After a high winds, tornados or sever thunderstorms we have people call and asked us to come and inspect the chimney for possible safety issues that might have been compromised. The CSIA recommends that you have your chimney inspected once a year but after a natural disaster in you area, in might be a good idea to make sure everything is in good working order. High winds from thunderstorms or tornados can cause debris to crash into the chimney chase, flue or chimney cap and cause a very dangerous situation when you burn a fire. An inspection will also determine if water is leaking into the chimney chase and can be repaired in less time and less expense compared to waiting for months to repair. Remember that you families safety is very important and make sure you look for signs after storms that might need expert attention. Have a safe and happy new year.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Inspection, Chimney Safety Institute of America, Chimney Services, fireplace safety

Advanced Chimney Sweeps, Inc. was founded by a certified Georgia firefighter in 1989. Our company provides a variety of services including chimney sweeping, chimney inspections, chimney repairs, prevention of creosote build up and the removal of old rusted chimney caps and rain pans throughout the Cherokee, Cobb, Gwinnett, Dekalb and North Fulton County area. Some of the cities we serve: Atlanta, Marietta, Woodstock, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, Acworth, Smyrna, Dunwoody, Duluth, Norcross and Canton. Our staff priorities are safety and customer satisfaction. We are ready and willing to help with any questions you may have. We offer a NO MESS GUARANTEE and are glad to give free telephone and email estimates in the above stated counties. We are dedicated to exceeding your expectations. We stay up to date with the codes and regulations throughout the North Georgia area. We are fully licensed and insured to provide you with chimney services from A to Z.

We are a company that upholds traditional values and ethics while at the same time we embrace 21st century techniques and equipment. Our superior service is second to none and we look forward to building relationships that last a lifetime. Your safety and satisfaction is our primary goal.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., advnaced chimney inc., Chimney Caps, Chimney Cleaning, chimney sweeping, Chimney Sweeps, Creosote Buildup, Fireplace Cleaning, georgia, Rainpans, woodstock

As Winter grips the northern states, it is important to make sure that your fireplace is up to the task of keeping your family warm and safe. Before using your fireplace, it is important to bring in professionals to have your fireplace inspected. It is the home owner’s responsibility to make sure that the fireplace is checked and inspected prior to use. Failure to have the fireplaces checked can have severe consequences.

Having the fireplace cleaned is the most common maintenance done every year. Soot can build up in the fireplace chimney. Birds and rodents may even build nests within the shelter of the dormant chimney. If the chimney is not cleaned, the results could be disastrous as all of these chimney contaminants could cause fires. Soot and other debris may burn hotter than the rest of the air in the chimney and create dangerous hot spots.

The integrity of the chimney also needs to be inspected. Chimneys can sustain damage that may allow smoke and burning embers into the confined attic spaces they are run through. This creates a very serious hazard that could be easily avoided by a simple inspection of the chimney. Some chimneys have retardant material inside and outside. Visual inspections may show damage that will need to be repaired.

The cap of the chimney should also be inspected to make sure that it is intact. The chimney cap blocks hot embers from escaping the chimney and potentially setting fires. Some caps have screening set around them to keep out animals that may try to get into the chimney. Animals can get into your home, or worse, become trapped within the chimney.

Imagine if the worst case scenario occurs, such as a fire breaking out and causes damage to your home. If your fireplace was found to be in disrepair, there is a chance that the insurance company will deny claims on the damage. This could lead to delays in getting repairs made that may lead to even further damage. It is the home owner’s responsibility to make sure that a fireplace is maintained, prior to use.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., advnaced chimney inc., chimney sweeping, Chimney Sweeps, Fireplace Cleaning, georgia, Winterize Fireplace

If you have a home with multiple chimneys, you need to use chimney caps to protect the building. These are simply metal structures that can be fitted over the top of the chimney. They have gaps in them to allow smoke to move out around the sides, but they block the top completely. They are often referred to as “crowns” for the way that they perch on the top of the home. You will find that these can really do a lot of good.

Keeping The Elements Out
The main benefit of these is that they prevent snow and rain from getting into your house. If you have an uncapped chimney, the precipitation can just come straight down and into the fireplace. Sometimes, it can come into the home. With a cap, these things are stopped before they get inside even though the smoke can still get out. You never want to just put a piece of wood or metal over the chimney on your own, or you could fill the home with smoke.

Reducing Animal Entry
The next benefit is that animals will not be able to get in. Mice and other varmints like to climb on rooftops, and they could climb down the chimneys if there are no chimney caps. The same is true for birds. These can cause a lot of damage. At the very least, you have to remove them.

Preventing Further Damage
You should also remember that rain and snow can cause future damage. They can cause the chimney to corrode and to mold, for instance. Animals can damage the inside of the home. Preventing them from entering eliminates this threat.

Saving You Money
As you can imagine, having chimney caps can actually save you a lot of money. You will not have to pay to remove animals from the home. You will not have to pay to repair the damage that can be caused by the elements. Your home will be protected, meaning that it will last for a long time, giving you and your family a secure, pristine place to call your own.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Caps, Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Services, Chimney Sweeps, georgia, woodstock

Keeping your distance- Older children realize that wood stoves, fireplaces and other hearth appliances are hot. Smaller children may not grasp that concept. Even if they understand they need to stay away, accidents do happen. Whether we are 10 months for 100 years old, we are all subject to falling, thanks to gravity. Keeping protection screens or gates around the hearth will help lessen the chance of severe burns upon impact. In the same respect, fireplace sparks can fly out of a fireplace and logs can roll out if they aren’t stacked correctly. A screen will help with this problem too. Another thing you might want to consider are “bumper pads” for around the hearth for added protection.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Sweeps, fireplace safety, georgia, Hearth Safety

If you have a chimney installed in your home, then it’s vital that you don’t ignore maintenance. It is simply a necessity in order to keep your home safe and ensure the longevity of your chimney. There are many different services that chimney sweeping companies offer. Here is an explanation how each service works.

The first service available is basic chimney sweeping. It is vital that you get this service done on a regular basis because it can be very hazardous. The chimney can have problems with ventilation and the smoke can end up filling your home rather than through the top of your chimney. Creosote, soot, and debris buildup can also lead to dangerous fires.

Although most people think that this service is only important during the winter, it is actually a good idea to get your chimney cleaned during the spring and summer. If you leave the creosote, soot, and debris inside your chimney during these seasons, what results is a sooty odor. The humidity may make the odor worse so you’ll want sweeping done earlier to prevent the odor.

The second service offered is waterproofing for your chimney. During rainy days, water can make its way into your house through the sides of the chimney. What this does is cause water damage to your home and also erodes the inner walls of your chimney over time. You can hire a company to waterproof the exterior so that water is blocked off. They can also install rainpans or chimney caps as well.

The third service that chimney companies offer is chimney repairs. If your chimney is in bad condition or you’re having problem such as smoke coming into your home, you can get it inspected by a professional. They will let you know what is causing the problems and what needs to be repaired.

There are other services that chimney service companies offer from gas log installation, dryer vents, fixing smoke problems, and more. If you identify any problems with your chimney, it is recommended that you seek help as soon as possible. The problem may be hazardous and repairs can get more expensive if you let the problem persist.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Inspection, Chimney Services, Chimney Sweeps, Fireplace Smell, georgia, roswell, woodstock

Owning a home with a wood-burning fireplace can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, but it also takes occasional maintenance to make sure everything is working the way it should.

Making sure an indoor fireplace adds only warmth and ambience to the home requires it be cleaned. When wood is burned, it is never completely combusted. In the smoke, particles of partially burnt gasses, tar-like substances, and vapors condense and stick to the sides of a chimney. This is called creosote. Over time, creosote deposits blocks off the passage of smoke out the chimney, and it returns back into the house. This toxic smoke leaves an awful lingering smell and inhaling it is potentially life threatening.

Several factors affect how fast creosote builds up, such as the type of wood burned and the chemicals it releases as a result, how dry the wood is upon burning, flue location, material and shape of fireplace, and frequency of its usage. Therefore, it is difficult to give an accurate estimate of how often a fireplace should be cleaned. It is recommended that chimneys be cleaned immediately following the first use. Even though it is probably not necessary to clean at this point, inspecting the amount of creosote buildup caused by a single burning should give some indication of how many uses a particular fireplace will take before it is time to clean. An inspector can give a good ballpark figure of how efficient your particular fireplace is and how frequently it should be cleaned.

Having a professional periodically inspect your chimney is important. An inspection is typically short, as inspectors have tools to accurately measure creosote buildup without having to burn a fire. Since blowback of smoke is also sometimes caused by improper airflow, basements, pressure imbalance, and HVAC systems, an inspector may require access to other rooms of the house to check for any such contributing factors. Inspections are thorough, professionally done, and typically require minimal involvement from the homeowner. Inspectors are usually prompt in identifying problems and can suggest appropriate remedies to make the fireplace fully functional.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Inspection, chimney sweeping, Creosote Buildup, georgia, woodstock

Excellent Service and Work
From making the appointment to the work itself, the people and product were great. I will happily recommend Advanced Chimney Sweeps to friends and family. First rate and professional all the way. Thank you!
from Kudzu.com

Very Pleased
They did an excellent job on cleaning our chimney. They were on time, professional and reasonably priced. They were also very thorough with their inspection. They also cleaned out our dryer vent pipe.
from Kudzu.com

Very Impressive
Advanced Chimney Sweeps was very knowledgable and informed me of where any problems were, showing me on a diagram. They were very efficient and careful not to make a mess. Very pleased with level of knowledge and customer service. Highly recommend!
from Kudzu.com

Great Experience, Great Service
We were in desperate need of having our chimney cleaned. Advanced Chimney Sweeps was very professional, did a thorough cleaning and left our fireplace area cleaner than it was when they got here! I would highly recommend this company and we will definitely use them again in the future!
from Kudzu.com

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Services, chimney sweeping, Chimney Sweeps, georgia, Testimonials

Advanced Chimney Sweeps are there to meet your every chimney need and have been since 1989. While the importance of getting your chimney cleaned regularly is common knowledge, there are some other areas of maintenance most chimneys can benefit from.

• Consider getting your chimney protected by a chimney cap and rain pan. These can serve to keep rainfall, debris and small animals out of your chimney and help keep your chimney cleaner and uncluttered. Chimney caps and rain pans should be inspected periodically to make sure they are still positioned correctly and doing their job.

• Your chimney should be checked by one of our professionals at least once a year to ensure the integrity of the structure and to make sure there are no underlying problems that may need maintenance work done. This can save a lot of headache down the road.

• Gas logs are a popular option for those who want a cleaner and easier to manage fireplace and chimney. We can help you choose the right gas log and also install it correctly and quickly.

• If smoke seems to be a problem in the house whenever you get a fire going it can be attributed to several different problem areas. While it is commonly a problem with the chimney system itself, other factors such as air pressure in the house and issues with the HVAC system may come in to play as well. Our professionals will be able to diagnose why smoke enters the home when the fireplace is running.

• While many people experience flooding and other water problems with their basement, most don’t realize that poorly sealed chimneys can allow water to seep into the home as well. This can cause very expensive and potentially catastrophic damage to the walls, floors and structure of the home and having your chimney inspected and sealed against potential water damage could save your home against the destructive nature of leaking water.

• While it doesn’t specifically have to do with your chimney, having a properly installed dryer vent is important to allow hot air to exit the house safely. Why not have one of our people help you get your dryer vent installed correctly and safely?

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Inspection, Chimney Services, Chimney Sweeps, Creosote Buildup, Fireplace Cleaning, georgia, marietta, Rainpans, roswell, woodstock

A common occurrence, especially in the warm weather months, is a “smelly” fireplace. What do you do? What causes smell in my fireplace?

Three things must be present to produce this smell in your home.  Soot/ashes, moisture and a backward air flow.

Dry soot and ashes, by themselves, have no odor.  You must add moisture -and it doesn’t take much of it- to get an unpleasant smell. Look at your fireplace and chimney. Do you have a cap on the chimney? Is water getting into the chimney through the brick or mortar? Has the humidity been abnormally high recently? All of these things can moisten up the soot and ashes in your chimney and/or fireplace.

The other thing, that will ad to the smell, is the direction the air flows in your fireplace and chimney.  If the chimney is drafting properly (meaning the air is going out of the house and up the chimney) you won’t get that stink in your home.  That is because the smell is exiting the house up through the chimney.  If you are getting a back draft – even if it is slight – the smell will be in your living space.

The best fix for a smelly fireplace is to remove the soot/ashes and get rid of the moisture.  Advanced Chimneys can do the sweep, install a chimney cap and/or waterproof the chimney structure.  Once that is done you need to get the humidity out of the firebox and the chimney.  A product known as Damp-Rid is effective in dehumidifying small areas.  It is available at most grocery and hardware stores.  Place one tub in the firebox – as high as you can get it – and leave it there for a couple of weeks.

If you have a draft problem, it requires more study.  Call Advanced Chimneys for a thorough diagnosis.

Tags: Advanced Chimneys Inc., Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Inspection, Chimney Services, Chimney Sweeps, Chimneys Woodstock, Fireplace Cleaning, Fireplace Smell, georgia, marietta, roswell, woodstock