Month: March 2015

Blackburn Memorial ‘Tool fund’ a generous gift already helping chimney sweeps

March 30, 2015

Six professional-grade carbon monoxide detectors were the first purchases made by the Chimney Safety Institute of America from a newly created fund established in the memory of longtime chimney sweep Steve Blackburn. The CO detectors were immediately put into use by students attending the National Chimney Sweep Training School field day held Friday, March 27. … More Blackburn Memorial ‘Tool fund’ a generous gift already helping chimney sweeps

When “thermal shock” inside a chimney flue creates a worrisome crack

March 29, 2015

        “Everybody hear that? everybody see it?” That’s what Chimney Safety Institute of America Instructor Michael Segerstrom tells 29 students as they react to one of the most anticipated demonstrations that is part of National Chimney Sweep Training School. The idea is to show chimney sweeps what occurs, often unseen, within the … More When “thermal shock” inside a chimney flue creates a worrisome crack

CSIA applauds media appreciation for fireplaces as practical and decorative

March 23, 2015

At the Chimney Safety Institute of America, we urge homeowners to understand how their chimney works so they can enjoy their home heating device — especially  the fireplace — to the fullest. We noticed quite a few articles over the past week that showed just how important the fireplace is from a visual standpoint. As … More CSIA applauds media appreciation for fireplaces as practical and decorative

Rain, water, and common chimney issues in #Spring

March 20, 2015

Leaky chimneys. Raindrops in the fireplace. Water pooling on the tops of the chimney cap. It’s that time of year — when we still have snowy days, but start seeing mostly rainy ones. It’s usually when homeowners take notice of the performance of their chimney, already one of the most taken-for-granted parts of a home. The … More Rain, water, and common chimney issues in #Spring

An engineer explains his impressions of CSIA and chimney sweeps

March 18, 2015

  “No, I’m not a chimney sweep,” Eric Adair says with a smile. “I’m an engineer.” Adair is on the board of the Chimney Safety Institute of America, an 11-person volunteer team that guides the nonprofit CSIA’s policies, educational curriculum, and training. He isn’t a stranger to the chimney and venting world, even though his … More An engineer explains his impressions of CSIA and chimney sweeps

Insurer: Chimneys are beautiful, but they need maintenance, too

March 17, 2015

Chimney Safety Institute of America loves it when insurance companies (small and large) take the initiative and inform their customers about the need for annual chimney inspections. That’s what happened in December, when we publicized the collaboration between CSIA and major carrier Fireman’s Fund. Both organizations collaborated on a white paper so homeowners could get … More Insurer: Chimneys are beautiful, but they need maintenance, too

Using a moisture meter in the field to distinguish wet firewood from dry firewood

March 10, 2015

The National Firewood Association has newly published a primer on what type of moisture content is ideal for those who want to know the right type of fuel to burn! NFA’s blog post, released this week, suggests that you should aim for wood that’s between 15 to 20 percent moisture content for the best results. … More Using a moisture meter in the field to distinguish wet firewood from dry firewood

What the home inspector missed, a chimney sweep caught

March 3, 2015

I am extremely appreciative of the home inspector whom my spouse hired to do a run-through of a 19-year-old house we intend to purchase. This professional identified potential mold in the crawl space as well as potential water-entry issues due to poorly installed decorative flashing on part of the roof. In both situations, we investigated further … More What the home inspector missed, a chimney sweep caught