Fireplace Safety Tips for Kids from Our Apex Chimney Inspection Company

October 22, 2019
Now that the weather is becoming chilly, more and more families are opening up their chimneys for the season—which also means a higher risk for fire-related accidents. Below are some simple tips to keep your children safe around your fireplace. Install Heat-Resistant Glass Doors If you have a wood-burning fireplace,...
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Dirty Chimney? Watch Out for These Common Health Hazards 

October 15, 2019
Your fireplace does wonders to keep you nice and toasty in the dead of winter. Unfortunately, the same fireplace that can be a lifesaver can also negatively impact your health if it becomes dirty. Carbon monoxide poisoning, respiratory problems, eye and skin irritation, and animal-transmitted diseases can all result from...
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How to Use Ashes to Make Soap from a Cary Fireplace Cleaning Company

October 8, 2019
The next time you find yourself shoveling wood ashes out of your fireplace, don’t throw them away! There are countless ways to reuse and repurpose fireplace ashes, and we’re not just talking about compost. Before household chemicals and detergents, ashes were a key component of soap, since wet ashes naturally...
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How to Prepare Your Chimney for Fall with Nexus Chimney Services

October 2, 2019
How to Prepare Your Chimney for Fall with Nexus Chimney Services As hot as the beginning of the month seems to have been, the chilly temperatures will arrive before you know it. Before they do, it’s a good idea to ensure your chimney is safe to use in the season...
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Creative Ways to Recycle Your Fireplace Ashes from our Cary Chimney Company

September 23, 2019
You probably already know that wood fireplace ashes can be recycled as a potassium-rich nourishment for plants and compost piles. But ash also has many other household uses, like polishing silver, unclogging drains and even melting ice! Below are some highly useful applications for ashes that can save you a...
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How Water Can Ruin Your Masonry Chimney | Nexus Chimney Services

September 16, 2019
Chimneys typically tend to receive neither the attention nor the concern usually afforded to other household systems. However, chimneys are far from empty black columns; their simple appearance disguises an intricate mechanism capable of multiple, complex functions. When considering the rest of your home maintenance jobs, it’s important to consider...
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Bees in Your Chimney: Do’s and Don’ts | Nexus Chimney Services

September 9, 2019
Bee-lieve it or not, late summer and early fall are prime time for bee activity. The shortening days and dropping temperature send a signal to these buzzy critters that it’s time to collect as much food as possible and find a cozy place to hunker down for the winter. Unfortunately,...
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Why You Shouldn’t Attempt DIY Chimney Repair | Cary Chimney Repair

August 27, 2019
If your chimney is cracked, crumbling, smelly, or leaning, you might be tempted to tackled the job yourself. However, attempting a chimney cleaning or chimney repair yourself is ineffective at best, and downright dangerous at worst. Here are some reasons why chimney work is best left to the professionals. A...
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When Should I Remove My Fireplace Ashes? | Apex Chimney Services

August 20, 2019
Any homeowner with a wood-burning stove or fireplace will eventually be faced with the problem of ash buildup. In today’s post, our Apex chimney contractor will discuss when ashes are actually beneficial, and when they should be removed. Why You Shouldn’t Clean Your Fireplace Ashes Every Day    A little...
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What Happens If I Leave My Fireplace Damper Open?

August 13, 2019
  Now that it’s summer, it’s important to remember to close your fireplace damper for the season. If you don’t, you’re at risk for objects—some of them alive—to come through your chimney and into your home. Below are some things that can happen if you leave your damper open! Your...
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What is Creosote, and Why is it So Dangerous? Ask an Apex Chimney Company

August 6, 2019
Longtime readers might have noticed that we discuss creosote—an oily, black substance the builds up inside chimneys—fairly often. But what, exactly, makes creosote so dangerous? In today’s Apex chimney company blog, we discuss why creosote is far from a fire hazard or a cause of a nasty smell (all though...
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Homeowners: Book Your Chimney Inspection NOW to Have It Ready by Fall!

July 23, 2019
Every year at Nexus Chimney, we face the same situation: the first crisp day of November dawns, and our phones blow up with people who want to light a warm, cozy fire—but can’t, because their chimney is dirty, broken, or uninspected. Even though we aim to serve every customer who...
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3 Common Summer Chimney Problems to Watch Out For

July 16, 2019
Since most of us use our fireplaces in the winter, it would seem like chimney problems just don’t occur in the summer. However, there are some good reasons to schedule a chimney inspection during these hot, humid months. Animals and bugs abound during the summer season, and summer storms can...
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Do I Really Need a Chimney Cap? Ask an Apex Chimney Company

July 9, 2019
Even though a chimney cap is relatively minor installation, many homeowners question whether it is necessary or not. The answer is that this small bit metal protecting your chimney can prevent countless chimney-related mishaps and save you thousands of dollars in unnecessary chimney repairs. So, unless you want headaches down...
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Why Does My Chimney Smell Bad in the Summer? Apex Chimney Services

July 2, 2019
You may have noticed an acrid, burning smell coming from your fireplace that seems to get worse as the summer goes on. In today’s post our Apex chimney contractor will explain why the worst fireplace smells happen in the summer, and what you can do about it. Why Your Fireplace...
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