Last updated 12 days ago
Gas fireplaces are becoming more popular among modern homeowners, but some people still prefer the authenticity and intimacy of wood-burning fireplaces. Both types of fireplaces offer advantages, and each requires specialized maintenance to stay in good condition. They also each affect your chimney lining in different ways, so it is important to understand the characteristics and advantages of each type of fireplace if you are considering fireplace construction or replacement.
Gas Log Fireplaces
You may have heard that burning wood deposits creosote along the inside of your chimney lining. However, gas fireplaces also create residue, in the form of acid. Yellow flame logs cause the gas to burn at a lower temperature, which can result in incomplete combustion that deposits more acid upon your chimney lining.
However, gas log fireplaces aren’t without their advantages. They require much less maintenance than wood-burning fireplaces, and offer a unique beauty. There is no reason you cannot enjoy a gas fireplace with a masonry chimney, as long as you have annual inspections performed to clean your chimney lining. Consider asking your chimney sweep to reline your chimney so it is better able to complement your gas fireplace.
Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Traditional wood fireplaces provide classic intimacy and warmth. While wood-burning fireplaces require extra maintenance in comparison to gas fireplaces and tend to deposit creosote on your chimney lining, a quality masonry fireplace will last you for the life of your home, providing countless hours of quality time in front of a real roaring fire.
If you would like to learn more about new fireplace construction as well as chimney maintenance, contact E. M. & E. M. Chimney and Masonry at (516) 935-6215. Visit our website to learn more about our full range of chimney sweep services.
Last updated 21 days ago
An unmaintained chimney can be a health and safety hazard to your home, containing toxic chemicals that can potentially start a fire. Fortunately, with regular inspections and the right care, your chimney will last for many years as a safe fixture in your home.
In this video, you can learn about the services that E. M. & E. M. Chimney and Masonry has to offer to help keep your chimney safe. We provide inspections that can help identify potential issues, repair services to bring your chimney back to its original glory, and chimney sweeping to keep your home clean and healthy.
Contact E. M. & E. M. Chimney and Masonry at (516) 935-6215 to schedule an appointment. You can also visit our website to explore our services in full detail.
Last updated 23 days ago
Em & Em Chimney will be attending today's seminar and lunch in The Library Pavilion at the General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen.
Enjoy the Fuel Oil Change-over (Certification Credit) Seminar from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A buffet lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. and after you can network and meet the speakers until 2 p.m.
If you would like to join us, it's $85 for members and $185 for nonmembers, or you can join NYARM now.
For more information about the speakers and panelists, contact Em & EM Chimney at (516) 935-6215 or visit NYARM's website.
Last updated 28 days ago
Chimneys need regular care and maintenance, including annual chimney lining inspections and chimney sweeping, to remain in good condition. These are well-known facts about chimneys, but below are a few you may not have realized, from how chimneys work to their evolution:
1. Chimneys Are Part of a System. Heat naturally rises, and chimneys are used to draw away smoke from fires burning indoors. However, it’s not simply the principle of warm air rising that enables chimneys to function—the stack effect is what causes the hotter air produced by a fire to help vent gases out the top of the chimney. Hotter air is less dense than cooler air, so the resulting pressure differential encourages a draft. Chimney construction used to be a trial-and-error method to determine the best height, width, and accessories like chimney pots to encourage the correct airflow and avoid backdrops.
2. Chimneys Weren’t Widely Used Until the 12th Century. Romans used chimneys in their bakeries and homes to exhaust smoke and heat walls for warmth, but this technology was not widely adopted in Europe until much later. In fact, the closest thing to "chimneys" that many Europeans had in their homes were holes made in the roofs to exhaust smoke from open flames in the middle of the room.
Chimney construction eventually caught on, and as the technology evolved, distinctive architecture came with it. In fact, many different types of English buildings can be identified by their chimney pots and styles.
3. The Tallest Chimney in the World is 1,378 Feet High. In Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan, the GRES-2 Power Station sports the tallest chimney in the world, standing slightly more than 10 feet higher than the Empire State Building.
Whether you would like to learn more about the care and maintenance of your chimney or are interested in having a chimney or fireplace constructed, contact E. M. & E. M. Chimney and Masonry at (516) 935-6215.
Last updated 29 days ago
Check out this article from Bankrate.com to see when you should get a chimney inspection and why it's so important. Contact Em & Em Chimney today by calling (516) 935-6215 if you need your chimney cleaned and inspected.
