Billy’s Little Blog

Your fireplace may be idle when the family is enjoying summer fun, but your chimney likely needs attention. Chimney problems in summer are common, though homeowners often don’t find out until a chimney sweep performs an inspection. Catching chimney troubles early can save serious money on maintenance costs. The CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at Guardian Chimney Read more…

The pleasant woodsy scents created by wood fires in winter are often replaced by stinky odors in the heat of summer. This is a common problem that often has homeowners wondering how to stop summer chimney smells, but there is a bright side. Those persistent smoky, musty, or downright putrid odors can serve as an Read more…

Do you agree that fireplaces evoke relaxation, coziness, and/or the feelings of love, as surveys reveal? The wonderful ambiance created by home fires is just one of the numerous benefits of having a fireplace in your home. The experts at Guardian Chimney Sweep can help you choose the ideal fireplace for your home or convert Read more…

If you have a gas fireplace, you likely enjoy its remarkable convenience and beauty of realistic looking gas logs, but technical glitches are possible. You may find yourself asking, why does my gas fireplace keep turning off or why won’t it light at all? These frustrating problems are not unusual, and qualified chimney sweeps like Read more…

You don’t have to put up with a smelly chimney, though it is a situation that commonly needs to be addressed. Embarrassment and/or unpleasantness usually precede the question, “Why are bad odors coming from my fireplace?” For the best and quickest solution, ask your trusted chimney sweep company, “Why does my fireplace smell?” There are Read more…

There are several important reasons to schedule a chimney inspection before the annual fall rush. Homeowners who recognize the importance of getting the fireplace and chimney ready for the coming winter tend to have the same last-minute timing. Do you dislike avoidable expenses and unnecessary inconvenience? They are among the reasons below to not join Read more…

The multifaceted task of home upkeep has many homeowners struggling over what to prioritize, and it helps to know that few tasks affect safety as much as fireplace maintenance. Chimneys may look sturdy and impenetrable, but they are susceptible to blockage, moisture damage, deterioration, and more. Fireplace maintenance is essential to keep your home and Read more…

Just as freeze-thaw action must be considered for engineering projects in cold climates, chimney damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles is something that Texans in the Houston and Conroe areas shouldn’t ignore. A fireplace doesn’t even need to be in use for chimney damage to cause major problems that require professional chimney repairs. Moisture is the Read more…

Knowledge of a damaged chimney liner is to a chimney sweep much like what a fire alarm is to a firefighter. Action is needed, if not immediately, at least before using the fireplace again because the effects of a damaged chimney liner include life-threatening hazards. It was discovered in the 1940s that chimney flue liners Read more…

If you want to reduce your reliance on nonrenewable energy in winter, adopt a strategy on how to increase fireplace efficiency. The truth is out about the gross inefficiency of traditional masonry fireplaces. Fortunately, you have several sure-fire options for improving the efficiency of your fireplace. As needed, contact the chimney experts at Guardian Chimney Read more…