Mark Twain was a phenomenal writer; his writings should serve as guiding principles for us all. One of my high school English teachers browbeat us with this little biased “tidbit of wisdom” (her words, not mine). My life since Mrs. Smith’s class has been shaped by...
The majority of homeowners with a wood-burning stove or fireplace understand the need for an annual chimney cleaning and inspection. On the contrary, many don’t realize that their gas heating appliances—be it a furnace, boiler or even a hot water heater—also rely on a...
Water is an undeniably powerful force — given enough time, it can carve out canyons, cut right through mountains and wear down metal beams. So, of course, it can wreak havoc on a chimney system that’s open to the elements day after day, year after year, rainstorm...
While rain is a good thing, if you have too much it can instead harm your home. If your chimney is leaky it can cause mold, which can overtime spread to the rest of your home. It is important that you have your yearly sweep and inspection to make sure that everything...
The Basics We all know about oxygen. Growing up it’s one of the first things we learn in science class. We know that it is what enables us to breathe and survive on earth, it’s what every living creature even plants and animals need to thrive and grow. Yet not much is...