Celco Heating and Air Conditioning Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Fireplace Repair’

Do You Have These Fireplace Problems?

Monday, March 14th, 2022

Fireplaces can bring an amazing amount of warmth and comfort to any home during the cold winter months. But if you don’t take good care of them or schedule regular fireplace repair in Fairfield, CT, this part of your house can cause quite a bit of trouble.

To keep your chimney in shape, it is essential to have it inspected at least once annually, according to the Chimney Institute of America. However, if you use your fireplace frequently, you may require more than one inspection in a year.

Whether you need fireplace repair or maintenance, it’s important to choose the right contractor so you don’t end up with more problems down the road due to poor installation or repairs. But how do you know that your chimney has issues before calling an expert? Here are some problems to watch out for.

Tags: Fairfield, Fireplace Repair
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How Can I Tell if My Fireplace Is Venting Properly?

Friday, December 19th, 2014

Fireplaces can add extra heat to your home during the winter, but if the fireplace isn’t venting properly, you may get a whole lot more than extra heat. Understanding how your fireplace vents can help you see the signs of poor fireplace ventilation more quickly, so we’ll explain this below. However, if you are seeing obvious signs of problems every time you use your fireplace, such as smoke blowing back into your living space, it’s time to call your Celco Heating and Air Conditioning technician and schedule fireplace repair in New Haven, CT.

How a Fireplace Drafts

Fireplaces and chimneys work on the principle that hot air rises. In a fireplace that works correctly, the hot air and toxic byproducts created by the fire will rise through the chimney and exit through the top; as this happens, the airspace that opens from this venting is filled with cool air. The cool air feeds the fire, warms up and then exits through the top of the chimney. Correct drafting creates a cyclical effect that will continue until the fire goes out.

Problems That Interfere with Venting

There are a few ways problems with your fireplace and chimney can affect venting:

Blockages in the chimney – when something is physically blocking your chimney, the drafting process is completely interrupted. Common blockages are insect and animal nests, an incorrectly-sized flue cap and faulty dampers.

Backdrafting – negative pressure is part of the drafting process in your chimney. However, if there is negative air pressure in the room where your fireplace is, the opposite can happen: instead of the hot gases and combustion byproducts being sucked up the chimney, they are sucked back into your room.

Firebox is too small – fireboxes and chimneys need to be in correct ratio to one another in order for proper venting to occur: for every 10 square inches of firebox, there should be one square inch of chimney flue. Additionally, the firebox should be no more than 1 inch from the back of the chimney. If the ration isn’t correct, the soot and gases from a fire could backup into your home.

If you have questions about your fireplace, or believe you may be experiencing a problem with your fireplace’s venting, contact Celco Heating and Air Conditioning today.

Tags: Fireplace Repair, New Haven
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Why Does Smoke Come Out of My Fireplace?

Sunday, January 19th, 2014

Although an open flame inside a house seems like a great danger, modern fireplaces are really no more hazardous than any other heating system you might have installed in your home. Fireplaces are constructed with insulation that confines the spread of heat, and ventilation that keeps any exhaust away from your living spaces. You should only get cozy warmth from your hearth.

However, like any heating system, a fireplace will sometimes need repairs. One of the clearest signs of this is when smoke comes out of the hearth and into places where it does not belong. This means something is wrong with the ventilation that is supposed to remove the smoke and you will need professional chimney repair technicians to look into the problem. Call Celco Heating and Air Conditioning for fast and effective fireplace repair and other heating services in Westport, CT.

Here Are Some Reasons Your Fireplace Smoke is Leaking Into Your Westport Home

Creosote build-up

The most common problem that wood-burning fireplaces face is creosote, the black shiny substance that starts to develop across the hearth and chimney. Creosote is residue from incomplete burning of wood, it is highly flammable. If creosote grows too thickly in your chimney, it will make it harder to properly vent the smoke from your fire. You need to have it professionally cleaned.

Cracking

The lining inside your chimney traps the smoke and heat so it goes nowhere except up and to the outside. If the bricks and mortar start to deteriorate (often because moisture seeping inside), cracks will develop that will permit smoke to start seeping out to places it shouldn’t. Eventually, fire could start escaping as well, so have the chimney repaired as soon as possible.

Broken damper

A damaged damper can become stuck in place. This will block off the flue and send smoke back through the fireplace. The damage can be warping, corrosion, or mechanical failure like a broken counter weight. If you’re unsure about how to fix the damper, call in professionals: you don’t want to take chances. Make certain that your fireplace is a source of joy and warmth for you this season, and not a source of concern.

When smoke starts to enter your home from your fireplace, take action and call for fireplace repair in Westport, CT.

Celco Heating and Air Conditioning has worked on fireplaces since 1976; let us put that experience to work for you.

Tags: Fireplace Repair, Westport
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Common Fireplace Repairs

Friday, December 6th, 2013

Although fireplaces are the oldest of all ways to heat a home, they still last longer on average than modern heating systems. A lot longer—sometimes through multiple generations. You may live in a home with a fireplace that’s much older than you. However, fireplaces do not survive that long without help. Even the sturdiest-built hearth and chimney can begin to fall apart if left without regular maintenance and proper repairs. If you get into the habit of thinking that your fireplace is indestructible, you may end up receiving an unpleasant surprise and find yourself without that cozy winter blaze. To help you stay warm this winter without any unexpected interruptions, we’ve decided to draft some of the most common fireplace repairs we encounter in Stamford.

When you need to have your fireplace repaired or maintained, call up our specialists at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning.

Some common fireplace repairs

Sealing cracks: The stones, bricks, and mortar in your fireplace should be able to weather the high temperature from the fires. If cracks begin to develop, it could mean a problem with your fireplace’s efficiency. It might also signal that water is seeping into the bricks, freezing, and then expanding. Water leaks are their own serious problem.
Stopping water leaks: Leaks inside the fireplace can come from cracks, but also from damage along the roof. Sometimes, repair technicians will need to replace mortar entirely in the upper fireplace to prevent further leaking.
Fixing ventilation problem: You should immediately call for repairs if you notice smoke wafting into your home when you have a fire going. This could mean trouble with the damper, collapsing mortar, or blockages.

Call fireplace experts for repairs and maintenance

Fireplace repairs involve knowledge of bricks and mortars, as well as other specialized skills. Often, repairs will require access to the chimney on the roof. You shouldn’t attempt repairs or investigation into possible repairs on your own. This is a field for fireplace technicians to handle.

Technicians can also provide you with regular maintenance: you should have your fireplace inspected annually to help catch the build-up of potentially dangerous creosote as well as the beginnings of damage like cracks.

Contact Celco Heating and Air Conditioning when you need fireplace repair or any other heating service in Stamford, CT, as well as regular maintenance. We have 24/7 emergency services for any problem you experience with your fireplace.

Tags: Fireplace Repair, Stamford
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