Is Chimney Removal Right for You? Our Brick Chimney Demo Experts Chime In!
May 1, 2024
Could Your Home Be a Candidate for Chimney Demo Masonry or brick chimneys have been a staple in home construction for centuries, providing both aesthetic charm and functional use. However, as modern heating systems become more efficient and building codes evolve, many homeowners are opting to remove their chimneys. Here...
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How to Waterproof Your Brick Chimney in Raleigh NC
April 1, 2024
Going Beyond Waterproofing: Exploring Other Techniques for Repairing Brick Chimney Damage When it comes to maintaining your brick chimney, waterproofing is just one piece of the puzzle. If there is already damage to your chimney, simply waterproofing it will not solve the problem. Here are some other techniques to consider...
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Brief Overview of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 211 Standards
February 1, 2024
The NFPA 211 is the National Fire Protection Association’s standard for chimneys, fireplaces, vents, and solid fuel-burning appliances. This comprehensive document provides guidelines to ensure the safety and proper functioning of these systems. Here’s a brief summary of each section of the current NFPA 211 standards: General Requirements This section...
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Keeping Chimney Swifts Out with a New Chimney Cap
January 1, 2024
Friend of Foe: All You Need to About Chimney Swifts in North Carolina Chimney Swifts are small, agile birds that build their nests inside chimneys from twigs they collect while in flight. They are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to harm them or remove...
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Local Chimney Chase Cover Installation Professionals
September 1, 2023
What is a Chimney Chase Cover? A chimney chase cover is an important component of a chimney system. It is a protective covering that sits at the top of the chimney chase, which is the vertical box-like structure that surrounds a chimney on the exterior of a home. The chase...
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Remember to Close Your Chimney Damper for Summer!
June 16, 2020
Cary Chimney Sweeps & Inspections Done Right! Now that warm weather is here to stay, there’s one important thing to do before you start enjoying some summer fun: remember to close your fireplace damper! Leaving your fireplace damper open during the summer can have a number of consequences, some expensive...
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How to Close Out Your Fireplace for Spring & Summer
April 15, 2020
Apex Chimney Inspection Team Shares Tips & Advice for Year Round Fireplace Maintenance With the days getting warmer and longer, it’s time to think about closing down your fireplace for the summer season, when it’s likely to see very little use. Keep reading to learn how to close your chimney...
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There’s a Squirrel in my Chimney! Our Cary Chimney Contractor Shares What to Do
February 15, 2020
Hearing scratching, scuttling sounds in your chimney that are definitely not the sound smoke makes? You probably have a squirrel trapped in your flue. Here’s what to do (and what not to do) according to our Cary chimney contractor. Confirm that it is, in fact, a squirrel Many of our...
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Chimney Anatomy 101: Knowing Your Chimney from Top to Bottom
January 28, 2020
A chimney might look pretty simple from the outside, but it’s actually a very complex system of internal and external components. While there’s no sense in becoming a chimney expert—(that’s our job!)—being able to identify the basic parts of your chimney can help us troubleshoot a potential issue over the...
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How to Choose the Best Firewood for Your Apex Chimney
January 21, 2020
Firewood might look pretty similar from one batch to the next, but different types of wood burn very differently. Not all firewood produces the same results, even if it’s properly seasoned. You may be looking for firewood that crackles nicely; wood that burns efficiently without creating excessive heat; or wood...
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Watch Out for These Common Chimney Safety Issues in Old Houses
January 14, 2020
If you own (or are about to own) a house that’s more than 30 years old, take a good look at the chimney. While newer homes are likely to be built in compliance with modern safety codes, older homes are often built to older standards, and therefore are at high...
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Top Signs You May Need a Cary Chimney Inspection
January 7, 2020
Top Signs You May Need a Cary Chimney Inspection If you have a chimney which you use regularly throughout the fall and winter, it’s essential to have your it inspected and cleaned at least once a year. Buildup of soot and debris, as well as other problems, can present a...
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Don’t Get Burned — 4 Tips for Hiring an Apex Chimney Sweep
December 31, 2019
There are many places where you can, and should, cut corners when planning your annual budget. Chimney inspections are not one of them. Despite their simple-seeming outer appearance, chimneys are actually very complex, and hiring a chimney sweep who doesn’t know what he or she is doing can have devastating...
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Why Anyone (Besides Santa) Would Have Trouble Entering a House Through the Chimney
December 24, 2019
Maybe you’ve read our articles about people getting stuck in chimneys this season, or maybe you’re just wondering how the man in the big red suit does it. Or, maybe you’re nervous about a would-be burglar entering your home via chimney. Not to worry: in today’s post, our Cary chimney...
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Top People Who Have Gotten Stuck in a Chimney This Season
December 17, 2019
Ah, Christmas. ‘Tis the season for twinkling lights, mugs of eggnog, and news stories of people getting stuck in their chimneys. While some of these chimney victims entered intentionally, and others fell in by accident, they all have one thing in common: they got stuck. Below are some of the...
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