chimney is tilting. You might have to climb up into the attic to get Read more…

Have you heard of the “Creosote Sweeping Log”?  If you’re a homeowner with a wood fireplace, you may have.  It’s a log product that’s marketed as “the best way to keep your fireplace or woodstove in good condition.”  This is one of those situations where, technically, it’s a good idea, but in practice it may not be all it’s fired up to be, no pun intended. What Read more…

For all the good things a chimney can do, it’s not invincible during cold weather.  Cold affects the structure of a chimney.  Animals and blowing debris can create flue obstructions.  Backdrafts of cold air can happen at the most inopportune times.  Luckily, our expert chimney sweeps offer tips for how to help. Chimney structural damage from rain Under the best of circumstances, bricks and mortar Read more…

It may be called a “fireplace,” but that doesn’t mean that any kind of fire that can be burned in it is suitable and safe.  Every year, we hear about house fires and health issues that stem from using fireplaces as “burn-all” appliances, rather than what they were intended for: seasoned (dry) wood, and nothing else. Here’s a checklist to remind you of the types Read more…

The recommended chimney-cleaning schedule is stated in different ways by different fireplace/safety institutions, so it’s not always easy to know exactly how to proceed if you’re a homeowner who operates a fireplace.  Here are some guidelines in simple terms. Why is it so important to have your chimney cleaned? Using a fireplace – particularly a wood-burning fireplace – sends gases and toxins up the chimney.  Over Read more…

Your chimney is an important safety device that is carefully designed and constructed to protect your home and family while you are enjoying your fireplace or wood stove. In order for it to do its job and keep your family safe, it needs to be regularly maintained and inspected. However, many homeowners underestimate the importance of annual chimney inspections and often miss opportunities Read more…

Do you have a fireplace that’s not being used very much, if at all? Many Houston-area homeowners are discovering the benefits of adding a gas log set to their unused fireplace originally intended to burn wood. If your home has gas capability, a gas log set can make a lovely showpiece all year long. The Read more…