Masonry Protection This Winter
Masonry is a beautiful feature for many Indianapolis homes, but it does require some TLC. Winters here in Indiana come with blistering cold, snow, and harsh winds. In order to keep your masonry structurally sound and looking its best, there are some steps you should take to protect it from the winter elements. In this post, we explain how you can protect your masonry this winter.
What to Expect From a High Quality Chimney Sweep
A chimney sweep is an annual form of chimney maintenance and prevention that will help keep your chimney is the optimal condition. Chimney sweeps also reduce the risk of a disastrous chimney fire. Hiring a professional like Brick + Ember Outfitters is critical for ensuring a high-quality, effective chimney sweep. However, not all sweeps are created equal. You should be sure to hire an experienced chimney and masonry expert who will perform an exceptional sweep. The highly-trained technicians here at Brick + Ember Outfitters put care into every chimney service including our chimney sweeps. Here is what you can expect from one of our high-quality chimney sweeps.
Comprehensive Service
A chimney sweep is not just a time to clean your chimney, it is also the best opportunity to assess your chimney and catch any small issues before they become expensive repairs or hazards. As part of our top quality service, we include an assessment, sweep, camera inspection and in-depth consultation.
Customized Options
We understand that what every chimney needs is different based on its condition. We offer three levels of inspection based on what your chimney needs. Our levels include:
- Level 1 for chimneys not suspected to have any damage
- Level 2 for chimneys with suspected damage or chimney in newly purchased homes
- Level 3 for chimneys with substantial damage
Expert Advice
At B+E, we do more than sweep your chimney. After inspecting and assessing the condition of your chimney, our experienced team offers you a detailed chimney report with recommendations for your chimney.
Professionalism
A high-quality chimney sweep is also marked with professionalism. Our knowledgeable technicians show the utmost respect for you and your home. We take the proper care to ensure our sweeps are done efficiently and never leave a mess.
Affordability
A high-quality chimney sweep does not need to break your budget. At Brick + Ember Outfitters we offer the quality you deserve at a price you can afford. Cost does not have to deter you from getting your annual chimney sweep with B+E. Schedule your chimney sweep and camera inspection for only $129.
A High-Quality Chimney Sweep with B+E
Here at B+E, we are committed to keeping your home healthy through our fireplace, chimney, and masonry services. We guarantee quality with all of our services, including our chimney sweep. We will not only clean your chimney, but we will also thoroughly assess it and provide expert recommendations. Schedule your chimney sweep with Brick + Ember Outfitters today to protect your beautiful Indianapolis home.
Common Gas Fireplace Problems
Gas fireplaces are common in many modern homes. Many people opt for a gas fireplace because of their simple operation and clean burning. However, there are a number of common issues associated with gas fireplaces. Knowing the common gas fireplace problems will help you when deciding on a new fireplace, determining any necessary upgrades, or best taking care of the one you have. Here we break down the most common gas fireplace issues.
Hazardous Gas Lines
While gas fireplaces do not always require a chimney, they do require running a gas line through your home to the fireplace. A broken gas line or connection may result in a dangerous gas leak. To minimize the chances of a faulty gas line, you should have a professional install and check your gas line.
Smell of Gas
You do not get the smell of smoldering wood with a gas fireplace. Instead, you may actually smell the gas. Natural gas fireplaces may emit a smell akin to rotten eggs, and this odor may actually be a sign that there is a clog or leak in your gas line. Do not try to resolve this problem on your own. If the gas smell is very strong, you should alert the fire department and exit your home.
Strange Sounds
Typically, a few noises from your gas fireplace is nothing to be alarmed about. However, you should take note of any new sounds and when they occur. If you experience a rumbling sound when burners are on, the burners may be dirty and need to be cleaned by a chimney professional. Roaring sounds associated with the pilot light suggest that the flame should be adjusted. Grinding and shrieking noises are often from a fan or blower.
Excess Soot
Soot is a warning sign for a gas fireplace. A problem with airflow can cause excess soot. When too much fuel mixes with too little oxygen, it produced soot. Try adjusting your damper to create more draft, and double check that nothing is obstructing the chimney or vents. If the soot persists, have a professional check your fireplace.
The best way to keep your gas fireplace running smoothly is to consult a professional to assess and maintain the fireplace. Chimney & Masonry outfitters is the trusted Indianapolis professional to help you take care of your gas fireplace. Our experienced team will help you install, repair or update the fireplace of your Indianapolis home. Learn more about how we can help with all of your fireplace and chimney needs by contacting us on our website, calling 317-500-1250 or emailing office@brickandember.com.
How to Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel This Fall
November poses a difficult problem for homeowners who love to decorate: it’s too late for Halloween and too early for the winter holidays. Fortunately, there are tons of ways you can decorate your fireplace mantel this fall that are easy, beautiful and won’t break the bank! Here are 10 ideas to get you started:
1) Pinecone centerpiece: The great thing about fall decorating is that you don’t always need to drive the store to find your decorations. Some are right in your backyard!
Gather some pinecones of various sizes and put them in a vase or a decorative bin. This makes a wonderful centerpiece for your fireplace mantel that is sure to get you in that autumn mood! If you’re looking for even more pinecone-inspired ideas, Vanessa Beaty gives us 25 creative pinecone crafts for fall and winter.
2) Faux-found leaves: Many people love that natural decor look, but unlike pinecones, leaves can bring in unwanted insects into your home and can become annoying to clean as they dry up. So, why not get inspired by them and create a charming decorative piece with twigs and paper leaves?
Karianne from Thistlewood Farms has a great example of how a few sticks and paper leaves can transform your fireplace mantel in a matter of minutes. Plus, it’s a great activity to do with your kids on a rainy day!
3) Hanging chalkboard: One idea that always stands out is buying a small, framed chalkboard with your favorite quote or fall phrase to hang just above your mantel. Worried about your handwriting? Not a problem. Kellie from Nest of Posies has a few autumn-themed chalkboard printables that will make a great addition to your mantel!
4) Brighten up your day with candles: When it comes to your fireplace mantel decorations, candles are an absolute must. If you’re concerned about accidental fires, don’t be... these candles are just for show anyway. But with so many different styles to choose from, your biggest problem will be not going overboard!
For example, you have this birch bark candle holder that is as beautiful as it is easy to make. Target also has some wonderful, cost-friendly candleholders that will go perfectly with your fall-themed decorations.
5) Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins: Some things in life are cliché for a reason and pumpkins in your fall decorations are no exception. But rather than the larger pumpkins you used for your jack-o-lanterns just days prior, mini-pumpkins are definitely a better choice for your mantel this fall.
And if you find them too boring to just sit there their own, you’re not alone. That’s why Sara Diekelmann put together a list of 18 ways to decorate with mini-pumpkins! Spoiler alert: the “circle of gords” would look great over any fireplace mantel!
Maybe it's your outdated mantel that's keeping your home from looking its best this autumn. At Brick + Ember Outfitters, we know a mantel is the signature piece for any fireplace. So whether you’re redecorating or simply trying to add an updated look, a mantel can transform your fireplace.
Contact B+E today for a mantel installation assessment. Our fireplace Outfitters will arrive on time and discuss your needs. We gather your vision and then ask questions to ensure the mantel is how you have envisioned it. Then, bring on the decorating!
5 Fireplace Safety Tips for National Fireplace Month
Summer is over and fall is bringing cooler weather which means that fire season is right around the corner. And while there’s something warm and charming about chestnuts roasting by an open fire, the reality can be far more dangerous if you don’t take the right precautions. Every year, there are nearly 375,000 house fires causing 2,600 deaths and injuring 12,975 people.
One of the biggest culprits for starting house fires is, of course, the fireplace. Since it is officially national fireplace month, we want you to know how to keep you and your family safe this upcoming winter with these 5 fireplace safety tips!
1) Never leave a fire unattended
Master poet Robert Herrick once said, “A spark neglected makes a mighty fire.” This is certainly the case when it comes to using your fireplace. The process of combustion, though usually controlled, releases a lot of energy and can occasionally emit embers from the fireplace. As such, someone should always be in the room if there is a live fire, even if it is contained in the firebox.
Also, sometimes a fire’s energy outlasts our own and we head to bed early. When this is the case, it is important to know how to properly extinguish a fire before calling it a night!
2) Keep an extra watchful eye on your children
Children can be a handful, especially at a young age. Besides just preventing your children from getting burned (which is always the main concern), children will sometimes touch a hot coal and instinctively throw it; unfortunately, they don’t always throw it back into the fireplace.
Anytime you have young children in the same room as an active fire, there needs to be an adult present even if the child is at the other end of the room. It’s also good to research ways to protect children around fireplaces before fire season begins so you and your family can be as safe as possible!
3) Presents should be far from present
No matter what holiday you celebrate in the winter months, they will likely involve presents. Wrapping paper, cardboard, and ribbon are highly flammable and will quickly ignite if sparked. Though it may be less decorative, presents (and a tree for those who celebrate Christmas) should be kept far away from the fireplace to avoid loose embers sparking a fire.
Also, once the presents are unwrapped, be sure to avoid burning the paper as this can cause larger fires than anticipated. Furthermore, wrapping paper tends to send more embers floating through the air than firewood. So rather than trying to dispose of all that wrapping paper, it’s a lot safer (and better for the environment) to simply throw it in the recycling bin.
Which leads us to our next tip...
4) Only burn firewood
For some reason, some people confuse their fireplace with an incinerator. In other words, they think that anything can be safely burned in the firebox. This is simply not true. The only thing that should be burned in your fireplace is seasoned firewood which was made for that purpose.
If you are unfamiliar with types of wood not to burn, here are 8 kinds of wood that should never be put in your fireplace.
5) Get your chimney inspected before the season gets underway
Last, but certainly not least, it’s important to have your chimney inspected before the fire season starts. Your fireplace and chimney are made up of 7 distinct parts, all of which need to be undamaged for the system to function safely. Many homeowners simply aren’t able to diagnose serious problems like cracks or creosote buildup as well as a trained professional can. Be sure to have your fireplace inspected at least once a year before you begin using it.
Final thoughts
Every year, homeowners use their fireplaces for warmth and decor. While most families enjoy their winter season without any problems, the tragic reality is that hundreds of thousands aren’t so lucky. To ensure that your home and family are well protected, follow these 5 fire safety tips.
Finally, if you’re located in Central Indianapolis, contact Brick + Ember Outfitters today to schedule your appointment and set yourself up for a long, warm and, most importantly, safe winter season!
What is Tuckpointing?
If the three little pigs taught us anything, it’s that brick is definitely stronger than hay or sticks. But that doesn’t mean brick structures are impervious to damage. When you find the mortar in between your bricks needs to be replaced, you’ll likely need to repair the wall with a masonry technique called “tuckpointing.”
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Do I Need a Chimney Cap?
Most homeowners love their fireplace. It serves as a nice, warm spot to read on rainy nights or the place where the family gathers on those cold holiday mornings. And while people know the big picture requirements for owning and maintaining a chimney (like annual inspections and sweepings), they often forget to think about the little things. One such detail is the chimney cap.
Chimney caps are an interesting topic because they’re cheap, easy to have installed, and all too often ignored. To most, if a chimney cap didn’t come with the house, they hardly give the idea a second thought. In fact, one of the most common questions we get is, “Do I need a chimney cap?” Here’s the 100% honest answer:
No, you don’t need one. But you really should have one.
Having a chimney cap will likely not lead to anything as catastrophic as ignoring inspections or letting creosote build-up, but they do serve some very functional purposes for homeowners. The most common reasons for installing a chimney cap, however, are to prevent animal/debris blockage and to provide better protection against harsh weather.
Prevent animals from entering or nesting in your chimney
A big issue for homeowners is having their local wildlife find an entrance to their home via the chimney. While the extent of this risk is dependent upon where you live, it is not uncommon to have squirrels or even raccoons (the latter being a more serious threat to young children) crawl down the chimney and into a home at night. More often than not, however, the real problem is when birds decide to build their nest at the top of your fireplace which is either a gas or fire hazard depending on the type of chimney you own.
Another problem that can arise is having that autumn foliage drift into your chimney. Leaves changing can be beautiful, but a buildup of dried leaves can also become an annoying nuisance needing to be cleaned or even a serious fire hazard.
The bottom line is that you don’t want anything blocking the path above your fireplace, and chimney caps can be the perfect solution.
Weather
When you think about it, a chimney is literally a hole in your roof connecting to your house. It’s designed this way to allow smoke to exit your home, but it works both ways. If there is heavy rainfall, you can expect water to enter your fireplace. More often than not, this is a minor annoyance, but on nights with heavy rain, you can have several inches of rain enter the room where your chimney has been installed. Wind is also an issue to take into consideration. Besides the annoying “howl” that can sometimes be caused by wind blowing through your chimney, your house also becomes susceptible to cold drafts cooling the room—which is ironically the exact opposite of what you want a chimney to do in the first place.
Final thoughts
Installing a chimney cap is not an expensive project, so it’s always surprising to see homes without them. While it may be tempting to install a chimney cap yourself, it may be worth hiring a professional to do so. Installation isn’t difficult, but not all chimney caps are created equal and some serve more specific purposes than others which is something that most hired contractors will be able to help you with.
If you’re located in Indianapolis, contact Brick + Ember Outfitters today to schedule your appointment and learn just how easy it is to get a chimney cap installed today!
When is the Best Time of Year to Get a Chimney Sweep?
The amount of work for a homeowner seems endless. Besides just the weekly tasks like mowing lawns or cleaning floors, there are also seasonal chores like fertilizing grass or shoveling snow. All of these jobs are important for keeping a happy, safe home but there’s one in particular that sometimes slips through the cracks: getting a chimney sweep.
Most people forget they need to have their chimney cleaned for a few reasons. First, because this is something that is only done annually, it isn’t a part of any “spring cleaning” routine and by the time you remember, it’s probably too late. Second, all the dirt and grime that has been building up in your chimney is hidden from view, so there are no unsightly reminders nudging you to clean throughout the year.
But having your chimney swept is an important part of home maintenance and ensuring safety for your family. So the big question remains: “When is the best time of year to get a chimney sweep?”
Spring, Summer, or Fall?
A lot of homeowners assume that the best time to clean your chimney is just before autumn or early fall. Since you don’t use your fireplace much in the summer, wouldn’t it make sense to have your chimney cleaned right before you begin using it again so it’s in pristine condition when you do?
Surprisingly, no. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Here’s why:
The main reason you have to get your chimney cleaned/inspected is to prevent creosote from building up. Creosote is a tar-like substance that is highly combustible which forms during the burning seasons. Due to the nature and formation of creosote, letting it sit during spring and summer only gives this flammable substance time to harden, making it a bigger nuisance (and fire danger) as time goes on.
RoofTopChimneySweeps.com explains this well when they say, “Because you don’t use the fireplace all summer, there’s no possibility of creosote building up before the fall. If a chimney is not used, it will be exactly as clean six months later as the day you cleaned it.”
In other words, waiting until fall to get your chimney cleaned means you’ll actually have a bigger, more expensive job on your hands because early stage creosote (which resembles dust) is much easier to remove than third-degree creosote (which resembles a hard rock).
Another bonus of not waiting for fall is that you’ll avoid being put on long waitlists and enjoy more flexibility from your contractor. As NearSay.com points out, “During the spring, your contractor has more flexible scheduling available. If they find something that needs attention during your chimney inspection, then they can fix it immediately. This is also an opportunity to handle any time-consuming chimney repairs if necessary.”
So, when is the best time for a chimney sweep?
There is no “bad” time for cleaning your chimney and cleaning it in summer or early fall is certainly better than nothing, especially if you forgot to have it done last year. However, the best time to have your chimney cleaned is in the spring, just after the burning season. Making this a regular habit as part of your home-owning responsibilities will ensure that you have a clean, safe chimney all year long!
If you’re located in Central Indianapolis, contact Brick + Ember Outfitters today to schedule your appointment and get your chimney cleaning booked today!
Why Can't I Clean My Chimney Myself?
Old jeans? Check. Long broom? Check. That ugly shirt your mother-in-law gave you for your last birthday? Check. So you’re all set to clean out that chimney before winter, right?
Maybe not so fast.
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Why Is Creosote Dangerous For Your Chimney?
A lot of people have heard that creosote is bad for their chimney but haven’t really taken the time to learn why—or worse, they simply don’t care. But understanding what creosote is and why it is dangerous for your chimney is incredibly important for knowing how to prevent costly and potentially life-threatening fires in your home.
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