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Dirty Chimney South Carolina

EDUCATION FROM DIRTY CHIMNEY, LLC:

If you are building, selling, or buying a home, thinking of modifying a fireplace or replacing an insert & it has a firebox & flue (gas, solid fuel, pellet, or stove) or if your water heater or boiler is venting into a chimney flue,  it is required to have a Level 2 Inspection per NFPA 211.  We are not just a Chimney Sweep & Dryer Vent Company, we want to help educate our communities on “Fireplace Safety”. Our chimney inspectors are the premier Certified Chimney & Dryer Vent specialists in South Carolina, North Carolina & Tennessee.  We inspect Water Heater vents, Bathroom Exhaust fan vents, Dryer ducts, Transition ducts (located behind the dryer), and Fireplace & Chimney Vents. If you are a Realtor, Home Inspector, or an individual completing a transfer of sale and need a Chimney or Vent inspection (Level 2) and/or cleanings call Dirty Chimney, LLC today!

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), defective smoke chambers are the third leading cause of chimney-related house fires. For the safety and efficiency of your fireplace, it is important that any gaps, cracks, or holes in the smoke chamber be sealed and to make the brick corbelling smooth. Because the smoke chamber is a “High Heat” area, any gaps, cracks, or holes can allow excessive heat to attack any surrounding wood or combustibles. The jagged corbelling slows the draft and will provide more surface area for highly combustible creosote and soot to form. Feel free to give Dirty Chimney a call to schedule your yearly Inspection. 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 211…The standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances 2019 Edition 11.2.1.13…”The inner surfaces of the smoke chamber shall be parge coated smooth, with an insulating refractory mortar…”

2018 International Residential Code – Fireplaces And Chimneys R1001.8…”Smoke chamber walls shall be constructed of solid masonry units, hollow masonry units grouted solid, stone, or concrete… The inside surface shall be parged smooth with refractory mortar conforming to ASTM C199″

Certain homes have water heater tanks that vent into a masonry chimney flue, through a wall, or up through the roof to release the toxic gas carbon monoxide (CO) – the poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It’s important to have the flue inspected & cleaned if necessary. The flue gases can deteriorate the clay flue liner and cause it to break the tile. Dangerous carbon monoxide gas can be forced into your home through open mortar joints, broken flue liners, and flues blocked by debris.

Cleaning dryer exhaust ducts has become an important service that many homeowners do not yet recognize as necessary. Homes that have a clothes dryer and exhaust on an exterior wall are easily maintained. However; there are many others, especially in new construction, that are improperly installed and represent a real risk of fire. The duct may be vertical or horizontal, it may go under the house or into the attic, or be hidden in the wall or ceiling. It is important to understand how they should be installed. Because the duct is usually 4″ in diameter, the slightest deposit can reduce the ability to exhaust properly. The problem is not usually the dryer, but rather the exhaust system. Removing lint deposits will normally correct the problem. It is required that dryer ducts and transition ducts be inspected & cleaned annually by NFPA 211. Call Dirty Chimney to have a Certified Inspection & Cleaning performed on your vent today!

A dirty, damaged, or blocked chimney can lead to a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. That’s why Dirty Chimney, LLC, and the National Fire Protection Association recommend that homeowners have chimneys checked annually. 

“Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”

This is a national safety standard, and it takes into account the fact that – even if you don’t use your chimney much – animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe. 

Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic here is that the deposits are quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace by corroding the different components of the prefab system. 

Chimney Fire

Chimney Fires can be prevented with an annual chimney inspection/cleaning per NFPA 211

Chimney

Properly surfaced crowns can prevent moisture damage and deterioration to your chimney.

ARE YOU HAVING DRAFT PROBLEMS?  CALL DIRTY CHIMNEY TODAY TO INSPECT FOR BLOCKAGES IN THE VENTING SYSTEM.

Photo of Chimney Sweeping Specialist
Certified Chimney Sweep
Dryer Exhaust Technician Certified
National Chimney Sweep Guild
Chimney Needing Cleaned Example

DO YOU THINK YOUR FLUE LOOKS NORMAL? ANNUAL INSPECTIONS WITH A CHIMNEY CAMERA CAN CATCH POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO KEEP YOUR HOME SAFER WHILE BURNING THIS YEAR

Chimney Needing Cleaned

NOT ONLY DOES DIRTY CHIMNEY INSPECT FIREPLACES & CHIMNEYS, WE ALSO INSPECT WATER HEATER VENTS & BOILERS VENTING INTO A CHIMNEY FLUE.  YOURS COULD BE HINDERING SURPRISES LIKE THIS ONE!

Dirty Chimney Needing To Be Cleaned

IS YOUR CORBEL UNPARGED AND YOU’RE SEEING SMOKE COMING BACK INTO YOUR HOUSE? THIS IS DUE TO UNPARGED CORBELS.

CALL DIRTY CHIMNEY TODAY TO INSPECT YOUR FIREPLACE & CHIMNEY

I’m Having a Home Inspection Done Prior to Closing – Do I Really Need a Chimney Real Estate Inspection, too?

Home inspectors are good at what they do. They have enough knowledge about every aspect of the home to be good at knowing what obvious things to look for. The problem is that a large portion of the chimney system is not visible to the naked eye, and those hidden areas are where a lot of fire risks and performance issues arise.

If you want to be confident that the chimney system in your new home is in good working condition and ready for continued safe use, a simple look at the exterior of the chimney from the ground and a look at the fireplace with a flashlight is simply not good enough. You need something more exhaustive and detailed.

That’s why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 211 recommends chimney inspections when buying/selling or even building a house.

Are you a realtor? Provide additional value to your clients, set them up for success in their new homes, and give them peace of mind by recommending a real estate inspection. The feeling that comes with knowing you saved your clients hundreds or even thousands of dollars on repairs and made their home life safer is as good as it gets!

Stone Fireplace

Why Is My Fireplace Smoking?

A smoky fireplace can be a serious inconvenience. The moment smoke starts pouring back into your home, the enjoyment of the evening is gone. You go from relaxing and sipping your favorite beverage to opening windows and trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Smoke can stain your furniture, drapes, and walls, cause coughing fits and respiratory problems, and – because it contains carbon monoxide – it can make you sick. Of course, when you’re waving away the smoke, you’re not thinking about all that. You’re thinking ‘Something’s wrong’ and wondering why you can’t just have a relaxing night by the fire. 

Well, you’re right: Something is wrong. It’s not normal for your fireplace to push smoke back into your home. But we can help you figure out what might be going on, so you can fix the problem and once again enjoy the relaxing warmth you hoped your fireplace would provide.

Call Dirty Chimney to go over some of the most common causes of a smoky fireplace and what can be done about each.

Fireplace Needing Cleaned
Fireplace Service

SMOKE GLAZED GLASS IS A SIGNAL YOUR FIREPLACE OR STOVE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY & SHOULD BE INSPECTED and FLUE SWEPT!

CHIMNEY INSPECTION WITH SWEEP

803-455-CHIM

Chimney on Roof

DIRTY CHIMNEY CAN REPLACE YOUR FLASHING TO PREVENT LEAKAGE AND DAMAGE TO YOUR CHIMNEY & STRUCTURE!
**ANY REPAIR WORK ON EACH CHIMNEY IS SEPARATELY PRICED.

CALL TODAY 803-455-CHIM

Old Fireplace

ALLOW DIRTY CHIMNEY TO INSPECT YOUR WOOD STOVE FOR PROPER CLEARANCE AND IF NEEDED, PROPER PARTS REPLACEMENT

CHIMNEY INSPECTION WITH SWEEP

CALL TODAY 803-455-CHIM

BBQ Grill  & Firepit  Inspections

City and County Building Inspections

As new property is developed and the remodeling of existing property takes place, it is common for a Public Inspector to inspect the work performed. This process is commonly misunderstood and can raise a few questions.

What Are They Looking For?

The Building Codes are the minimum requirements for life and safety. They are looking for violations of this minimum standard as they perform their inspection.

Does This Process Ensure Compliance?

An inspection by a Public Entity is not intended to ensure complete code compliance. This process is a form of checks and balances. The Contractor is liable for their action and should know the building codes and understand any manufacturer’s requirements. The job of the City or County Inspector is to perform a spot check of the work performed to ensure a reasonable level of compliance.

What Percentage Does the Inspector Cover?

The truth is that the Public Inspector may have an opportunity to inspect five to ten percent of the entire project. It is not possible for the Inspector to sit at the job and observe all work performed. The inspector may have anywhere from ten to eighteen inspections a day. A certain percentage of the work is likely to be correct based on the Contractors knowledge. However, the Public Inspector is also likely to find a few items that need correction. This process does not guarantee 100% compliance. There will be violations missed that may be out of view or outside the Inspectors specific knowledge.

Then Why Do We Pay For Permits?

This process assists in the detection of code violation but is not an assurance of proper installation or construction. The Public Inspector will attempt to detect as many violations as possible but does not have the time to catch them all. This process helps to police the construction industry and ensure some form of quality.

Is The Public Inspector Liable?

It is not likely that your local Public Inspector or any Public Entity is liable based on the typical Government Codes. Most Government Codes indicate that “a public entity is not liable for inadequate inspections” and that they are “immune from intentional misrepresentation”. However please note that there is a good reason for this. If they were liable, then you the consumer would be paying for their defense with your tax dollars. There is no way that any insurance carrier would supply coverage for an inspector that only looks at five to ten percent of the entire job. It is truly unreasonable.

How Can We Ensure Compliance?

The only true way to ensure compliance is to have a private inspection of all aspect of construction. If you decide that this is the direction for you, then you should be sure that the inspector(s) you choose have specific knowledge of the separate systems within your dwelling. Be sure to ask for the inspector’s experience, C.V. and the proper professional liability insurance for inspections. Remember that it is not the number of years in business that ensures quality. It is the time they spend achieving professional education that defines a Professional Inspector. For Professional Fireplace & Chimney Inspectors visit www.dirtychimneysc.com

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