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Friday, October 25 2013

When it comes to Chimney cleaning, people generally appreciate professional chimney sweeps in Chicago. Professional chimney sweeps is performed without any trouble with specialized tools and doesn’t take much time. But, this is not all. Hiring professionals once or twice a year is not enough. As homeowners, one must know essentials of chimney cleaning. Given below is information on how to keep fireplace clean and when to clean.

1) It’s advisable that a chimney which is used four times should be cleaned at least once in a year.

2) The best time to request chimney cleaning tasks such cleaning fireplace brick, smoke, soot, ashes repair and maintenance is during summer months. Or else request for chimney sweeping during spring season as this will not allow dirt to settle and prevent staining during summer. Many homeowners neglect chimney cleaning for years which can cause fire hazard.

3) Your chimney cleaning service providers should be certified by Chimney Sweep Institute of America. CSIA has set standards across the industry with respect to chimney cleaning methods, repair and restoration.

4) While searching right service provider, get reference from your neighbors, friends and family. Homeowners can request for a direct feedback from the clients of prospective company. If the service provider refuses to provide any reference then switch to some other company

5) 5) Chimney cleaning is essential for any home, therefore never take a chance or neglect chimney cleaning. Moreover, never take a chance with company you aren’t confident about.

If you want information related to chimney sweeps in Chicago, then contact Chicago Chimney & Fireplace Co. at 708-358-0505.

Posted by: John Crisp AT 03:40 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
Wednesday, October 23 2013

Finding the Best Firewood for your Heating Needs

Seasoned-Firewood-Unseasoned

When it comes to using your fireplace. It is easy to become eager to start using it and burn whatever wood you can find lying around in the backyard. However, using the right fireplace fuel source is very important. The right type of fireplace wood allows you to create long lasting fires that will heat your home all winter long. All fireplace wood is not created equal. The two largest categories of firewood are seasoned or unseasoned. This commonly refers to both the age and moisture level of the wood.

Unseasoned wood could be thought of as coming right off the branch and into your home. This type of wood will burn, but there is an issue that will affect the quality of your fireplace experience. This type of wood has a lot of internal moisture. This can come from the sap and water that is still present within the wood. Using this type of wood will usually create a shorter burning and lower temperature fire.

Seasoned wood is wood that has been cut, and stacked with an emphasis on air flow. This allows the wood to become completely dried. Ideally, wood should have a gray look, and be almost bone white on the inside. This means that the wood is completely dry and will burn very effectively. It is important to note that this drying process is not quick. Wood should be dried for at least one year. Because of that, when buying firewood, you should be looking to buy a year ahead of time. If you are buying wood from this year's cut to burn this season, then you will be burning unseasoned, wet wood.

In addition to the age and dryness of the wood, the tree type from where the wood originates is important. Dry woods and hard woods both have their merits when it comes to heat, fire longevity, and fragrance. To give you an idea of wood burning temperature, here is a table from the Consumer Energy Center outlining the BTU output of different types of wood. Check out the list and see what would be the best for your fireplace needs. Then, check out the different fireplace repair and upgrade options offered at Chicago Fireplace & Chimney!

Wood Heating and Weight Values

Species

Million Btu/Cord*

Cord Weight
(pounds) **
DRY

Cord Weight
(pounds) **
GREEN

Alder, Red

18.4 - 19.5

2000 - 2600

3200 - 4100

Ash

24.5 - 26.0

2680 - 3450

4630 - 5460

Aspen

17.0 - 18.0

1860 - 2400

3020 - 3880

Beech

28.6 - 30.4

3100 - 4000

4890 - 6290

Birch

25.9 - 27.5

2840 - 3650

4630 - 5960

Cedar, Incense

17.8 - 20.1

1800 - 2350

3020 - 3880

Cedar, Port Orford

20.7 - 23.4

2100 - 2700

3400 - 4370

Cherry

22.3 - 23.7

2450 - 3150

4100 - 5275

Chinquapin

23.2 - 24.7

2580 - 3450

3670 - 4720

Cottonwood

15.8 - 16.8

1730 - 2225

2700 - 3475

Dogwood

28.6 - 30.4

3130 - 4025

5070 - 6520

Douglas-Fir

23.5 - 26.5

2400 - 3075

3930 - 5050

Elm

22.3 - 23.7

2450 - 3150

4070 - 5170

Eucalyptus

32.5 - 34.5

3550 - 4560

6470 - 7320

Fir, Grand

17.8 - 20.1

1800 - 2330

3020 - 3880

Fir, Red

18.3 - 20.6

1860 - 2400

3140 - 4040

Fir, White

18.8 - 21.1

1900 - 2450

3190 - 4100

Hemlock, Western

21.6 - 24.4

2200 - 2830

4460 - 5730

Juniper, Western

23.4 - 26.4

2400 - 3050

4225 - 5410

Laurel, California

24.6 - 26.1

2690 - 3450

4460 - 5730

Locust, Black

29.5 - 31.4

3230 - 4150

6030 - 7750

Madrone

29.1 - 30.9

3180 - 4086

5070 - 6520

Magnolia

22.3 - 23.7

2440 - 3140

4020 - 5170

Maple, Big Leaf

21.4 - 22.7

2350 - 3000

3840 - 4940

Oak, Black

25.8 - 27.4

2821 - 3625

4450 - 5725

Oak, Live

34.4 - 36.6

3766 - 4840

6120 - 7870

Oak, White

26.4 - 28.0

2880 - 3710

4890 - 6290

Pine, Jeffery

19.3 - 21.7

1960 - 2520

3320 - 4270

Pine, Lodgepole

19.7 - 22.3

2000 - 2580

3320 - 4270

Pine, Ponderosa

19.3 - 21.7

1960 - 2520

3370 - 4270

Pine, Sugar

17.3 - 19.6

1960 - 2270

2970 - 3820

Redwood, Coast

17.8 - 20.1

1810 - 2330

3140 - 4040

Spruce, Sitka

19.3 - 21.7

1960 - 2520

3190 - 4100

Sweetgum (Liquidambar)

20.6 - 21.9

2255 - 2900

4545 - 5840

Sycamore

21.9 - 23.3

2390 - 3080

4020 - 5170

Tanoak

25.9 - 27.5

2845 - 3650

4770 - 6070

Walnut, Black

24.5 - 26.0

2680 - 3450

4450 - 5725

Western Red Cedar

15.4 - 17.4

1570 - 2000

2700 - 3475

Willow, Black

17.5 - 18.6

1910 - 2450

3140 - 4040

* British thermal unit (Btu) values based on specific gravity of 80 cubic feet per cord. 8000 to 8500 Btu per pound for non resinous woods. 8600 to 9700 Btu per pound for resinous woods.

** Weights:

  • Lower value of range assumes 70 cubic feet of wood per cord.

  • Higher value of range assumes 90 cubic feet of wood per cord.

  • Dry weight at 12 percent moisture content.

  • Green weight at 40 to 60 percent moisture content.

All moisture contents based on "wet" wood basis.

Posted by: John Crisp AT 12:56 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
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